Bicycle Mechanics - Newbie question: 105 to Ultegra 10 upgrade

I purchased a 2005 Lemond Alpe d' Huez before heading over on my one year vacation in the middle east. My goal is to buy a component a month in order to upgrade from my 105/bontrager set up to a ultegra 10.

My question is, what do I need to buy? My big concern is having to buy new shifters/levers. If I can get away with using my 105 shifters, I can afford to do this easily. If I have to upgrade to ultegra 10 shifters, I probably won't be able to.

Any help is apreciated.

Thanks

Eric

No, you don't have to change the shifters. Those components will work just fine together. I'm mixing new Ultegra & old Tiagra components right now, the shifters will be the final item I'll upgrade. They do work fine, but those shifters will wear out eventually, so I'll upgrade at that time.

No, you don't have to change the shifters. Those components will work just fine together. I'm mixing new Ultegra & old Tiagra components right now, the shifters will be the final item I'll upgrade. They do work fine, but those shifters will wear out eventually, so I'll upgrade at that time.

Read his post again - he wants to upgrade to Ultegra10 (10 speed) from 105 (9 speed).

I purchased a 2005 Lemond Alpe d' Huez before heading over on my one year vacation in the middle east. My goal is to buy a component a month in order to upgrade from my 105/bontrager set up to a ultegra 10.

My question is, what do I need to buy? My big concern is having to buy new shifters/levers. If I can get away with using my 105 shifters, I can afford to do this easily. If I have to upgrade to ultegra 10 shifters, I probably won't be able to.

Any help is apreciated.

Thanks

EricYa need shifters,cassette and chain.

If I can get away with using my 105 shifters, I can afford to do this easily.
You can't use the 105 shifters because of the difference in cog spacing for 9s and 10s.

My question is, what do I need to buy? My big concern is having to buy new shifters/levers.
You don't have to change the entire drivetrain to go 10 speed. Minimum you need to buy/change is the RIGHT STI lever, 10s cogset, and 10s chain.

The falling dollar and the rising yen are making shimano components expensive for me. I have a mix of Ultegra, 105, and XTR (an older pre-reverse shifting rear derr.) nine-speed components on my road bike, and they work very well together. Given the steep costs of upgrading, I am going to wait for the right STI shifter to break before upgrading to ten-speed Ultegra.

I purchased a 2005 Lemond Alpe d' Huez before heading over on my one year vacation in the middle east. My goal is to buy a component a month in order to upgrade from my 105/bontrager set up to a ultegra 10.

My question is, what do I need to buy? My big concern is having to buy new shifters/levers. If I can get away with using my 105 shifters, I can afford to do this easily. If I have to upgrade to ultegra 10 shifters, I probably won't be able to.

Any help is apreciated.

Thanks

EricEric, In all honestly, upgrading components on a new bike like that is a big waste of money. Going from 9-speed 105 to 10-speed Ultegra isn't going to buy you any real world performace gains. The only place it will make you lighter is in the wallet. I wouldn't even entertain the idea unless I had a frame handy to hang the 105 on. I know that wasn't the question you asked.

Also, from the question you asked, I have to assume you don't have a lot of bike mechanic experience or you wouldn't have needed to post the question. You would have already known the answer. So if you're going to pay the LBS to do these piecemeal upgrades it will be even more costly. You should have just bought a bike with Ultegra 10 in the first place and saved yourself quite a bit of time, grief and long green.

I'm not trying to be rude here, I just want to give you a head's up on what you're getting yourself into.

Thanks to everyone for the assistance. I have decided not to upgrade to Ultegra 10. But as you average taxpayers are paying me extra this year because I am in a "hazardous" area. I have some money to burn. I am still interested in upgraded from my bontrager crankset to Ultegra 9. I have no clue what the stock bontrager crap I have on my bike is compareable to.

So, no Ultegra 10. My next question is: Is upgrading to a Ultegra 9 (pretty cheap) crankset, and possibly Ultegra wheels worth the money?

Thanks again, this place is awesome.

Good decision, I was about to say going from 105 to ultegra is a huge waste of money. Upgrading one gruppo higher is also a waste of money. Unless you're possibly upgrading sora shifters.

Is there something specific you want to accomplish with your upgrade for racing? Or did you just want to spend $?

I have decided not to upgrade to Ultegra 10.
Good decision seconded

I have some money to burn...as you average taxpayers are paying me extra this year because I am in a "hazardous" area. Can one cycle there? Let's hear more about that. If you want to play by the rules, bring it to the politics forum? I'd be interested in hearing some first hand accounts


my one year vacation in the middle east.

If you are back, great. If you are on your way over, good luck and "godspeed"



I am still interested in upgraded from my bontrager crankset to Ultegra 9.

Is the current crankset too heavy or not stiff enough?

Good decision seconded
Can one cycle there? Let's hear more about that. If you want to play by the rules, bring it to the politics forum? I'd be interested in hearing some first hand accounts



If you are back, great. If you are on your way over, good luck and "godspeed"



Is the current crankset too heavy or not stiff enough?

I am over here right now. On one of the largest bases in country. I have my Trek 3900 mountain bike with me and I put around 40-50 miles a week on it. I am lucky and my job allows me a 1/2 off per week. Today was that day and I rode 32 miles this morning. I am smoked. But it is a nice hobby to have and keep my mind off things for 30 minutes a day and half a day once a week.

Too keep it on topic in this forum. I am also upgrading my 3900 slowly. I love the frame but the components are just to dam heavy. I upgraded my stem and handlebar (came in the mail today) and I love it. I know I should upgrade my fork but that will cost to damn much. I am looking at a lighter set of wheels and crank. I have had problems with by rear brakes also, not sure if it is my poor maintenance skills, or just weak components unable to handle the rough trail/roads I am riding here.

What I should do to upgrade my 3900 (the one I ride every day) is probably what I should be asking.

Hi,
here's my 2 cents. I love good tires. I'd like to try these at some point... http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=BUY_PRODUCT_STANDARD&PRODUCT.ID=406&CATEGORY.ID=39&MODE=

Get a better seat, the guys that have the new Arione seem to love it. Is there any way to get that rear brake worked on? Personally, I make that the top priority.

Is there any way to get that rear brake worked on? Personally, I make that the top priority.

now, I'm no roadie, but isn't the rear brake about the most useless component on a bike if your not racing in a pack? As for funtionality I'm sure the 105 brakes will stop you as surely and quickly as the dura ace.

However, I second late's reccomendation of a seat upgrade. If you're lucky enough to get a seat that fits you well it can make fantastic upgrade. Might want to wait till you can test them out in a shop though, I wouldn't mail order a seat I hadn't sat on already.

rear-brake is used for scrubbing speed. Won't slow you down a whole lot, but if you just rely on your front brake it can get nasty on steep descents. And 105 -> Ultegra is pretty much useless, we have already established that.

If the seat is giving you problems I would definately change that out first. Remember, lots of padding is not so good. Squishes all the soft stuff between your sit bones.

If you don't need a new seat I would go with a new set of wheels(or a new rear brake) unless there is something else on the mtb that is giving you problems.

P.S. Good luck over there! Stay safe and good riding.

Thanks for you service. Stay safe.

As for your question. Money is probably better spent upgrading the non-shimano stuff: seat, stem bars, headset, etc... or putting some money into a really nice wheelset. You will notice VERY little performance gain going from 105 to Ultegra. Wait til it dies on its own.

-Z