Bicycle Mechanics - Replacing the 105 Front from my Trek 2200 for Ultegra Help

I have a new Trek 2200 and I want to replace the front derailleur which is stock Shimano 105 with the Ultegra Front Derailleur to complete the bike (as all other components are Ultegra)

I don't understand why they would do this

Anyway

I emailed them and they told me I need a "You will need a braze-on front Ultegra front derailleur" but I don't really know which one I need to get so that it will work with the components on my bike.

Just for reference, my components are as follows:
SHIFTERS: Shimano Ultegra
FRONT DERAILLEUR: Shimano 105
REAR DERAILLEUR: Shimano Ultegra
CRANKSET: Shimano Ultegra 53/39 or 52/42/30
CASSETTE: Shimano HG-70 12-25, 9 speed


Please help me so that I can get the right derailleur :)

Thanks!

Ultegra 6503 (http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/11291-105_SHIU38-3-Parts-57-Derailleurs/Shimano-Ultegra-Triple-Front-Derailleur-6503.htm) if it's a triple.

Ultegra 6500 (http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/11292-105_SHIUD3-3-Parts-57-Derailleurs/Shimano-Ultegra-Double-Front-Derailleur-6500-offerIN050BB1.htm) if it's a double.

Make sure you choose the braze-on type if that's what your frame is designed for, NOT the clamp-on.

Stick to the 9-speed front derailleurs. The word seems to be that there can be problems if you use one of the new 10-speed derailleurs (6600 or 6603) with a 9 speed chain and 9 speed cassette.

If you want _all_ Ultegra, you'll need a CS6500 cassette to replace the 105 level CS-HG70-9 you have now.

I have a new Trek 2200 and I want to replace the front derailleur which is stock Shimano 105 with the Ultegra Front Derailleur to complete the bike (as all other components are Ultegra)

I don't understand why they would do this

Anyway

I emailed them and they told me I need a "You will need a braze-on front Ultegra front derailleur" but I don't really know which one I need to get so that it will work with the components on my bike.

Just for reference, my components are as follows:
SHIFTERS: Shimano Ultegra
FRONT DERAILLEUR: Shimano 105
REAR DERAILLEUR: Shimano Ultegra
CRANKSET: Shimano Ultegra 53/39 or 52/42/30
CASSETTE: Shimano HG-70 12-25, 9 speed


This would be a foolish waste of money, and would reslt in degraded shifting performance. Don't do it!

The current Ultegra front derailer is optimized for a 52-39-... chainring. They probably chose the 2005 105 version they used because it was designed for the 52-42-... setup, and for 9-speed chain.

There is no inherent performance difference between 105 and Ultegra derailers of similar groups, Ultegra might be a couple of grams lighter.

The higher end 9-speed stuff is getting scarce, but makes a lot more sense for a touring bike than 10 speed stuff does, at this time at least.

Don't get hung up on labels, function is much more important than snob appeal.

Sheldon "If It Ain't Broke..." Brown

+-----------------------------------+
| Fashion exists for those people |
| who have no style of their own. |
| --John Moore |
+-----------------------------------+

Sheldon is absolutely right. You will never see the difference even if you can find a suitable 9-speed Ultegra fd. No one else will ever notice the "upgrade" either. Save your money.

BTW, the reason you were told you will need a "braze-on" style front derailleur is not because your frame had a braze-on mounting tab. It's because your frame has a 1-3/8" (35 mm) diameter seat tube and Shimano didn't make 1-3/8" diameter clamp-on fd's until some of the 10-speed models were introduced. You would need a braze-on fd plus a 35 mm adapter clamp (which may already be on the bike).

Historical note: I have a '92 Trek 1420 that came with a Shimano 35 mm clamp-on fd. When I asked my dealer to get me an extra he had to get it directly from Trek since Shimano only made that style for OEM use. None of their aftermarket fd's were available with a 35 mm clamp.