Components prioritized
 

Starting to look for my next bike. Currently riding an 05 LeMond Tourmalet. I am wondering how Forum members would rank the different components (frame, brakes, wheels, drive train, etc) in importance. I'm looking for something quicker and lighter but haven't settled on anything - just wondering how you folks prioritize.... thanks.

I don't know about anyone else, but it goes like this for me ona roadie.

Frame
Wheels (including good tires)
Shifters
Brakes
Cranks
Derailleurs

Wheels
Tires
Shifters
RD
crank
FD
Frame
Brakes

Frame is usually a moot point becuase you need to buy what fits, and it's not like many upgrade frequently.

Wheels and tires have the greatest effect on the feel of the ride outside of the frame. So much so that I think those that rate frames should be forced to always ride the same wheel and tire on every test.

why are shifters ahead of the RD

cheers

They do the shifting.

Frame
tires
wheels
hbar
stem
saddle
shifters
der.
post

no sh$t but if you had decent shifters and comparable rd why whould the shifters give more bang for eg going from veloce rd to chorus or veloce shifters to chorus

Frame/Fork
Wheels
Shifters
Brakes
Deraillers
Cranks
Tires
Bottle Cages

Nice cables are more important than nice derailleurs.

At least if what you want is good shifting.

Hood: your post makes no sense, try rephrasing.

The derailleur will perform roughly the same across component levels. The shifters are much more complicated pieces of kit, and you can definitely feel a difference. I can't really tell a Tiagra from an Ultegra rear derailleur on my bikes without looking. Derailleurs are kind of a sucker part in my opinion. It is always one bump up the spec chart on new bikes because they know it sells bikes to people that think the rear derailleur does all the work.

sorry I was typing whilst trying to put my 8 month baby to sleep

the question is basically would I be better to upgrade my veloce RD or my veloce shifters to chorus (I am getting the shifters for free but the question is still valid )

Shifters without a single doubt.

If you were buying a complete new bike, I would put tires way down on the list, since they are relatively cheap to upgrade. On the other hand, if you're upgrading your existing bike, tires would be much higher.

For a new bike,
Frame
Wheels
rd
crankset
shifters
fd
cassette
saddle
chain
saddle
tires.

Upgrading an existing bike (given that you already have a frameset):
tires
wheels
rd
shifters
crankset
fd
cassette
chain

For me, the least important is the chain and cassette, even the lowest end (105, Veloce) cassette and chain will work with the higher end, and has the poorest return in value when it comes to performance if you spend more.

Thanks to everyone for the advice and assistance..... definitely good info to ponder (even as my heart tells me to go with an Orbea Orca - they're just so darn pretty). :)

Shifters have a greater influence on the feel and control of the shift than ever the derails do. A nice RD will give a sense of lightness/quickness to the shift, but the shifter will give you the smoothness and precision of the action.

Put another way all derails pretty much go where the cable tells them to go. Shifters control the cable.

Nice derail on crappy shifters will result in crappy shift feel and movement. You can not overcome the sins of a bad shifter with a nice derail.

Campagnolo shifters are very similar all through the range. I doubt you will notice much, if any, difference between Veloce and Chorus shifters and mechs in terms of performance. If you have 07/08 Veloce, you might like the gear dumping though, and the non-freezing levers in the cold :)

Assuming the frame is a given:

"Engine"

followed a long way behind by:

Fork
Tires
Wheels
Brake shoes
Saddle
Tubes
Stem
Shifters (brake levers/hoods included)
Bars
Brake calipers
Cranks
Pedals
Seat post
Bearings (upgrade to ceramic)
Chain
RD
FD
Cassette
Cables
Bar tape
Bottle cages
Skewers
Bottom bracket
Headset
Screws (upgrade to titanium)

Saddle
Frame
Wheels