Guys I have narrowed my first TT bike purchase down to the Argon18 E-117. However I am trying to deicide on the groupset. Is there a signifigant benefit to the Ultegra groupset over the 105. This will be my first road/TT bike and I am not sure my wife will be happy if I try to another. LOL. I was looking and there is just under a $400 difference between the 2 bikes. It puts it to the highest end of my biking budget or just slightly over. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
you’ll be fine with 105.
I rode a tri bike with mech ultegra for 2010-2014 then upgraded to di2 on the new tri bike in 2015. I added a road bike to the stable in fall 2015 with 105 on it. I can’t tell the difference between it and the mech ultegra I was riding.
I have a bike with 105, and another with Ultegra. While I can tell the difference in how smooth the Ultegra shifts over the 105, it isn’t something I would specifically pay more money for. In this case the Ultegra bike just only came that way and if I had an option for 105 I would probably take it and save the cash.
If you are not worried about weight, 105 is fine. I have 105 on my road bike and Ultegra on my tri bike and cannot tell the difference.
Thanks for the input guys. That $300-$400 might be better used on hydration, a cycling computer, or put toward race wheels later down the road.
I’m not overly worried about weight as I have never raced a tri before, and I currently have like 40 pounds to drop to get to my projected race weight. Plus my current training bike is a 24" mongoose mountain bike. This is probably going to feel like going from a Honda to a Ferrari.
I’ve spent the last few seasons on an Ultegra (road, not tri) groupset, and have been satisfied. Before that it was Red / Dura Ace.
My new 11 speed bike is Ultegra, and I’ve been using a 105 cassette on my training wheel. The shifters are accurate, but the transitions between cogs are not smooth.
Given the obvious lower-end feel of the cassette, I’d be hesitant to spec an entire bike out in 105.
11sp 105 is the best value groupset going around, hands down.
If you maintain it well enough, then it will shift perfectly. Youtube can show you how to adjust derailleurs and wash your drivetrain, which is 99% of what you need to do.
It’s fantastic, you’ll be more than fine with it.
Nice frame. While I personally find that there’s a pretty big difference between 105 and Ultegra, never mind DA, it’s not a bad idea for a first bike if you need to be putting the money elsewhere. Triathlon seems to find a way to do that rather well and boy does it add up.
105 is reliable and durable, albeit heavy, with minimal maintenance overhead. I use it on my daily commuter / cyclocross / gravel bike and it has held up well to the grit and grime that builds up here through the year; it’s a year old and has required no more work than a quarter turn in the barrel adjuster. All things being equal, Ultegra seems to shift better as it ages than 105 IMO. Triathlon isn’t exactly a crit though so keeping your things maintained well will have a greater impact for you.
For racing I use DA (and Rotor). If you really enjoy tri and eventually get to a point when you feel that you can benefit from better tech, power, etc., you can always upgrade down the road - although it will cost you more than $400 at that point. That is something to keep in mind as long as you will keep riding your bike and not abandon it in the garage after a couple of races. I justify the cost by how much I ride my bike(s) and for how long, how much I enjoy riding my bike(s), and the advantages that a particular gruppo might bring you. If I were a MOP/BOP racer my wife would likely overrule that theory at some point, but as it is there are worse ways for me to spend money.
If you start winning, then all that goes out the window and you can buy whatever you want. Even better if you find a sponsor willing to pay for it all.
It’s the upgrading later being well more than $400 that I’ve been really considering the Ultegra model.
It’s not really that much more. Ultegra is available from some of the british sites like Ribble or Merlin for under $600. Sell the 105 stuff for a couple hundred and your cost would probably end up being around $400.
I have a 2016 BMC Time Machine 02 with 105 and I love it. My Trek Domane has Ultegra and I don’t think it is any better than my 105 11 speed.
Get the 105. You’ll befine
I have both go for 105
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My first roadie was 105, second is Ultegra. Agree with the other posters here that with proper maintenance, it’s better to go with the 105 and use your money on other components. Particularly since you may wish to swap out the cassette on either set for something that works better for you or the crank arm for a longer/shorter size (and no, I am not trying to initiate THAT debate here). If you’re buying a TT bike, I assume you have purchased bikes before, so you know all the extras you’re going to want for it over the purchase price of the bike, e.g., new saddle, hydration and nutrition storage, computer, pedals and on and on and on. Also, don’t forget that if the seller does not do a really good fit, you’ll have to pay for that as well. An expert fit will get you much more benefit than the difference between 105 and Ultegra.
Buy yourself a repair stand and some tools, and with YouTube and Zinn’s, you’ll save yourself money in basic maintenance/repair costs that you can put toward a group set upgrade if want it later.
Good luck!
Got my wife a bike for her IM last year with 105. I was shocked at how well it shifted. Small chainring up to big was almost as slick as my DA.
That bein said, if you’re just getting into it you will most likely change/upgrade at some point. So resale on ultegra vs 105 could be a factor. You may also be inclined to just move ultegra to new bike more than you would 105.
It’s all about the shifters. On a TT bike, the bar end shifters are the same for 105 or Ultegra. So it’s going to be EXTREMELY difficult to notice any difference between a 105 to Ultegra. Now, if you were on a road bike, the Ultegra brifters are way nicer, and I’d be able to tell.
But, does the Ultegra bike have better paint? Anything else about it that would justify the $400? Sometimes the bike you get is more about aesthetics than function, and rolling around Ultegra is certainly a nicer option.
Other thing to consider is replacement costs of the wearables. Your chain, casette, chainrings, etc for Ultegra will be more expensive then their 105 counterparts. So not only is it $400 more to you the day you purchase your new bike, but it will continually be more expensive down the road.Same thing if you go down and break your shifters. Might be marginal in the grand scheme of things to some people, but something to consider nonetheless.
As others have said, the biggest difference is weight. The 105 groupo is a very solid groupo in terms of quality and price. My roadbike has 105 and I’ve been happy with it
It’s all about the shifters. On a TT bike, the bar end shifters are the same for 105 or Ultegra. So it’s going to be EXTREMELY difficult to notice any difference between a 105 to Ultegra. Now, if you were on a road bike, the Ultegra brifters are way nicer, and I’d be able to tell.
But, does the Ultegra bike have better paint? Anything else about it that would justify the $400? Sometimes the bike you get is more about aesthetics than function, and rolling around Ultegra is certainly a nicer option.
Actually its the exact same frame and color, its just the different group set. I did notice that when Argon 18 says Ultegra it is all Ultegra, unlike some other brands that use different components for like the chain ring and the such. And the bike shop is going to do a fitting as part of the bike purchase.
As I looked on R&A cycles page the 2 bikes are identical except for the group set, and the bar end shifters on both are Dura-Ace 9000. I am getting it through a local/semi local, about 1.5 hours away, Bike shop. The owner is putting a pro/predevelopment team on this bike with HED wheels.