Is Ultegra for big Guys?

big Pete said:

One of my friends said that the Ultegra group does not have the tank
like qualities I will need from the components, and recommended me
getting 105s instead. This sounded like bull to me but I was wondering
what you experiences were. I am 245 pounds and more often than not I
like to push the bigger gears.

As you suspected, this is all unadulterated bovine excrement.

When heavier riders have equipment problems, it is generally the wheels=20
that are at issue, bent rims, broken spokes and the like. None of the=20
parts that make up an Ultegra group have any relevance to this.

I am also not aware of any greater durability/strength to any 105 part=20
compared to the corresponding Ultegra bit.

Sheldon "Tell Me Another One!" Brown
+---------------------------------------------+
| If your bike has drop handlebars, but you |
| rarely or never ride on the drops, it=92s a |
| sure sign that your bike is not properly |
| fitted or is not properly adjusted! |
| See: http://sheldonbrown.com/handsup |
+---------------------------------------------+
Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts
Phone 617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041
http://harriscyclery.com
Hard-to-find parts shipped Worldwide
http://captainbike.com http://sheldonbrown.com

"big Pete" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi all,

One of my friends said that the Ultegra group does not have the tank
like qualities I will need from the components, and recommended me
getting 105s instead. This sounded like bull to me but I was wondering
what you experiences were. I am 245 pounds and more often than not I
like to push the bigger gears.

Pete

I am a big guy and ride Ultegra. I never have had a problem with
components. Wheels/spokes are another matter.

big Pete said:

Hi all,

One of my friends said that the Ultegra group does not have the tank
like qualities I will need from the components, and recommended me
getting 105s instead. This sounded like bull to me but I was wondering
what you experiences were. I am 245 pounds and more often than not I
like to push the bigger gears.

Husband of cow ;-)

big Pete <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Hi all,

One of my friends said that the Ultegra group does not have the tank
like qualities I will need from the components, and recommended me
getting 105s instead. This sounded like bull to me but I was wondering
what you experiences were. I am 245 pounds and more often than not I
like to push the bigger gears.

Pete

Pete,

I'm near the same weight and have been pushing the [censored] outta my
Ultegra group for the last two-years without any problems. The Ultegra
set is solid, go for it!!!
Scott

big Pete said:

One of my friends said that the Ultegra group does not have the tank
like qualities I will need from the components, and recommended me
getting 105s instead. This sounded like bull to me but I was wondering
what you experiences were. I am 245 pounds and more often than not I
like to push the bigger gears.

Considering many, many tandems come equipped with Ultegra components,
and work well for many years - I wouldn't recommend worrying too much
about your friend's opinions on bike gear.

Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
http://www.habcycles.com
Home of the $695 ti frame

"Bonehenge" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

RWM said:

I am a big guy and ride Ultegra. I never have had a problem with
components. Wheels/spokes are another matter.

Same here.

I build my own wheels with Ultegra hubs, Open Pro rims, double butted
spokes, and brass nipples. 32 spokes in the front and 36 in the rear.

Barry

I participated in a thread in the spring about this subject. I went your
route last year with almost zero success. I got frustrated and took the
advice to try a Mavic Ksyrium Elite rear wheel and have had zero problems.
I am glad that your wheels have worked out for you.

big-<< One of my friends said that the Ultegra group does not have the tank
like qualities I will need from the components, and recommended me
getting 105s instead. This sounded like bull to me but I was wondering
what you experiences were. I am 245 pounds and more often than not I
like to push the bigger gears. >><BR><BR>

It is bull.

Just be advised that ultegra is being changed to 10s in 2005, and parts of your
drivetrain 'may' become obsolete.

Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

It is bull.

All of this makes me wonder though. Is the light weight high end
stuff from Campy and Shimano as strong and durable as their heavier
low end stuff? If money was no object, would you put Record
deraileurs/brifters on a touring bike (assuming you wanted brifters
on a touring bike)?

"Bill Davidson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:BcBQc.8777$Uh.3548@fed1read02...

Quoted message said:

Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

It is bull.

All of this makes me wonder though. Is the light weight high end
stuff from Campy and Shimano as strong and durable as their heavier
low end stuff? If money was no object, would you put Record
deraileurs/brifters on a touring bike (assuming you wanted brifters
on a touring bike)?

I think the "high-end" stuff from C&S are strong. However, putting Record
der/ERGO shifters on a touring bike may not be a wise thing to do if you
need more than a 29t in the rear.

Then again, I'm running a mix of C&S - Chorus 9 short cage rear der, Record
9 ERGO shifters, DA 9 hub, Ultegra 9 12-27 cassette and Shimano or Sram 9
chain and have no problem.

If I sub out the short cage for a long cage rear der, I should be able to
run a Shimano XT/mt type cassette, i.e., 13x32/34 for wider gearing.

bfd said:

"Bill Davidson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:BcBQc.8777$Uh.3548@fed1read02...

Quoted message said:

Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

It is bull.

All of this makes me wonder though. Is the light weight high end
stuff from Campy and Shimano as strong and durable as their heavier
low end stuff? If money was no object, would you put Record
deraileurs/brifters on a touring bike (assuming you wanted brifters
on a touring bike)?

I think the "high-end" stuff from C&S are strong. However, putting Record
der/ERGO shifters on a touring bike may not be a wise thing to do if you
need more than a 29t in the rear.

Then again, I'm running a mix of C&S - Chorus 9 short cage rear der, Record
9 ERGO shifters, DA 9 hub, Ultegra 9 12-27 cassette and Shimano or Sram 9
chain and have no problem.

If I sub out the short cage for a long cage rear der, I should be able to
run a Shimano XT/mt type cassette, i.e., 13x32/34 for wider gearing.

i run a 9sp campag record brifter and a long-cage centaur r/d on my touring
bike w/ a 13/28 veloce cassette (i have run an 11/32 shimano cassette as
well -- worked ok minor but not trivial shifting problems aside). campag
stuff holds up just fine touring, ime. i'm certainly giving up finding spare
parts at any bike ship, tho.

ahh, well.
--
david reuteler
[email hidden]

bfd said:

I think the "high-end" stuff from C&S are strong. However, putting Record
der/ERGO shifters on a touring bike may not be a wise thing to do if you
need more than a 29t in the rear.

I'm told that the 29t is conservative and a number of people have
used 32t rear cogs with it with no problem.

Bill-<< All of this makes me wonder though. Is the light weight high end
stuff from Campy and Shimano as strong and durable as their heavier
low end stuff? >><BR><BR>

Campagnolo gets lighter with carbon and ti. shimano gets lighter with design.
BUT all groups from either will work for anybody, from light to heavy, in terms
of weight and style.

Bill<< If money was no object, would you put Record
deraileurs/brifters on a touring bike (assuming you wanted brifters
on a touring bike)? >><BR><BR>

If money were no object and I was touring unassisted and loaded. I'd go for the
most reliable and easily accessible stuff. Friction barends, 9s cogsets, etc.

Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

If money were no object and I was touring unassisted and loaded. I'd go for the
most reliable and easily accessible stuff. Friction barends, 9s cogsets, etc.

bahh .. don't deprive yourself of your brifters* -- just carry a spare set of
downtube shifters for if they break. best of both worlds.

* well, for those of us addicted to brifters. i can't imagine riding cross
country with friction bar-ends .. if you actually like bar-end shifters
that's another matter.
--
david reuteler
[email hidden]

Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

If money were no object and I was touring unassisted and loaded. I'd go for the
most reliable and easily accessible stuff. Friction barends, 9s cogsets, etc.

So you're saying that brifters are not reliable enough for touring
regardless of what level in either product line they are?

Bill Davidson <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<c3EQc.9966$Uh.4366@fed1read02>...

Quoted message said:

bfd said:

I think the "high-end" stuff from C&S are strong. However, putting Record
der/ERGO shifters on a touring bike may not be a wise thing to do if you
need more than a 29t in the rear.

I'm told that the 29t is conservative and a number of people have
used 32t rear cogs with it with no problem.

I think he was talking about official Campagnolo cassette cogs, not
whether a Campagnolo rear derailleur will handle a larger Shimano cog
such as 32 or 34. But Campagnolo only makes the 29 tooth cog in 10
speed. Biggest 9 speed Campagnolo cog is 28 teeth. Or the QBP 28
tooth cog if you are running loose cogs with 9 speed.

I personally don't think I would want to go with a 10 speed touring
bike. It just seems a bit too finicky. Maybe not but it seems so.

With a 28 tooth cog as the big one in the rear, and a 24 tooth inner
chainring with a 74mm bcd crankset, you have a low gear of 23 gear
inches. Probably low enough for anything. I am running a 20 tooth
inner chainring, so my low would be 19 gear inches. Undoubtedly low
enough for anything. But I am using a 7 speed Shimano with a 34 rear
cog, so my low is 16 gear inches. Probably too low. Ha.

Russell Seaton said:

I personally don't think I would want to go with a 10 speed touring
bike. It just seems a bit too finicky. Maybe not but it seems so.

What's to keep you from using a 9 speed Shimano cassette/hub (say
XT, 11-32) with Campy 9/10 speed brifters and a long cage Campy
deraileur?

Bill-<< So you're saying that brifters are not reliable enough for touring
regardless of what level in either product line they are? >><BR><BR>

I'm saying that barend shifters, with a firction option are a 'better' way to
go in my opinion. Particularly for unsupported touring. Bike falls over, breaks
a STI or ERGO, may be tough to get it fixed.

Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

Bill-<< So you're saying that brifters are not reliable enough for touring
regardless of what level in either product line they are? >><BR><BR>

I'm saying that barend shifters, with a firction option are a 'better' way to
go in my opinion. Particularly for unsupported touring. Bike falls over, breaks
a STI or ERGO, may be tough to get it fixed.

As if derailleurs were the only option...!

A Rohloff Speedhub is less vulnerable than a derailleur,
and its control is so simple there isn't much to break
(there's neither friction nor detents in the twist grip).

Tom Ace

Tom Ace said:

Qui si parla Campagnolo wrote:
=20

Quoted message said:

Bill-<< So you're saying that brifters are not reliable enough for=20
touring
regardless of what level in either product line they are? >><BR><BR>

I'm saying that barend shifters, with a firction option are a 'better'=

=20

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

way to
go in my opinion. Particularly for unsupported touring. Bike falls=20
over, breaks a STI or ERGO, may be tough to get it fixed.=20

=20

I can't imagine that bar end shifters are less likely to be damaged when =

a bike falls over than brifters are.

Quoted message said:

=20
As if derailleurs were the only option...!
=20
A Rohloff Speedhub is less vulnerable than a derailleur,
and its control is so simple there isn't much to break
(there's neither friction nor detents in the twist grip).

Excellent point! I haven't yet toured on my new Thorn Raven, but that's =

the bike I'd choose from my stable for a major tour.

http://sheldonbrown.org/thorn

Sheldon "Epicyclic" Brown
+------------------------------------------------------------+
| Tour on popular routes like the Oregon Coast you will see |
| just about anything with two wheels out there, with any |
| amount of luggage strapped on in any conceivable way. |
| Everyone seems to be having a good time doing it. |
| However, certain choices will reduce breakdowns, and |
| make the trip less a project of transporting equipment, |
| and more one of enjoying the scenery and cultures. |
| --Eric Salath=E9 |
+------------------------------------------------------------+
Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts
Phone 617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041
http://harriscyclery.com
Hard-to-find parts shipped Worldwide
http://captainbike.com http://sheldonbrown.com