Again, for a first time bike and a new fantasy at getting in shape that usually ends in failure in about 3 to 6 months time, yeah I know, that won't happen to you, but it does to roughly 76% who try. Anyways, I wouldn't be buying something as expensive as a new 105 equipped bike, I would find a used bike with perhaps 105, but I wouldn't pay more than $300.
And the advice to replace the shifters as soon as you get the bike is just bizarre, new or used, Shimano shifters are just fine, and will last many thousands of miles; once the shifters are no longer serviceable then get new ones, or a new bike if you're still riding 3 or 4 years from now on a daily basis to replace the used bike. I've used both Campy and Shimano shifters, each had their pros and cons but both are equally fine. Some people like the little thumb clicker that Campy has, hmmm, well that's funny because Shimano 2300 has that same thumb clicker and that's very low end stuff. And the other problem with the little thumb clicker is that people with large hands have trouble operating it. At the end of the day I actually prefer the Shimano shifting system better; but I like the way the Campy front derailleur shifted a bit better, but the rear the difference was too close to call, but the subject wasn't that, it was about the shifters.
And SRAM is not ****, just different, it was **** not even the pros would want to race on it regardless if they get it for free or not, they can't afford mechanical issues in the middle of race that will cost the team a win. And the SRAM shifter is not a bad unit either, in fact people who've tried it like it better than either Shimano or Campy because SRAM uses a lever behind the brake lever like Shimano does except SRAM's lever does both the up and down shift instead of having to push one lever to shift up and a different one to shift down or push a lever or press a button. I've once read somewhere that SRAM is the love child of Campy mating with Shimano, it has the best of both worlds. However one must admit that arguing over which is better: Campy, Shimano, or SRAM is the same as arguing which is better: Ford, Chevy, or Chrysler.
You inferred that I said that "
SRAM is ****." I did not say that ...
While my disdain for SRAM-as-a-corporation probably knows no bounds ...
YOU are reading more into what I wrote than was stated ...
And, while I think that the
Double-Tap design which the shifters have is quite elegant, I just don't think that there is any reason to buy what is essentially a proprietary design ... IMO, we should all think of SRAM as being the
Commodore 64 of the cycling world -- or if you prefer, an
AMIGA , an
ATARI, or a
SINCLAIR -- good for what it is, but probably a
dead end in the long run which will only have a cult-like following.
To quote myself (
!) from an earlier thread:
AFAIK, there has never been a retail version of a SRAM front shifter which has had any trim capability for the front derailleur ...
It's a philosophical choice by their bean counters which their "engineers" do not try to over-rule ...
Instead, SRAM's solution was to convince people that they do not need more than one Chainring!!!!.
While you may not think it is the case right now, having "trim" is a good thing!
Regardless, on the other hand, I know that I can walk into ANY bike shop and buy a replacement component for a Shimano-equipped bike ... even if the component is not identical, it will be functionally usable ...
While SRAM's Road components have been around for a long time, now, I am not certain that true critical mass has been achieved because, unlike Shimano, there seems to be very little attempt to ensure backward compatibility which may-or-may-not exist with SRAM's stuff ...
Other than their mechanical Road shifters, I
love Shimano components ...
Based on MY direct experience + what I have read others say over the past 16+ years regarding their experience with various mechanical & electronic shifters, it was not until Shimano introduced their Di2 shifters-and-derailleurs that Campagnolo's mechanical shifters were apparently matched with regard to shifting efficiency ...
Just as some (
i.e., YOU) feel that "Life is too short to run crappy slow tires" I have to say that
life is too short to put up with less efficient shifting ...
I know better (i.e., that efficient mechanical shifters exist) AND I'm not a glutton for punishment.
Certainly, for Flatlanders or those who are strong enough riders to have only a one-tooth-per-cog-differential on their Cassette, Shimano's shifters are more-than-fine ...
And, for the
Pied Piper's followers, many think that
1x shifting is certainly the cool-way-to-set-up-a-bike in the here-and-now ...
However, I think that for us more
plebeian riders, the "dwell" which is a consequence of the eccentric take-up spool causes enough lag to result in occasionally balky shifting which one simply doesn't need to put up with ...
And, I think that if people want to eschew a Double-or-Triple set of chainrings, then if they aren't riding a competitive CX bike OR a MTB, then they might as well ride a properly geared Single Speed OR a bike with an internally geared 3-speed hub -- why pay more?
I do not know what the situation is in Europe (or, Asia), but in the Lower-48 a pair of NEW Campagnolo shifters (with cables) can be bought online for under $200 ... a wise shopper can reduce that by $50 ... a frugal shopper can simply pony up about $120 +/- if s/he is willing to reduce the diecast ends of a "standard" set of cables to the size needed to be used in the Campagnolo shifters ...
take-off Shimano shifters can certainly be sold for $120+ ... usually, much more; so, the net cost of the swap will be either zero or there will actually be a RETURN ON THE INVESTMENT ... that is, less cost!
Better shifting ... less cost ... WHY WOULDN'T A PERSON SWAP SHIFTERS?
Because Campagnolo shifters can be used with almost ANY cable actuated front derailleur AND with
vintage chainrings, it also means a person can buy that used, under-$300 bike and eventually make it "modern" by simply adding a pair of Campagnolo shifters + a Cassette-or-Freewheel with ramped Cogs. When the time possibly comes for a more serious investment in a bicycle, the Campagnolo shifters can be moved over without requiring a full complement of
As far as Shimano's low end, thumb-actuated Road shifters ... I have only seen pictures. Even if the placement of the thumb lever is the same as one finds on a set of Campagnolo shifters, the eccentric take-up spool remains as being problematic, IMO.
I have to believe that someone in Osaka thinks that by having an externally similarly design on their least expensive Road shifters is intended to influence how cyclist perceive Campagnolo's design ...
A clever ploy if it is intentional, wouldn't you say?
After all, YOU are apparently, duly influenced ....
And, if it is not an intentional marketing ploy, then one should wonder "Why bother?"
