Originally Posted by
motobecane69
Lets say you've narrowed your bike down to 2 choices. one in Ti the other in CF. they have identical components and cost the same, which do you choose and why.
Titanium because no paint means no chips and scratches in the paint. Damage usually takes the form of polished spots or scratches which aren't that visible and can easily be hidden further using a Scotch Brite pad with brushed finishes. My titanium frame looks much better after 15 years than my previous steel frame did just 7.
Part 2, one has ultegra 6700 the other SRAM Rival, still the same price. Does this change your decision? Why?
You'd have to pay me to ride either because I prefer Campagnolo's shifting interface (five cogs smaller, three bigger, stationary brake blades)
In 145 pound climbing form I wouldn't mind the lack of a triple option (34x23 was enough to get me over everything in the Colorado Rockies and still allowed for one tooth jumps to the 19 cog with just 9 in back) but as a Clydestale I'd skip SRAM because they lack the dozen cogs in back it takes to match the range and spacing we had with triple cranks and tight cassettes with 8 cogs in 1991.
Shimano's cranks look like dead octopuses, although since I spend more time riding my bikes than looking at them I could get over that.