Road Cycling - Carbon frame with 105 groupset?

I am looking at a new road bike, and one bike shop has a carbon frame Trek made up for a bit over AUD$4,000. It is a carbon frame with cheap wheels and 105 groupset. This is to keep the price of the bike down but still keeping the better frame.

This sounds like a good idea to me - after all, the major component on the bike is the frame. I also feel that the 105 groupset is almost as good as the Ultegra that you would normally fit. The wheels do look a bit cheap (low end Mavics or something) and they might need upgrading a bit.

The thing is, I spoke about this with my LBS, where I have been dealing for years. He derided the whole idea - you could not possibly fit a 105 groupset to a carbon frame bike!

I had the feeling that it was more of a "social statement" than anything else. ie it just was "not done".

What do other people think? I really would like to get a carbon frame, but a full Trek 5200 is around AUD$7,000, I think - a bit out of my price range.

Looking at the prices of build kits and frames recently, I am not sure that the frame is always the major component. It may be the single most expnsive, but with $400 forks and build kits ranging up to about $1,700 (US currency) some reasonable frames may be much less expensive than what you put on them. On the other hand a lot of nice complete bicycles can be had for 5-15% more than the build kits put on them.

carbon + 105? I cant see anything wrong with it.

check out this link.here (http://www.gurubikes.com/index2.htm)

then click components..

They don't seem to mind what group goes with thier frames.. And they are selling 2000-3000 dollar(US) frames..

The main differences between the 105 and the rest on the line are the weight and finish. The only thing I can think that would be a problem with the 105 is the front derailleur. I don’t think the 105 have and over sized clamp. But, I know that the Ultegra does.
I see no problem with a good frame and a lower groupo.

Colorado Cyclist-Douglas titanium w/ultegra triple,$2109.

Look at online shops. I am sure you can get a lower price on something better or at least more choices.

Do nto buy cheap Ti frames like listed above as they are basicly straight gauge and tend to be very flexy and fail rather quickly. For Ti it is best to buy butted multi shaped tubeset.

Originally posted by carlee
carbon + 105? I cant see anything wrong with it.

That is what I thought - it did seem more of a cultural thing than a purely technical reason.

The bike I saw was bascially a Trek 5200 with 105 groupset instead of Ultegra. And terrible looking wheels, I have to say. Still, I am tempted. I can always change the wheels later on as I get a bit more money. The groupset should last as well, or work as well as the Ultegra, so that could probably stay.

It is just hard justifying $4,000+ to the wife - probably near $5,000 by the time you get FlightDeck, pumps, etc. A lot of money.

I guess you havent read much about the douglas.I think its better then what your saying.Myself,i wouldnt pay that for a bike i wasnt going to race alot.

Originally posted by shokhead
I guess you havent read much about the douglas.I think its better then what your saying.Myself,i wouldnt pay that for a bike i wasnt going to race alot.
What is a "Douglas"? Is that a type of bike? Pardon my ignorance.

And I do not race at all. I just ride with my local bike club. I simply do recreational weekend rides of 50-200km around Brisbane (Australia). I have never been in a race in my life, and do not want to start now.

I ride a good road bike now - a Softride Solo - and that cost me around $4,000+ (Aust dollars). It is just that it is a bit heavy and has flat bars fitted. Very comfortable, and great for the longer rides because it is so comfortable and also I can fit all my computers, Polar S710i, GPS, lights, etc.

The new bike will be for the short, daytime 50-100km rides that I want to do a bit faster. And also to get over the hills a bit easier. I find the dropdowns and the lighter weight a big advantage on the hills.

The other thing is that I am losing weight pretty well. I have already lost 18kg (40 lb), and have already had to change bikes once as I had outgrown my first bike. This is because I have become a lot fitter and have become much lighter. I am looking for this new "fast" bike because I can now go a lot faster than what I used to be able to do. I see myself losing another 20kg (45lb), so I presume I will become better on the bike as a result. I do not want to buy yet another bike in a year's time - so I want to get the very best I can afford right now, hoping to grow into it.

Originally posted by Xavier
[B]Look at online shops. I am sure you can get a lower price on something better or at least more choices.

I am in Australia. Online shops are not really a viable option for me. In fact, we have a fairly limited range here anyway due to our low population. There are only 2 or 3 bike shops in Brisbane that have anything like a decent range in top end road bikes - and by decent range, I mean around 6 - 12 bikes. Most bike shops seem to cater to families (ie $600 bikes) and low end Giants, Felts and the like.

And there is no way I would buy a bike online without riding it first. And I think after sales service is more important than the upfront cost. I visit my LBS at least once a week - I am always getting something fixed or tuned on the bike. In fact, I am bending over backwards to try to buy a bike from my LBS - no matter how much he charges me. I know it will be better for me in the long term.

Originally posted by kneighbour
He derided the whole idea - you could not possibly fit a 105 groupset to a carbon frame bike!

I had the feeling that it was more of a "social statement" than anything else. ie it just was "not done".

For a few years, Trek produced the 5000 model, a carbon fiber frame with 105 group. I bought one, and have put thousands of miles on it without any problem (or any grief from my friends who ride 5500s, Colangos, Sevens, Lightspeeds, Calfees, etc.).

So, if Trek had no qualms about putting 105 on their carbon . . .

In any event, you could alway upgrade the components later.

I am concerned about the wheelset. I had quite a bit of misery from my Mavic CXP21s which were stock on my bike. From other threads here and on roadbikerreviews.com, I am not the only one who had grief from CXP21s. Life got better when I upgraded to CXP33s, which are terrific. For the same price I could have gotten Open Pros, too. I have been real happy with my 105 gruppo. However, the wheels might be the Achilles heel of the bike you are considering.

Rich

If you decide you like the bike, the shop should change wheels for a small amount of money. Have him put some different ones on. I am also a big guy, and have CXP 33 rims. Prob any rim over 450 grams would be fine. The aero rims like the CXP will have a harsher ride. Isn't Velocity made in Australia? I have heard good things about those rims; perhaps he could build you a set of wheels with them.

The thing is, I spoke about this with my LBS, where I have been dealing for years. He derided the whole idea - you could not possibly fit a 105 groupset to a carbon frame bike!

i find that to be a bunch of crap. when i got my 5200, i wished that trek had an OCLV bike equipped with 105 to keep costs down. there was one quite a few years ago when the OCLV was new, the trek 5000. but i guess it didnt sell well. needless to say, i don't think that many will see your 105 components as trashing a carbon frame.

Originally posted by late
If you decide you like the bike, the shop should change wheels for a small amount of money. Have him put some different ones on. I am also a big guy, and have CXP 33 rims. Prob any rim over 450 grams would be fine. The aero rims like the CXP will have a harsher ride. Isn't Velocity made in Australia? I have heard good things about those rims; perhaps he could build you a set of wheels with them.
Actually, Velocity are here in Brisbane near me. And I use Velocity Deep V rims on my other road bike with no problems at all. Very strong.

The thing is they do not look as cool as the Bontrager Race Lite wheels - which look pretty good. The Velocity wheels are normal spoked wheels, which is probably what I should use. But I like the cool look of the fewer spokes of the Bontrager. But I guess you have to pay a cost for those fewer spokes...

My 'plan' is that if and when I get under 200 pounds.....I am going to treat myself to a nice, light set of wheels. I usually say that's Open Pros, but there are more expensive wheels that sing to me as well. Something to work for, eh?

I didnt know under 200 was light.I am 190 and most say i shouldnt use light wheelsets.

Yeah,
if you lost 30 pounds, and then another 60 pounds, would you think you were due for some sort of reward? I am careful aobut the durability of the stuff I buy; but......I am dying to get a lightweight set of wheels and fast 23c tires for club rides.