Tiagra / 105 / Ultegra
 

So my mini velo frame is on route, and I need to start sourcing parts.

Tiagra seems pretty cheap to get hold of, but should I be going 105 or Ultegra instead?

triple or double? And short of long de-railer? compact?

I'm seeing 10 speed cassettes being easiest to get hold of, and then there is hubs :/

So much to re-learn, and I'm forever on google atm :D

How much do you want to spend? Let that determine how high to go.

I'd def go double over triple;with small wheels you need to gear up,I can't see the small ring of a triple ever being used.

The only real difference in those three groups are cost, bragging rights and finish. They will all shift basically the same. Roger

Don't forget weight. A few grams difference, at least.

It seems to me that the cheaper groups are made of slightly thicker metal, which means they may (may) be better able to withstand the extra stresses you get when you continually fold a bicycle up and put it in a suitcase. That was my logic when I went for Sora to kit out my Bike Friday six years ago, and while I don't know if that logic actually holds water, I've had no regrets. The bike is still going strong, countless folds and a couple of centuries later. I also went for a double not a triple, and that's mostly been ok. But I admit there have been times when an even grannier gear would have been nice to have.

Weight is 400 g ish between the top and bottom of them 3.

so might it be a case of which match up with the disc brakes?

i don't see a disc brake option for any.

DVC45 I put weight under bragging rights. Roger

I've found that in the same year of manufacture, Ultegra shifts, feels and looks a little better than 105, and 105 shifts, feels and looks a little better than Tiagra. But I wouldn't hesitate to put a Tiagra group on anything. It comes to a value proposition- often the bike manufacturers put Ultegra or Dura-Ace on bikes with better wheels, frame, etc (which make more difference than the shifter group, IMO) and so Ultegra gets associated with a "better" bike. So, if you're comfortable spending the extra Benjamins, then throw on the Ultegra. If you want perfectly functional, then use Tiagra.

The price jump between 105 and Ultegra is pretty high. Not so much between Tiagra and 105. In the end I opted for 105 on my current build mostly because I wanted the hidden cables and the black finish. Any improved shifting or weight savings is just a bonus.

Yeah, I guess I can agree. :)

Ultegra isn't badly priced, TILL.... the damn brake levers with built in shifters :/

I did a rough price up on all the bits i need.

about $1300 dollars not including chain and cables.

Can i fit a 11speed ultegra on rear? I know i need 11-sommat on rear? and compact on front?

I don't want to go hydraulic on the brake so it's 75$ for each caliper this ultegra cx77 cable brake.

Would rather get it right 1st time, and I will try and source slightly used ultegra off the eblag. Save some monehs

Have you looked at complete groupsets on http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ ?

groupsets are calipers only, not seen a one with disc.

Gotcha, I'm not a folding bike guy so that was lost on me. Would you be better off buying the full group, selling the shifters that come with it, and buying the ones you need?

A few oz here and there add up. My main reason for getting Kojaks on my Brompton was it was the cheapest/easiest way to shave off a 1/2 pound. On a bike that going to be picked up and carried on a regular basis,this is important. And there is def a difference in feel between DA and Tiagra.

Are you getting brifters? Brifters are short-pull;Avid,Tektro,and Shimano all make short-pull disc calipers. You could just buy a draintrain groupo,or just sell the calipers on CL or eBay.

Very few ..

Discs are not mainstream roadie, you need MTB or Alfine parts ..

I can't justify double the price for ultegra over 105

SO going to go 105 set with the 105 sti brake/shifters.

Anyone tried the R517 brakes? or should I go CX77?

How different are the 105 vs. Tiagra brake/shifters?

I vote for BB7 Roads. Tool free adjustment and pad swaps. I liked the M495's that came on my Safari until the head sheared off the rear caliper's pad retaining bolt and I couldn't change the pads out. I've had the road BB7's on 7 drop bar bikes and one flat bar,and have had zero issues.

11 speed on a folding bike? Doable, I`m sure, but doesn`t sound like a good idea IMO. Although I honestly can`t claim any personal experience with paper thin sprockets and high count drivetrains, my impresion is that they start getting finicky about cable adjustment, probably the last thing you`d want if you actually plan to fold it on a regular basis. Though I must admit that I do have one bike with a 9-speed rear and it actualy gives me no more trouble than the 7-speed and 8-speed on the rest of my bikes. Sucks because it robs me of good whining rights :lol:

I generally prefer triples since I can`t see any good reason NOT to go that route, but it would be nice to avoid the slightly longer RD on any bike with little wheels. Because I bought my folder with touring as one of its primary purposes, I use a triple on it in spite of the longer derailler.

going to have to use the cx75 hubs with 10speed+ spacer 105 for my mini velo.