Road Cycling - The difference between gruppos

I have been reading the past threads about the different components from shimano and campy and to ask a silly question (whats new) what is the difference from a riding point of view?
Is the weight difference noticeble? or the shifting quicker/more responsive? I have Sora on my lemond and would like to upgrade but not sure what the difference would be in riding

If you upgrade to higher level Shimano shifters, you will no longer have the thumb shifters like your Sora has. This seems to be a Campagnolo feature.

Try a Campy equiped bike with Veloce or above, I think that might sell you. I noticed a difference in the shifters in Chorus and Record compared to the others groups I tested, probably due to the ball bearing mechs instead of using a bushing.

What difference? more precise? quicker? quieter?

More precise, I think that has more to do with how well tuned up you're bike is rather then the comonent group. Smoother shifting between gears.. smoother bearings.. lighter.. Bit stronger will last longer, is the difference dramatic that depends on you really. Some people won't notice the difference between Sora and 105 let's say, but others notice every little change in our bikes. Why not go take a bike with 105.. durace.. ultegra.. Chorus.. record etc.. and see what you think.


Let's not get into a campy vs. shimano debate.. each carries excellent groups but they are setup different in design so that is personal preference which you go with their.

Thanks, that helps, I was wondering if anyone had any examples for instance:-
Riding up a hill and shifting per the increasing grade, the shifting seems seamless on one but on another, the difference was more dramatic? I did some reading on Sora components and most everybody said they had ridden 1000-10000 miles and they were still working fine, so I was wondering if it was a weight thing, or just more precise.
I will give them a try, just worried it will be different on another bike and when I put it on my lemond (nevada city, not the expensive ones) that the difference will be less significent?

Originally posted by Chi
If you upgrade to higher level Shimano shifters, you will no longer have the thumb shifters like your Sora has. This seems to be a Campagnolo feature.

Except that Sora is a Shimano group. And the thumbshifter on Sora works like the small lever on other Shimano STI brifters instead of allowing you to shift multiple gears at a time like with Campy Ergo. Also, the Sora thumbshifter at least for me was impossible to operate from down in the drops while the Campy ones were reachable and usable.

Go with Campy you won't be disappointed. For great prices on Campy groupos go to www.totalcycling.com

I found this on the simano web site and thaought it was interesting that Ultegra is engineered to the same specs as the more expensive ones
Engineered to the same specifications as Dura-Ace. Demanded by aspiring racers, triathletes, fitness riders, long distance cyclists and anyone who demands real racing performance from a road bike. Ultegra also offers an optional triple crankset and wider range derailleurs that give touring bikes low-gear capability. Ultegra`s improved Dual Control Levers now feature separate control buttons for the Flight Deck computer.

Aston-------is your heart set on Shimano only??

Nope! I dont know alot about this stuff but I want to be able to justify spending $500-1000 on components. I guess I'm a realist when it comes to explanations. I understand that you have to go out and try this stuff, but when I want to upgrade I would like to know why people think this is better than that so I have a baseline to go by and let me narrow down my purchase.

If all things are equal (and I know it cant be) but if the same person rode the exact same bike, and one week he had my Sora components on the bike, and then the next week he upgraded to tiagra or higher (or Campy) what would feel different?
Could he climb better? would the shifting be more precise? or would he go quicker because they were lighter?

I know this is a difficult question, but surley, people can "feel" a difference that they could put into words or an experience that can make me say "hey, thats what I want them to do?

Originally posted by khuon
Except that Sora is a Shimano group. And the thumbshifter on Sora works like the small lever on other Shimano STI brifters instead of allowing you to shift multiple gears at a time like with Campy Ergo. Also, the Sora thumbshifter at least for me was impossible to operate from down in the drops while the Campy ones were reachable and usable.

It is because of this reason that I'm weighing heavily on buying a frameset and getting a component group separately because the Cannondale R600 I want only comes with Shimano 105 components, but I found that the Campagnolo shifters are much more comfortable and ergonomic to use for my hands. The first time I used them, it was like I already knew how to use them, and I did not notice a learning curve, unlike the Shimano shifters.

In 2 to 3 working days you can have the unbelievable Campagnolo Chorus groupset (minus the hubs and headset) sent to your door for about $650 --shipping included. for $40 or $50 more you can upgrade your Chorus shifters to the Record carbon fiber ergo shifters!!!

for approxiamately $700 you have turned your bicycle into a world class machine!!!What are you waiting for? Take the leap of faith that some of us had to take. You will not regret it.

www.campyonly.com

Apparently 2004 prices for Campy and Shimano groupos are expected to jump a whopping 25 to 30%. So you might want to think about throwing down now to get the most from your dollar.

$465 gets you the Centaur groupset minus the hubs and headset

$335 gets you the Veloce.

pick your poison and your price point.