New groupset or new bike
 

Bought my first road bike last year a 2010 Specialized Allez Sport Double. Rode about 1500 miles including my first century on an MS150 ride. Overall I like the bike, how it rides, etc..., but the thing I wished I would have gotten was the model with 105 since I cant stand the Sora shifters.

I was thinking I would just replace the brifters with 105, but I dont think 105 brifters are compatible with my Sora brakes/front derailer or my Tiagra rear derailer, at least not according to what I can find on Shimano's website. Now if I am wrong I will simply replace my brifters with 105 and be done(might get some wheels too from PSIMET).

If I cant just replace the brifters and have to get a new group set($750 bucks from PBK) I think I would be better off selling my bike and buying a new one. I think I could get out of my bike in the 800 range(has Look pedals and a Specialized Comp computer) since bike prices here in St. Louis seem to hold up fairly well. Not sure what bike I would try to get, but I can get into entry level carbon for 2000 which would only be about 400-500 bucks over what I would have into my bike.

What say you.

Those brakes are 100% compatible with any shimano STI shifters. They are simple tech .. just pull the cable until they start to clamp the wheel.

With regards to the shifting .. your Sora shifters should be 9 speed. Which means that your cassette, chain, and crankset are also 9 speed.

105 and above are all 10 speed components. So, the question becomes, do you just hate the shifters or do you want to move to 10 speed drivetrain? Tiagra is still 9 speed and you could do an easy swap to put those on. You could also find NOS 9 speed 105/Ultegra/Dura Ace shifters and swap them on. However, moving to new 10 speed shifters would require the following:
- 10 speed shifters
- 10 speed chain
- 10 speed crankset
- 10 speed cassette

At that point you are really better off just selling the bike and getting one that you want instead.

EDIT: to answer your second question -- I would just sell the bike and go find a USED carbon bike with 10 speed already on it.

First, that century that you think you did might not have been a century.

Second, I've rarely heard of a case such as this where buying a new bike is less than optimal. Enjoy your new carbon bike.

/thread

You can get 9spd 105. Would just have to be 5500 series.

I *think* you can use 105 shifters with your current 9 speed set-up. If not, get Tiagra shifters.

I say new bike and keep the one you currently have. I doubt that you will get $800 for your current bike with pedals and computer. Keep your Specialized for a backup rain bike and save your money for a 105 bike. I'd look at a Cannondale Synapse 5 alloy or a Felt F75.

If it's a nine speed Sora, you should be able to replace the brifters and be done with it. Before you try to buy something on the internet, run this idea by the guys at your LBS and see what they can come up with. They might have some NOS (or used) nine speed 105 or Ultegra brifters they'd love to get out of the shop, and give you as good a price as you might find on the 'net.

If you like the Allez frame, why not just replace your groupo for a SRAM Rival for $679? You'll move up to 10 sp, shave weight and join the SRAM club.

Buy new everything.

Shimano 105 5510's are 9-speed...

I have a pair of 9 spd Tiagra shifters (4500, newest version) for cheap if you want them

You can ignore most of what has already been said. An upgrade to 105 is easier than you'd think. If you do go with 105 10s brifters you will need to change your cassette and maybe chain. You already have 8,9,10s wheels change your casstte for as little as $50, change for about the same. The derailuers are dumb and will work with any shifter. The only restriction is tooth count compatability on the cassette. Any other upgrades are gravy and can be added a piece at a time

However, there are good point to getting a new bike all together. A quality entry level carbon, with 105, should run about $2000-$3000.
http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebik...enithcomp.html
http://www.bianchiusa.com/bikes/coas.../infinito-105/
http://www.bianchiusa.com/bikes/born...re/sempre-105/
http://www.fujibikes.com/bike/details/sl_2_0
http://www.fujibikes.com/bike/details/sst_3_0

Then again, you could go a little further and get Ultegra.
http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebik...thendura3.html

But, all things considered, you should be asking your LBS these questions. That is how we make our living.

Glad an expert finally arrived. Thank you for so easily discounting all the other experts above you.

;)

if you really like the bike (frame) then just get Tiagra shifters. i have them on one of my bikes now and they work great (as well as the 105 shifters on 2 of my bikes) i am using a 105 RD but that shouldnt make a huge difference either and you could get one for $25-$30 if you thought you needed it. you should be able to get a set of Tiagra shifters pretty cheap (really cheap if used)

now if you do not like your frame or it doesnt quite fit right then i would just get a new bike with the parts you want on it.

you could go even further and upgrade to campy........ remember this 105 groups are only worth 1/5 of what you paid for them after 3-4 years BUT campy parts usually retain 90% + of their value forever

http://www.bike24.com/manufacturers/Shimano.html

There's a bunch of groupsets here. Keep in mind residents outside of Europe don't have to pay the VAT so the prices are actually lower than what you see here.

Please explain how my century, that read 99 miles on my computer and was actually like 102 on the map, was not a century.



As far as the rest of the posts. I really appreciate them. I do have 9spd, didnt realize the 105 brifters were not compatible with 9spd. Is the Tiagra rear derailer GTG with a 10 speed cassette? If I am reading things right I could do current model 105 brifters by going to a 10spd rear cassette plus chain, which isnt a huge deal and fairly cheap and I was going to replace my chain anyway(stock chain is pretty cheap I think). I think I would rather go this route and get the better components then to go with Tiagra brifters.

So around 400 bucks I could get the 105 brifters, a 10spd rear cassette, and a 10spd chain.

Then I just keep thinking for like 350 more I get new front chain rings and crank arms, new brakes, 105 f&r derailers, and new cables. It almost seems at that point to just get the whole group set and upgrade everything.

I just feel that if I spend 400 bucks on brifters, cassette and chain I will feel like I half assed it instead of spending a little more and getting a whole group set.

holy crap thats cheap. 650 for a 105 5700 group set.

edit, without VAT its 582 shipped. Holy crap.

I didn't write the rules http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...a-century-ride

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/groups..._GS&type=RIBMO

$570 shipped for 5700. I agree with just switching to Campy and being done with it. Only $460 + shipping for a 10 speed Veloce groupset...

Rode it with a few hundred/thousand people, not by myself. What ever though.

Ok, now seeing these 105 group sets(not knocking Campy, just dont know about parts availability so I think I will stick with Shimano) what about the various options.

I cant seem to find out which BB I need. I dont have cups on my current Sora setup, but the 105 group sets come with them but there are two choices, I guess English and Italian. Guessing I need English.

Thinking on the cassette I would do the 11-28 due to the amount of hills I ride in Missouri.

Then the crank arms. Not sure how to pick these. I think I would be good with either 170's or 172.5's, but I think 175's may be a bit long for me. I am 5'9" with a 31 inseam.

Then the clamp on front de-railer. Not sure on the size of my tube, guess I should go measure it, but I dont have any metric calipers. Anybody know off the top of your head what diameter I might need?

$230 for rival brifters on bonktown
$60 for rear D
$40 for 105 cassette
$30 for KMC 10speed chain.
$100 for double cranks/compacts or not
$30 DA outboard BB

This is one of those YMMV things, but I'd go for a 12-27 or 12-28 cassette. The 11-28 eliminates the 16 tooth cog, which I use far more often than I would an 11. Shoot, I use the 12 tooth cog maybe once every other month.

If you go with Veloce, get the 13-29 cassette. :)