11-32, 11-28, 11-25? 34-50 36-52? SRAM Apex vs 105, chain length, etc. etc.
07-09-15, 11:22 AM
#26
Vain, But Lacking Talent
Absolutely 100% go for the 105 5800. Apex is no fun. I don't dislike Sram, but if I had to, I would go Force at minimum. And I have the DA9000 which is the fancier lighter version of 5800 and I would recommend it against any budget mechanical group.
07-09-15, 12:09 PM
#27
Kit doesn't match
I have a bike with Apex and it has worked perfectly for ~4,000 miles. Still, I'd go with 11-speed 105, no doubt.
And I agree with those recommending you try to find a 12-xx rather than an 11-xx, as it usually nets you a gear in the sweet spot instead of the 11 you might never use.
And I agree with those recommending you try to find a 12-xx rather than an 11-xx, as it usually nets you a gear in the sweet spot instead of the 11 you might never use.
07-09-15, 01:41 PM
#28
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07-09-15, 03:03 PM
#29
Kit doesn't match
I was curious as to what's on offer these days and come up with these:
Shimano 5800: 11-28, 11-32, 12-25
Shimano 6800: 11-23, 11-25, 11-28, 11-32, 12-25
SRAM 1130: 11-26, 11-28, 11-32, 11-36
SRAM 1170: 11-25, 11-26, 11-28, 11-32, 11-36
SRAM 1190: 11-25, 11-26, 11-28, 11-32, 11-36
Looks like the move to 11 speeds has reduced the 12-x options a good bit. Too bad...
Shimano 5800: 11-28, 11-32, 12-25
Shimano 6800: 11-23, 11-25, 11-28, 11-32, 12-25
SRAM 1130: 11-26, 11-28, 11-32, 11-36
SRAM 1170: 11-25, 11-26, 11-28, 11-32, 11-36
SRAM 1190: 11-25, 11-26, 11-28, 11-32, 11-36
Looks like the move to 11 speeds has reduced the 12-x options a good bit. Too bad...
07-09-15, 03:08 PM
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No benefit.
That 12-25 should be fine for Florida though.
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Last edited by Homebrew01; 07-09-15 at 03:19 PM.
07-09-15, 03:31 PM
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Right, shimano options for 12T is 12-25.
I don't see a lot of love for SRAM...
Thanks for all the feedback. I learned a lot. Now decisions, decisions...
The groupset will cost me about a 3rd of what a new 2015 Bianchi Impulso 105 will cost me, crankset and brakes WONT be 105 though. I like my bike a lot but I've been getting that itch, lol. I have a 2007 Lemond Etape which I love the looks of, but the Impulso is obviously much nicer.
So what will get me to ride even more... My bike with a new groupset or a shiny new toy with the same groupset*?
I could also just buy the groupset and see how I feel about my bike and if I still want the Impulso down the road, I will have the components to switch out the reparto corse brakes and the non 105 shimano crank and put those and my older bike while making the Impulso a fully specced 105.
I don't see a lot of love for SRAM...
Thanks for all the feedback. I learned a lot. Now decisions, decisions...
The groupset will cost me about a 3rd of what a new 2015 Bianchi Impulso 105 will cost me, crankset and brakes WONT be 105 though. I like my bike a lot but I've been getting that itch, lol. I have a 2007 Lemond Etape which I love the looks of, but the Impulso is obviously much nicer.
So what will get me to ride even more... My bike with a new groupset or a shiny new toy with the same groupset*?
I could also just buy the groupset and see how I feel about my bike and if I still want the Impulso down the road, I will have the components to switch out the reparto corse brakes and the non 105 shimano crank and put those and my older bike while making the Impulso a fully specced 105.
Last edited by TheBlast82; 07-09-15 at 03:41 PM.
07-09-15, 04:05 PM
#32
Kit doesn't match
I've been toying with idea of buying a new groupset and leaning towards a mid-compact crank, 52-36. Part of that choice was to be able to use a 12-x cassette so that I'd gain a 16t or 18t cog (instead of the 11t) as part of a wider range cassette, ideally 12-28. Looks like my ideal crank-cassette combination doesn't exist, except in Dura-Ace, which costs as much as a respectable crank ($270)! Boo.
07-10-15, 05:25 AM
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Email campaign to Shimano/SRAM/Campy to make 12x cassettes.
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07-10-15, 06:16 AM
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Dura Ace has one, but that throws you into a partially titanium cassette which I really wouldn't want. Ultegra has the 12-25, which I think is ideal with the compact crank.
07-10-15, 06:19 AM
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Don't know if they're in production, but plenty of shops still have Ultegra 6700 12-23 cassettes.
As for Apex vs. 105 ... ignoring the 10-speed/11-speed difference, 105 is a "higher" tier than Apex. SRAM's equivalent to 105 is Rival. At a given tier, the big difference between SRAM and Shimano is shifting mechanism and weight. SRAM is lighter and uses a single lever shifting mechanism (independent of the brake lever). Shimano uses the brake lever to downshift and a second independent lever to upshift. Most riders have a strong preference for one type of shifting vs. the other. If you're used to one, there's a good chance you'll hate the other. Definitely test ride a bike with the group you're considering before you buy.
As for Apex vs. 105 ... ignoring the 10-speed/11-speed difference, 105 is a "higher" tier than Apex. SRAM's equivalent to 105 is Rival. At a given tier, the big difference between SRAM and Shimano is shifting mechanism and weight. SRAM is lighter and uses a single lever shifting mechanism (independent of the brake lever). Shimano uses the brake lever to downshift and a second independent lever to upshift. Most riders have a strong preference for one type of shifting vs. the other. If you're used to one, there's a good chance you'll hate the other. Definitely test ride a bike with the group you're considering before you buy.
07-10-15, 06:31 AM
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How strong are you? Where and how do you ride?
1. What's the steepest hill that you climb on a bicycle? You need to have a low gear that's low enough for you to get up that hill.
2. How fast do you pedal down the hills? A high gear that you never use is just a wasted space.
3. What's your favorite flat road gear? That's the one that people sometimes overlook. You want your flat road gear to fall in the middle of your cassette so that you can make fine adjustments, either up or down, without having to shift front chainrings. A 50/34 crankset that has you shifting from the 50 to the 34 and back all the time is no fun to ride.
1. What's the steepest hill that you climb on a bicycle? You need to have a low gear that's low enough for you to get up that hill.
2. How fast do you pedal down the hills? A high gear that you never use is just a wasted space.
3. What's your favorite flat road gear? That's the one that people sometimes overlook. You want your flat road gear to fall in the middle of your cassette so that you can make fine adjustments, either up or down, without having to shift front chainrings. A 50/34 crankset that has you shifting from the 50 to the 34 and back all the time is no fun to ride.
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07-10-15, 08:46 AM
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Or swap your wheel's cassette body to Campagnolo and run a 12 x 27 11 speed cassette.
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07-10-15, 02:40 PM
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If you will want a couple cassettes, buy the groupset with the one you think will use the most...then buy cheaper ones that will be used less. My bike came with 50/34 and 11-32 9 speed Sora.
I bought an Ultegra 12-25 from a forum member and was a little apprehensive about it at first but it has all worked out, I'm not super fast, did a fairly flat wind free solo self supported century in 6 hours and 11 minutes. When the wind blows I'm on the small ring into the wind, and on the big ring with the wind at my back. I hung onto the 11-32 and chain but have not had any reason to put it back on yet. The 12-25 is nicer though because the spread between cogs is not so large.
I bought an Ultegra 12-25 from a forum member and was a little apprehensive about it at first but it has all worked out, I'm not super fast, did a fairly flat wind free solo self supported century in 6 hours and 11 minutes. When the wind blows I'm on the small ring into the wind, and on the big ring with the wind at my back. I hung onto the 11-32 and chain but have not had any reason to put it back on yet. The 12-25 is nicer though because the spread between cogs is not so large.
