Any Shimano/SRAM/Campag purists in the house?

http://www.lfgss.com/thread50813.html

Continuing from that thread
now I am in grouppo confusion hell
(and that rhymed)

So I have a shimano grouppo (mix of 105 and ultegra) and i love it.
I had test ride on SRAM Rival and Campag Veloce.
So . . .
**
Shimano plus points:** Smooth shifting, STIs comfy hoods (I always ride on hoods and have 105 5700 shifters)
Shimano minus points: Too smooth, according to me shite looking grouppos (except for DA which I cant afford) SIMPLY the idea of shimano on a colnago loathes me.

SRAM plus points: Amazing value, comfy hoods and thats it really
**SRAM minus points: **DOUBLE TAP (WTF?!) maybe I need to get used to the shifting, again looks are an issue here as I want nothing but an aluminium looking grouppo. (Veloce, Athena) There have been lots of people shouting on the internet about the durability of the components esp. abt Rival (I ride 7 days a week and around 80 miles a week)

Campag plus points: Looks, shifting somewhat ok, what I like about shifting is its not toom smooth like shimano and not as confusing as SRAM (talking ONLY abt veloce), comfy hoods and from what i've heard long durability.
Campag minus points: Expensive (If I go campag I will go for Athena) The shifting is good but the ergo shifters lack the shimano style of shifting where upward and downward shifting controls are at 1 point of contact, if ergo's are designed in a way wher the thumb is used to shift down then i have tiny hands/thumbs.

Currently I see 2 clear choices Shimano Ultegra or Campag Athena.
SRAM just lost it with Double Tap I think again there are people swearing by it for me it was very confusing.
Any one here have experiences with all three or atleast ultegra and athena?

Any help appriciated!
Thanks

If its between Ultegra, Force and Athena, I would go Ultegra or Force..

I have switched all of my Athena out for Chorus, the Athena FD is a wet noodle, brakes are average..

You might be able to get a deal on the now old 2010 Chorus 11sp due to the new graphics for next year?

I am actually 'stretching' my budget for Athena ;)
the lowest chorus i could find was this : http://www.totalcycling.com/index.php/product/GR_ATHENA_CARBON.html?action=currency&id=GBP
Which is ok as its the cost of Force/ultegra online.

Which is the less maintence grouppo?
Or are all the expensive grouppos are maintence prone?

fuck yeah Im winning, come on Italy

what?!

fuck yeah Im winning, come on Italy

so you think having anything but campag on the colnago is a bad idea?

I didnt say that, I said Bella Italia Ciao Ciao Campagnolo, Campagnolo,
Coppi, Coppi, Bertolli Bertolli, Cappuccino, Cappuccino

:)

"the girl went back to Italy, because she missed the scenery, the native dancers and the charming songs, but wait a minute somethings wrong......."

• hippy walks in*
  

is hippy a shimano guy?

did you get top grades at school by any chance?

paging hippy

new ultegra.
are you riding the bike or just looking at the fucking thing?
this hipster road riding disease needs stamping out.

you forgot the walking

ooooh, its neck and neck on the poll, ...........

new ultegra.
are you riding the bike or just looking at the fucking thing?
this hipster road riding disease needs stamping out.

you are asking me to destroy the 'looks' on this?

You've said 'comfy hoods' for all 3. For you, one will be 'more' comfy as they are different

Btw Ultegra for function, Athena for looks/function

Any one here have experiences with all three or atleast ultegra and athena?

Any help appriciated!

I have both of these - two lots of Athena actually (one being Racing Triple). The Ultegra is on the back of a DA set up, as well as through another bike entirely, save for hubs.

I have to say I prefer the Campy in almost every way, save for the hood shape, where I find Shim better for my largish hands, esp when climbing out of the saddle, and the front derail, where the higher end Shim, once you get it well set-up, is arguable better to use with less trimming. That said, I prefer the Campy for CX work, as it seems to give you more range for dirt/mud etc getting involved in the drivechain.

I have also found that the Campy is more "adjust and forget", and on it goes without any further adoo. For some reason, the Shim seems to be more fidgity and need trimming more often - cable stretch difference perhaps? It also seems to last a deal more than Shim, chain and sprockets wise.

Plus, I have to say that there is something about having Campy on an italian classic steel that just "goes" properly, but that's JMV.

I only have SRAM on MTBs, so not really much use as a comparison.

All that said, they both work fine once you get them sorted properly, and you'll not ever have the other on the same bike to compare and regret, so perhaps think what you could get if you go for the cheaper option that will enhance your riding - Garmin? Rollers? Top winter kit?

you are asking me to destroy the 'looks' on this?

if you are that precious about it then hang that on the wall to stare and buy a decent lighter modern bike.

if you are that precious about it then hang that on the wall to stare and buy a decent lighter modern bike.

So ultegra wins the day?

So ultegra wins the day?

nooooooooo,
thers 20, 000 members left to poll.
I would have said Shimano, but only said Campy because there wasnt Sram red on the list,
everything has to be Sram red now.

This is a never ending argument. You have to decide, don't try and let the mob decide for you. It's your money and you will be riding it. They are all great groupsets and would all serve you well.

Plus, I have to say that there is something about having Campy on an italian classic steel that just "goes" properly, but that's JMV.

i have a nice steel italian frame.
it has dura-ace/ultegra on it because i like the shift action and the hoods are comfortable. i don't like the thumb button on campagnolo.

it "goes" properly. i shift the levers and the gears move.

i can't think of a rational reason to not use either a particular frame or groupset because of some irrational idea that certain groupsets shouldn't be used with certain kinds of frame.

This is a never ending argument. You have to decide, don't try and let the mob decide for you. It's your money and you will be riding it. They are all great groupsets and would all serve you well.

Agreed what I m looking for is experience with those.
Judging on the people's experiences I will decide, or is that a wrong way around?

This is a never ending argument. You have to decide, don't try and let the mob decide for you. It's your money and you will be riding it. They are all great groupsets and would all serve you well.

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