SRAM:
red
force
rival
apex

SHIMANO:
durace
ultegra
105
tiagra
sora

If you can afford it, Rival/105+ is the way to go.
Also make sure ur looking at used u can find a better deal

Shimano: Dura Ace, Ultegra, 105. SRAM: Red, Force, Rival. That is in descending order. Don't bother going lower than 105 or Rival. If you can, ride similar bikes with similar levels of components to get a feel for which one you like. For instance, I wanted SRAM because I'd heard great things, it's a Chicago company, and I've met their CEO a few times and he seems like a genuinely nice guy that truly loves cycling. I rode a bike with Force and hated the hoods. Rode the same bike (Allez Elite) with Ultegra and loved the feel.

Edit: Tmonk beat me to it. TBH though, Tiagra, Sora, and Apex aren't worth mentioning. Clunky shifts, heavy, flexy crankarms, and the Sora triple front derailleur is a complete piece of ****.

Awesome, thanks guys.

That was the plan, that or better. And there isn't a whole lot in my area that is my size used. I've checked a few times, but its all either really old, and in rough shape, or its not all that great in terms of components. So we'll see how that goes.

For new, I'm actually looking at the Nashbar branded carbon roadies. Pretty good components for the prices.

Thats a really good idea. My shop back home is a specialized dealer, and another real close is a Trek/Fuji dealer.

SRAM apex is actually pretty damn good. Much better than low end shimano.

So if you have to get low end, get apex.

Tiagra is quite good. It's heavy, but it's durable, and Shimano still makes a Tiagra triple front derailleur which works well for touring.

Also within Shimano groups, isn't there some recycling going on with groups depending on last year's stock?
Like 2011 Tiagra is actually 2010 105, and how some 6400 brakes are just 7400 brakes with different paint? Please correct me if I'm wrong.

My 2012 Tiagra group shifts just as well as any 105+ bike that I've rode. Sora, on the other hand, feels like Walmart junk(haven't tried the 2013 Sora though). Current Tiagra is just the 105 from a couple years ago and is a very robust, good entry level group.

If you like DoubleTap shifting and SRAM's hoods, I agree.

That is correct. Hence di2 Ultegra.

This year was a huge shakeup in product lineups. Every line got an upgrade. If Sora wasn't so damn slow I'd say it would be a good value proposition, but that whole line really does suck right now for the price.

The brand new Sora is like the 105 of ten years ago or so. Mechanic said that when I was helping my dad shop for a road bike.

We got some bikes in at the shop, I'll try and build one with new Sora next time I'm in.

thanks Steiknein

If it still won't center after the above, try remounting the chainring two bolt holes off (ideally you'd want to move it 180 degrees.)

Yesterday, I crossed the 2000 fixed-gear-miles mark for the year. :)

Nobody's gonna answer me? awe...

Do you have to center all chainrings, or just ones that are out of round?

If your chain tension does not vary based on crank position, I think it's safe to say you don't need to center the chainring. All lower-end cranks I've used have needed this done. Didn't need to do it on my Omniums, even if I didn't like them.

Alright, sweet. guess I'm good.

Resting today because my legs are beat. I don't know how accurate Strava's climbing measurements are, but it says I did a little over 2000ft on my ride yesterday.

i usually run low/mid range cranks. currently FSA Gimondi (yes, i'm a Campy poser, but they make me happy) and they've all needed to be centered. some rings are rounder than others though....

Thanks. I've never noticed any difference in chain tension through each revolution, although I've never checked. I'll take a look at it when I get home. Hoping it's unnecessary, or I'm gonna want to know why 7710's are so expensive.


Today I math test.

Today I woke up hungover and with sore legs. Decided to take a day off of the bike. Riding the train around listening to Diplo cuz I'm bored. Not bad.

"Centering" a chainring that isn't round to begin with won't magically make it round.

Today when I picked up my ride from the lbs I found out I had another broken spoke on the back wheel... no more sweet jumps for me... :(

then whats the point?

you can make it "better". just not perfect.

ah.

My apex has over 7000 miles on it riding in pretty harsh conditions and if you take care of it it shifts great just like most products.

buddy of mine -finally- came out today. wanted us to act surprised. not.

ordered a new Marathon Plus and threw in some synthetic (ie: rain proof) mtb shoes with the 21% off Nashbar coupon.

It's also the one of the CX gruppo's of choice. If it can handle that, it can handle anything.

Truth. Also having the 32 tooth cassette in the back negates needing a triple for long days of climbing or touring. It is genius. Well, almost as genius as the new xx1.

Today i rode to work in temperatures in the 30's for the first time this year. Maybe some snow this weekend.

Today I: received my order from scrod, opened it and the amount of hate inside is only fitting for the chain that I ordered among other things. :D

http://imageshack.us/a/img43/795/pa045066.jpg
I posted my first impressions along with some comparison pics in the what did you just buy for your bike thread.