Which Groupset?

Doh! I googled for shimano drop bar hydraulic mechanical and that link came up.

Ah here's the mech version on Chainreaction. Was confused by the non-series model number.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shimano-rs685-road-disc-brake/rp-prod119977

CRC due date 18/08/2014

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shimano-rs685-road-disc-brake/rp-prod119977

Am too slow today

That suggests £350 just for the shifters and brakes so more than a whole mechanical 105 group? Gah

The non series stuff is meant to approximate to Ultegra level.

Those levers don't look like they're carbon.

Fuck bearing the weight of metal levers.

I'm tired just looking at them.

so cold in the winter

I was just pointing out they're not like 6800 levers if you care about 'levels'.

I thought that the R-785 were Ultegra level?

^^ They are. On the SRAM hydro shifters the levers are ali rather than carbon too, even on the Red versions. Must be something about hydro shifters which makes carbon difficult/too expensive.

My MTB hydro levers are carbon. Cant see the issue. I guess the weight is near identical. So no reason to go carbon other than aesthetics. But carbon sells.

Might simply be that it was uneconomical with the anticipated production runs, and the possibility of frequent design changes. Carbon fibre moulds are notoriously expensive. Mind you, I don't imagine the tooling for the aluminium parts is that cheap either. Meh, who knows.

It's a sensible way to bring an expensive thing down to cost.

Then call it Ultegra level so James doesn't feel dirty when he buys it.

That suggests £350 just for the shifters and brakes so more than a whole mechanical 105 group? Gah

105 mechanical road levers are £175 RRP.

I'm as confident in shimanos ability to make components stiff and light from alu. As I am in their inability to make them look sexy, carbon or not.

Who is doing Ultegra 11sp really cheap?

Merlin OEM: http://www.merlincycles.com/shimano-ultegra-6800-groupset-oem-69564.html

Or PBK: http://www.probikekit.co.uk/cycling-groupsets/shimano-ultegra-6800-11-speed-groupset-grey/10836459.html

Plus quidco

http://www.bikeradar.com/road/news/article/shimano-introduces-new-road-disc-brake-standard-41681/

Shimano states that the system is backwards compatible with post-mount brake calipers with an adapter

Good to know.

Merlin OEM: http://www.merlincycles.com/shimano-ultegra-6800-groupset-oem-69564.html

Or PBK: http://www.probikekit.co.uk/cycling-groupsets/shimano-ultegra-6800-11-speed-groupset-grey/10836459.html

Plus quidco

Now £427 with code 'shim10uk' and quidco

Dunno

Shimano.