Groupsets

[Norgles]

Hi,

I have been into mountain biking for a long time but over the last 12 months have also really started to enjoy my road riding too. I have been using a £500 Boardman but after spending a few hours on a friends Ribble R872 I cannot believe the difference in acceleration, climbing speed and overall handling a good carbon bike brings so I want to upgrade.

I am going to build my own bike but cannot decide on a groupset.

At the moment I am considering either the Ultegra 6800 Di2 or Dura Ace 9000 mechanical groupsets. I have been looking for comparisons online but have failed to find any. Does any one have experience of using both or know of any good comparisons online?

Thanks in advance

[RGambo]

Personally I'm not a fan of Di2. can't fault the shifting, just prefere mechanical there's the (tiny) weight penalty, faf with the battery etc. The durace 900 is a great groupset. fantastic shifting, really light a big step up from 7900 durace which was vague at best.
that said, I always use campag!

[Justin S]

Really happy with Di2 . My bike with a full Ultegra set up Di2 is still 7.6 kg, so the weight penalty is negligable. It is fantastic. Cant see a reason to 'downgrade' to those cabled things now. Mate says its like listening to starwars when the front mech does its stuff.

[Jimshorts]

There's a lot of satisfaction to selecting your own components and building a bike but if you are looking at a new carbon frame and need a groupset too then I'd be tempted to buy a complete bike. Generally works out cheaper.

[richardxjr]

I'd expect much of that improvement you felt was down to wheels & tyres. I'd put money into decent wheels before Di2 or DA, and go with std Ultegra.

[nigelpugh7]

I was at pretty much the same decision point as you recently.

Been mountain biking for 20 years, and always made sure that my bikes had the very best Shimano Groupset I could afford, so always XT on my mountain bikes and it has never let me down!

I have now decided to do some more road riding, in an effort to get back to some level of fitness.

My decision was either to buy a well specced fully built bike, or do a custom build.

I was also not convinced by Di2. As I though it was just another one of the myriad batteries and chargers to worry about.

So I had made my mind up on a full Ultegra 6800 Groupset.

Then along came an offer for Di2, with a frame for just £200 more, so said what the hell and bit the bullet, one click ordering will,be the end of me!

The frame and components only turned up yesterday, so no comment on how they work yet.

Will report back when I am on the road and enjoying the whir of electronic shifting,

Heres the frame with all the Di2 shifters and other bits!

[Norgles]

Thanks for the replies so far. I have read that about wheels also. I was thinking of a set of Mavic Cosmic Carbon SLS as they seem to get great reviews. The bike I borrowed was running Planet X clincher wheels.

[BMWBen]

If either of those is truly in your budget after some decent wheels, then DI2 every time for me. I'm biased because I have it, but it's frickin great.

[Norgles]

Thanks! My total budget is around £3k.

[Matt_N]

What frame are you considering?

[nigelpugh7]

Norgles said:

Thanks for the replies so far. I have read that about wheels also. I was thinking of a set of Mavic Cosmic Carbon SLS as they seem to get great reviews. The bike I borrowed was running Planet X clincher wheels.

We must have both been thinking along the same lines then!!

These just turned up at my door!!

[Rocksteadyeddie]

You could get a very good used bike at £3k...

As above I would suggest that wheels are a better upgrade than groupo. For most people I suspect electronic gearing is the way forward. I have it on two of my bikes and it is significantly less hassle than a mechanical groupo. Goes "out of true" significantly less frequently, doesn't need cable changes, better change on the front ring etc etc.

[Norgles]

I am thinking of a Ribble R872 frame. I know some people don't like Ribble but I cannot seem to find a bad word about this frame and they have been really helpful every time I have spoke to them.

Those wheels look very nice!

[nigelpugh7]

Norgles said:

I am thinking of a Ribble R872 frame. I know some people don't like Ribble but I cannot seem to find a bad word about this frame and they have been really helpful every time I have spoke to them.

Those wheels look very nice!

Thanks, they are very nice indeed, don't know why but was surprised to see the spokes were flat/oblong Carbon too, mega tech!!

Could not resist a trial fit too, they look even better on the frame too!

[Matt_N]

Norgles said:

I am thinking of a Ribble R872 frame. I know some people don't like Ribble but I cannot seem to find a bad word about this frame and they have been really helpful every time I have spoke to them.

Those wheels look very nice!

You may aswel just get it all from Ribble then, you can build the 872 with Dura Ace 9000 or Ultegra 6870 Di2, Cosmic Carbon SLS and nice Deda finishing kit for around £2800.

[Norgles]

Now that does look nice! Apparently they sound like helicopter blades when at high speed

On the subject of groupsets I am still not sure what to do. If anyone knows of an article that compares the merits of both I would be very interested. Thanks for all the help so far, you can always rely on Pistonheads for help.

[Norgles]

I think I probably will. I do enjoy building bikes myself but that route would be cheaper.

[Matt_N]

nigelpugh7 said:

Thanks, they are very nice indeed, don't know why but was surprised to see the spokes were flat/oblong Carbon too, mega tech!!

Could not resist a trial fit too, they look even better on the frame too!

I thought the SLS had steel spokes, with the SLR having the carbon spokes?

[Rocksteadyeddie]

Matt_N said:

Norgles said:

I am thinking of a Ribble R872 frame. I know some people don't like Ribble but I cannot seem to find a bad word about this frame and they have been really helpful every time I have spoke to them.

Those wheels look very nice!

You may aswel just get it all from Ribble then, you can build the 872 with Dura Ace 9000 or Ultegra 6870 Di2, Cosmic Carbon SLS and nice Deda finishing kit for around £2800.

But you'd have spent 3 grand to be riding round on a Ribble?!!?

[Norgles]

What's wrong with Ribble?