Originally Posted by
Inertianinja
my 2 cents: personal preference, but here's some parameters that you can use:
i find SRAM to be more "clicky" and mechanical feeling, which i kind of prefer. not that 105 isnt' precise, i just prefer SRAM.
i do not like the Shimano shifting method. I don't like shifting the brake lever, and i don't like how the whole top of the brake opens up when you pull the brake back. SRAM, brakes are just brakes.
i do not like the Shimano 105 hood shape, i prefer SRAM's.
you should check out these things and see how you feel.
You should check out Shimano's current offerings. For their comparable groups, 105 and up, Shimano has a redesigned lever. I still don't think it's as nice as SRAM's. But the hood shape is different, the shifter no longer moves with the brake.
Anyway, the other thing Apex offers, for a commuter, is wide gear ratios without using a triple. That means cranks closer together, better front shifting (even SRAM's double shifts better than Shimano's triple up front). Apex offers the option of a medium cage rear der, and an 11-32 cassette. Pair that with a compact double (34/50) and you have some nice low gears.
Another nice thing about SRAM levers, versus shimano, for a commuter in my opinion: Easier to operate with gloves. That big shift paddle is much easier to hit with some fat gloves, and there's no getting hung up on the brake and shift paddle at once (which on my shimano levers locks the whole thing out). Of course, that only matters if it actually gets cold where you live.