Originally Posted by
cloud5
So here is what I ended up doing. I asked LBS about swapping conduct brakes for either 105 or ultegra full hydro, basically they said it would be the full cost of the new group set plus installation (they have to run new lines for the full hydraulic setup), they wouldn't just swap it for 105's at cost. This means that the Giant advanced disc 1 KOM would have cost me close to $3k, which in my opinion was too expensive for what i would be getting. So I found a great deal on a 2017 TCR Advanced disc one, from another shop with Ultegra components except for Shimano r505 hydraulic shifters which are bulkier than the new 105's but lightyears ahead of the conduct system. I got it new for $1900 and decided that even if i upgrade later to Ultegra hydraulic shifters I can do that and with installation cost be at or under the $2500 which is what the 2019 TCR disc with conduct brakes would have run me.
Cool! I was going to mention that you might find one of those still sitting on the floor somewhere, but forgot (I was shopping that model for a while, too). IRRC, the only improvement of consequence is that the 2018/19s have tubeless ready wheelsets; they're on the chunky side, anyway, and you could do much better buying a new wheelset with the money saved sometime down the line.
Originally Posted by
redlude97
I'd rather have the conduct system than those shifters. You can find RS685s for dirt cheap
Originally Posted by
cloud5
Yeah they are not my ideal but I personally thought it was better than the conduct set up. My plan is to get the RS685s when I get a chance.
I haven't seen a good price (~<$350) on the levers and/or kit (incl calipers) for a while.
That said, I have 505s and 685s and they both work just fine - I once considered replacing the 505s with 685s, but living with them for a while quieted that 'need.' The 505s are ugly, but that's not really an issue from the saddle. Some people complain about the ergonomics, but I haven't found them to be uncomfortable with any of the hand positions that I use (I know that some people like to wrap their fingers around the tops, but it's not something I do).