I am preparing to buy a complete 9 speed shimano group for my bike with the exception of the dual pivot brake calipers (to save money). I currently have some old campy side pull brakes. Braking seems fine to me....but I haven't ridden dual pivot so I don't know what I'm missing.

I checked to price on the calipers and they only add $50-$60 to the price. I'm on a tight budget, but was wondering if they will make my STI conversion that much easier? Will my side pull brakes work with STI or do I have to do some modifications to get them to work.

ALSO a ultegra kit ends up only costing $60 more than the 105. Is it worth it just to get the ultegra?

P.S. THe 105 kit does come wiith an ultegra bottom bracket, ultegra chain, and ultegra cassette.

Dual-pivot side-pulls and single-pivot side-pulls use the same brake levers. Levers used with dual-pivot should have return springs as the springs in the calipers are weaker. You can use dual control levers or single control brake levers for both.

I have single-pivot Dura-ace on one bike and dual-pivot Dura-ace on another. Although dual-pivot give slightly more mechanical advantage for more braking power, I don't really feel any difference in braking function in day-to-day use. I guess dual-pivots are supposed to be easier to center but I've never had any problems keeping the single-pivots centered. I've read that dual-pivots give less clearance for fenders.

Think about this. Both Shimano and Campy have a release that allows your calipers to open so that you can remove your tire easily. Campy puts it on the brake lever, Shimano puts it on the caliper. If you use Shimano brake levers with a Campy caliper, you won't have one.

That's funny,

Kind of the reverse of Sheldon Brown's Shimagnolo kit where you have ergo brake levers with shimano calipers- this set-up would give you 2 releases.

I found my RSX dual pivot brakes more powerful then my Campy Record single pivot brakes.

I don't know if they still do it, but in the past Shimano has put the release into the brake levers for some of the lower end road components. I have some Shimano Exage brakes from the early 90's with release in the lever.