Originally Posted by
kevbo
+1 on quality level of components. I find the best value is usually one or two notches down from top-of-the-line. The top dollar stuff is often, in fact, inferior from a utility standpoint. Mostly it saves a little weight, often at the expense of strength or utility. Sometimes it uses expensive titanium to save a few grams, when heavier steel is stronger. If you want to win a race, or impress the roadies, spend the $$$ on SuperRecord or DuraAce, but know that you can spend a lot less on stuff that will work just as well, and last just as long...and hurt a lot less when it gets stolen or busted in a crash.
I agree up to a point. You should probably look at the highest level components you can afford that are still using aluminum and steel. While the entry level stuff is fine for general transportation use, usually the higher level, non-carbon components are built to last longer. Shimano has resisted the push for carbon, and I think a solid standard Ultregra groupo would hold up better over time than Sora aside from shifting performance. So I would not discount durability. In utility cycling, I would definitely stay away from anything titanium or carbon or anything labeled SL.