Originally Posted by
KruiserIV
tsl, you are the man. thank you for the informative response. if i do buy this bike and decide I don't like it, I'm blaming you.
About the drivetrain/brakes. I'm looking to lighten this thing as much as possible without compromising strength. My first upgrade will be Dura Ace components, but only the ones I can afford. In your opinion, what do you feel would be the best upgrade? Derailleurs, shifters, crank, etc?
My Portland is 105 and Ultegra. I also have an Ultegra and Dura Ace bike. I really can't tell the difference, except for what you'd expect going from a triple to a double.
In the drivetrain, the big mass is the wheel. Disc hubs are heavier than standard hubs and the rotors count as rotating mass as well. I thought the wheels on mine were much too heavy. Reducing weight and gaining strength were my primary goals on the new wheelset. Counting grams like a supermodel counts carbs, I shaved a whopping 10 grams off the rear wheel. But I also got it from 24 to 32 spokes and 19mm wide to 24.
If you have too much money, then by all means pimp it out with full DA if you like. Otherwise, put it towards a good set of lights or something.
EDIT: That said, before Standard Time returns, I'm replacing my 5603 levers with 5703. The only issue I have are the shadows cast by the shift cables from my bar-mounted lights. The 5700s run all the cables under the bar tape, like the newer Ultegra and DA levers do.