Asking for more opinions

Triathlon Forum
1

I will try to keep this easy

  1. Is it worth the upgrade from Ultegra 10 to DA 10? Assuming that the cost is a few hundred bucks and I donot plan on up grading for several years.

  2. What kind of base bar/aero bar or one piece bar set up do you run/like? I have only used clip ons (PD carbon stryke) and just thought I would see what everyone else likes because I don’t love them.

  3. What is the real difference between Bontrager Select, Race Lite and X-Lite Aero wheel sets? Should I run what I got (Select) and save my pennys for a race set (in a few years) or upgrade to the other sets? Assume it is a few hundred to go with the up grade.

I know that a lot of the stuff is personal preference, but I thought I would ask.

2

Unless you are talking about the STI levers, Ultegra will serve you just as well as Dura Ace. You give up a few meaningless grams by choosing Ultegra…no big deal there. The biggest difference is in the STI levers…and by that I mean their longevity…I’m a 8000-10000 mile per year rider, with about 1/2 that on a road bike with STI. I’ve gotten 2 seasons on a set of Ultegra 9spd STI…I’ve had to replace the levers twice now on that particular bike. I have another bike with equal miles on DA STI and have not had a single problem. I experience the same thing years ago with 8spd, at least with Ultegra levers (I never owned 8spd DA levers). I will never own another road bike that doesn’t have Dura Ace STI (or any Campy Ergopower, since its all rebuildable).

Sounds like you are building a tri-bike, with bar-end shifting…so in that case…Ultegra is a perfectly suitable choice.

J

3

  1. As your first responder said, the difference from Ultegra to DA is a few grams for a lot of dollars. I don’t know what the first responder is doing to eat up STI shifters like that. I ride 12,000+ miles per year and I’ve gone many years on the same set of DA shifters and I have many years on another bike with a set of Ultegra shifters.

  2. I explored the base bar issue recently and ended up buying the Visiontech for the simple reason that it presents a slimmer profile to the wind. I looked at the Profile carbon base bar. It’s stupid light and, though it’s wing-shaped, it still presents a big, fat leading edge to the wind. Didn’t make much sense to me (and cost a friggin’ fortune).

  3. This is just my opinion, but it’s based on lots of years of riding. Wheel differences are the biggest differences you can make on your bike. Dollars spent on your wheels can be dollars well spent if you spend them wisely. I don’t know the specific differences between all the wheels you’re asking about. I know nothing about Bontrager Select wheels. Race Lites are pretty much low-end Bontrager road wheels. I own a set of the X-Lite Aero wheels. Simply put, I think they’re amazing. I think the paired spoke thing is a really under-rated technology. I honestly believe my X-Lite Aero wheels are as fast as my HED Alps front/Renn disc rear combo. The X-Lite Aero wheels came on my TT/Tri bike when I bought it and I mostly use them for training … but I’ve also raced them in hillier and windier conditions (with a nice set of race tires on them) and I’ve been VERY impressed. They’re strong, relatively light and fast. If you can spring for the Race Aero wheels now, you won’t be compromising much while you wait to afford another race wheel set in a few years.

Good luck.

Bob C.

4

“I don’t know what the first responder is doing to eat up STI shifters like that.”

Ha! I wish I knew…I just know that I find a difference. I am easy on all of my equipment…and I can’t remember the last time I crashed (crap…now I’m going to chuck a wheel in a pothole and take a 500 foot skidder just for typing that :frowning: I do know that the STI bucket at my favorite LBS contains a hell of a lot more Ultegra than DA…and the DAs are all crash victims…not so with the Ultegras. Maybe you live in flatter country than I do?

5

What about the difference between the BB and crank for Ultegra and DA?

6

Can’t speak for the 10spd versions. With the 9spd, the DA required more servicing, but was slightly smoother. I usually went with the Ultegra for less maintenance requirement only. I never had either go bad on me.