Cyclocross - New Shifters for the Major Jake: 105 or Ultegra?

Oops, meant to post this in the collective CX forum;

New Briftersfor Major Jake : 105 or Ultegra

I am finally building up my 2010 JakeTheSnake as the do-it-all bike and tricking out my 2005 Major Jake for pretty much cx racing only. I am going to do a powdercoat that hopefully will come out something like this http://www.flickr.com/photos/bpotstr...th/3707779348/

Currently the MJ has Ultegra 6500 ders on it (Front and rear) and 9 speed tiagra shifters (came with DA but I swapped them out as DA is too nice for a non sponsored cx racer, imo) . I am going to 10 speed on both bikes so I can swap wheels as needed.

I am torn about which brifter to put on the MJ between the 105 5600 (can get used for $80), 105 5700 (Ribble $190) or Ultegra 6700 (Ribble $301).

The JTS will have the 105 5700 on it. It might be nice to have a similar cockpit but I am not too sure about the added value of Ultegra in the brifters for a bike that will hang most of the year and be covered in mud when it is being used (I wreck sometimes too) )

Money is always a factor but I can make any of these options work.

What say you guys..the great cyclocross collective? 6700, 5700 or 5600 for the pimped out MJ?

1. SRAM Rival
2. Page Not Found. Oops! Looks like you followed a bad link.
3. Stop using "brifter".

1. SRAM Rival
2. Page Not Found. Oops! Looks like you followed a bad link.
3. Stop using "brifter".

1: Hmmm, will consider Rival. Can you elaborate on why?
2: lets try this http://www.flickr.com/photos/bpotstra/3217595617/
3: "Brifter" sounds awesome. Sometimes I just say it over and over to myself for a mile or so on my commute until I can detach the sound of the word from the meaning in my mind. "Brrriiiiffter", Briphter, Bhriphter"

The new 105 is very nice. I had it on my 2010 Tricross Comp and it was as nice as Ultegra or Dura Ace. I have all 3 so I know what I'm talking about.

I had Rival on another bike and it was ok. I didn't like it as much as 105. It felt kinda clunky to me. 105 was very, very smooth. Maybe if you're talking racing there will be a difference to discuss that makes Rival better, but for someone like me that doesn't race anymore and rides paved and dirt roads, 105 was great.

I like the term brifter also.

I've got 5600 and 6600 shifters both of which I've mixed and matched with 5600, 6600 and 6700 rear derailleurs. The 6700 derailleur is noticeably better, but I can't tell the difference between shifters with any of the derailleurs. They all work well.

I have no experience with the new shifters, but I think the internal cable routing would make the difference between 5600 and 5700 worthwhile (especially given new vs/ used concerns). I tend to get tangled in the shift cables when trying to shoulder my bike with the "reach-around-the-headtube" method.

Oops, meant to post this in the collective CX forum;

New Briftersfor Major Jake : 105 or Ultegra

I am finally building up my 2010 JakeTheSnake as the do-it-all bike and tricking out my 2005 Major Jake for pretty much cx racing only. I am going to do a powdercoat that hopefully will come out something like this http://www.flickr.com/photos/bpotstr...th/3707779348/

Currently the MJ has Ultegra 6500 ders on it (Front and rear) and 9 speed tiagra shifters (came with DA but I swapped them out as DA is too nice for a non sponsored cx racer, imo) . I am going to 10 speed on both bikes so I can swap wheels as needed.

I am torn about which brifter to put on the MJ between the 105 5600 (can get used for $80), 105 5700 (Ribble $190) or Ultegra 6700 (Ribble $301).

The JTS will have the 105 5700 on it. It might be nice to have a similar cockpit but I am not too sure about the added value of Ultegra in the brifters for a bike that will hang most of the year and be covered in mud when it is being used (I wreck sometimes too) )

Money is always a factor but I can make any of these options work.

What say you guys..the great cyclocross collective? 6700, 5700 or 5600 for the pimped out MJ?

Personally I'd like to try microshift. So you buy microshift because it's what I want than tell me about it.

1: Hmmm, will consider Rival. Can you elaborate on why?I prefer the shifting and the shape of the levers. Overall Rival is a better deal than Ultegra IMHO.

I have three Kona cross bikes, two with 105s and one with Ultegra. IMHO, no difference. the rear deraillure is where you want to put your money. ride em on road and trail.

Rival is a better groupset for the money. BUT, you'll have to change the rear derailleur as well and 105 can be found rather inexpensive.

Rival is a better groupset for the money. BUT, you'll have to change the rear derailleur as well and 105 can be found rather inexpensive.Oops I thought he was getting new ders as well. Yes, that plays into it. It still's worthwhile to consider IMO.

Thanks for the advice everyone. I ended up going with Ultegra 6600 on both the MJ and the JTS. It really came down to ergonomics.

My reasoning:

1: ERGONOMICS (the biggest factor by far). I went into my lbs and tried my hands on the new Sram and new Shimano hoods: NO SIR---DON’T LIKE IT (for you old Wren and Stimpy fans). On the other hand, the Dura Ace 7800s on my Tarmac are like heaven for my smaller paws. This is a pretty big deal as one of the reasons I love to ride the tarmac is how those hoods feel to me. I will gladly deal with external cable routing to get near perfect ergonomics.

2: PRICE: for a full $100 LESS than the price of going with 1 Ultegra 6700 and 1 105 5700, I could do both with Ultegra 6600 SL!!!.

3: This review made a lot of sense to me (ESPECIALLY THE PART ABOUT THE EXPOSED INTERNAL GEARING: that is a big turnoff since both of these bikes will see cross/commuting/winter duty).
http://www.cyclingnews.com/reviews/shimano-ultegra-6700-group

NO SIR---DON'T LIKE IT (for you old Wren and Stimpy fans)

You still need a really gross-looking close-up of the new levers, preferably with pustules and a hair and/or mold growing out of them. :)


http://www.cyclingnews.com/reviews/shimano-ultegra-6700-group

Thanks for posting the review. I am suddenly a lot less anxious to upgrade my 5600/6600 stuff.

You still need a really gross-looking close-up of the new levers, preferably with pustules and a hair and/or mold growing out of them. :)



Thanks for posting the review. I am suddenly a lot less anxious to upgrade my 5600/6600 stuff.

I am glad you get the humor.

Yeah, I am not too sure it would really be an upgrade at all unless getting rid of that external cable is your main concern.