Which one to upgrade? Derailleur or Shifters?
04-28-12, 11:02 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Los Angeles, California
Posts: 7
Bikes: 2009 Specialized Allez Triple
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Which one to upgrade? Derailleur or Shifters?
Hey everyone!
Thanks for visiting my first post on the forum so here goes.
I am a COMPLETE n00b in the world of cycling. I'm only 15 and I dont have a lot to spend.
I have a Specialized Allez road bike (dont know the year but has alum frame and carbon fork) with Shimano Sora flight deck shifters and a tiagra derailleur.
My question is: Should I upgrade the derailleur or shifters to improve the smoothness of shifting and why?
THANKS
Thanks for visiting my first post on the forum so here goes.
I am a COMPLETE n00b in the world of cycling. I'm only 15 and I dont have a lot to spend.
I have a Specialized Allez road bike (dont know the year but has alum frame and carbon fork) with Shimano Sora flight deck shifters and a tiagra derailleur.
My question is: Should I upgrade the derailleur or shifters to improve the smoothness of shifting and why?
THANKS
04-28-12, 11:55 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Toronto
Posts: 119
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Get a tune up, see if that fixes it. If not, upgrading the shifters won't be too easy with Sora; I believe for the 8 speed Sora it was the top 8 speed groupset from Shimano at the time, and 9 speed Sora can probably upgrade to 9-speed Tiagra (4500) and this may be an option but honestly I can't say for sure if that'd work. The major benefit of upgrading from Sora to Tiagra shifters would be that you don't have the infuriatingly terrible upshift button but instead have the smaller upshift lever behind the brake lever, like 105 and above all have. Personally I think the Sora shifters are total garbage.
Unfortunately if you wanted to upgrade wholesale to, say, 10 speed SRAM Apex (best value for money groupset in the low end in my opinion) then you're looking at around $500 just for the components.
Unfortunately if you wanted to upgrade wholesale to, say, 10 speed SRAM Apex (best value for money groupset in the low end in my opinion) then you're looking at around $500 just for the components.
04-28-12, 11:58 PM
#4
Banned
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Northern California
Posts: 5,804
Bikes: Raleigh Grand Prix, Giant Innova, Nishiki Sebring, Trek 7.5FX
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
If you live in a big city, chances are, there's a bicycle co-op near you. If there is, then you can just go there and learn how to upgrade your bike and make the proper adjustments. Eventually, bicycle maintenance will be routine, as well.
04-29-12, 09:14 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 189
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
If your bike has 9speed sora shifters, you can go to the 9speed tiagra shifters with no problem. These are nicer shifters, and easily found of Ebay within the budget of a 15yo.
04-29-12, 10:03 AM
#6
Super Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Ffld Cnty Connecticut
Posts: 21,819
Bikes: Old Steelies I made, Old Cannondales
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1170 Post(s)
Liked 879 Times
in
581 Posts
So, OP, are you having a specific problem, or just want "newer & better" ?
__________________
Bikes: Old steel race bikes, old Cannondale race bikes, less old Cannondale race bike, crappy old mtn bike.
FYI: https://www.bikeforums.net/forum-sugg...ad-please.html
Bikes: Old steel race bikes, old Cannondale race bikes, less old Cannondale race bike, crappy old mtn bike.
FYI: https://www.bikeforums.net/forum-sugg...ad-please.html
Last edited by Homebrew01; 04-29-12 at 10:25 AM.
04-29-12, 10:46 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: New Mexico
Posts: 855
Bikes: Surly Disc Trucker, Ribble Nero Corsa, Surly Karate Monkey, Surly Ice Cream Truck, Cannondale MT800, Evil Insurgent
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 186 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Upgrading isn't going to provide you any real meaningful benefit. I have a Tiagra bike and an Ultegra bike and they do the same thing. Just ride and get strong.
04-29-12, 10:48 AM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Portland, ME
Posts: 1,620
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'd say save up your upgrade money for a new bike with at least all Tiagra or 105 components. You'll save a lot of money in the long run.
