I'm trying to put together a build for my dad's RS2. He lives on a 20% grade, so needs a triple. I already have a set of wheels and a saddle. Also, we're talking about an extremely meager budget.

I have 105 on my Allez Elite and it's great, so I started there. The 105 group, with a triple, is $660 at Team Cyclist. That seems high to me, and I still need to get a stem, bars, headset, seatpost, and seatpost clamp. So I thought about this: Mercier Corvus $796 @ bikesdirect

105 shifters
ultegra derailleurs
cane creek brakes
fsa gossamer megaexo triple
shimano 5600 12-27 cassette,
cn-5600 chain

and in addition, you get:

double-butted aluminum frame
carbon fork
shimano hubs and rims
velo road saddle
FSA carbon/alu seatpost, and ritchey stem
ritchey bars
clipless pedals
michelin dynamic tires

Can anyone explain to me why groupsets are so pricey, but fully-equipped bikes are dirt cheap? How can this be? Why aren't these bikes stripped down and sold part-wise for profit until the groupset prices come down?

You're giving your father a built-up RS2 as a gift?

AWESOME.

Market dynamics and rate of sales. There are fewer purchases of groupsets than bikes WITH groupsets. Demand & supply dictate prices.

The groupset prices won't come down, but what you can do is buy that full bike, strip it down. Use the parts you need, sell off the rest. Again, you'll need to price it out (search ebay, completed sales) on each part and do some math - it may or may not end up financially viable.

That's because you're looking at an expensive site for the gruppo and BikesDirect (one of the cheapest retailers) for the whole bike.

PBK sells Ultegra gruppos for around $660 shipped.

And yes, people do strip down bikes and sell each part off for profit, don't you check eBay???

Try GVH. I checked their website and I think you can get EVERYTHING on your list for about $660. Keep in mind shipping, though.

Thanks for the replies. I *am* stalking Ebay, where the prices are somewhat better, but they're still pretty darn high for new stuff.

I checked out PBK, but no 105 and their Tiagra group is about $414, which isn't bad, but they don't have a compact or triple option.

At gvhbikes, where I got my SRAM Red, they won't sell you Shimano groups without buying a complete bike. But even with a bike purchase, 105 triple group goes for $565.

I don't see the point of buying a built-up bike from bikesdirect or performance and tearing it apart to sell off the frame for $100, but I just might do it.

And yeah, the bike is present from me and my younger brother, but it's selfish. We want him to ride with us...

Unfortunately, GVH is no longer allowed to sell Shimano groups by themselves. They can only sell them as part of a complete bike build up. There was some legal issues with Shimano.

That's not selfish at all, it's actually one of the most giving gifts you can offer to anyone: it speaks to caring for that person's health, pleasure, freedom of movement, and wanting to spend more time with that person.

Good luck! Be sure to let us know how it turns out, post pics of the result: Your fathering smiling uncontrollably with beautiful gift in hand (or riding it!)

Thx. Will do...

Buying a complete bike from BD or any other e-tailer and ripping it apart for the build kit is not a bad idea. When I built my first Pedal Force RS I bought a Mercier Draco, all DA and it was only 200 more than buying just the group. I ended up with a good set of training wheels, bar, stem, seatpost. The only thing I couldn't use was the front dérailleur since it was the wrong size band. Other stuff I didn't use on the RS I used on other bikes (like our tandem) so nothing was wasted.

chain reaction cycles

Shimano 105 Triple group. $507.81 SHIPPED

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/K...?ModelID=17572

i built my dad an RS2 as well, he loves it but he still struggles to climb =P

but riding is riding and he's VERY happy with it. Built up with 105 and ultegra RD.

Try Pro Bike Kit dot com, They have a Campagnolo Mirage and sometimes a Xenon group at great prices.

Yes.