First roadie, sora vs 105

So I am leaning toward the cheapie option...

I just had a quick look around. Hands down, Giant OCR2 with Tiagra
would be my pick (if I were just starting out again). Around $1300 -
$1400 from Giant dealers on just about every corner.

However, I stumbled over a CELL website, they have a full 105 model for
about $1200. Interesting looking frame, but i'm sure it's decent.
Their shop is actually in Stanmore, Sydney - but if you're situated
elsewhere, then you wouldn't get the benifit of a LBS for support 'when
you need it'.

There's also a Learsport Tiagra option for about $1100, but Learsport
are just factory-to-buyer with NO LBS support at all. Bugger that.

I'd also like to retract my comment about Sora spec'd bikes sitting in
the shed. It was a bit of a dumb comment. What I SHOULD have said is,
that in MY experience, whenever I take the cheapest option - even if
it's "adequete" - I often wish later on that i'd spent a little more,
for a little more quality.

gm


--
gravelmuncher

My LBS has a very sexy black Avanti Vuelta with mostly 105 for $1500.
Carbon forks, seatpost... very nice and very tempted ;-)

Cranks are not 105, though. They're FSA something..

Or at the super cheap end of the scale, CELL has a Sora bike for $650
(!) Not sure about the hubs in it, though.

Hmmmmm



gravelmuncher wrote:
So I am leaning toward the cheapie option...

I just had a quick look around. Hands down, Giant OCR2 with Tiagra
would be my pick (if I were just starting out again). Around $1300 -
$1400 from Giant dealers on just about every corner.

However, I stumbled over a CELL website, they have a full 105 model for
about $1200. Interesting looking frame, but i'm sure it's decent.
Their shop is actually in Stanmore, Sydney - but if you're situated
elsewhere, then you wouldn't get the benifit of a LBS for support 'when
you need it'.

There's also a Learsport Tiagra option for about $1100, but Learsport
are just factory-to-buyer with NO LBS support at all. Bugger that.

I'd also like to retract my comment about Sora spec'd bikes sitting in
the shed. It was a bit of a dumb comment. What I SHOULD have said is,
that in MY experience, whenever I take the cheapest option - even if
it's "adequete" - I often wish later on that i'd spent a little more,
for a little more quality.

gm

Gags Wrote:

Shouldn't be too hard......Steel is Real!!!
Indeed brother Gags. Can I get an Amen for brother Gags! Amen!!!


--
monsterman

Zebee Johnstone wrote:
In aus.bicycle on 5 Mar 2007 15:45:14 -0800
Donga wrote:

People drop huge amounts of money on a car, then baulk at buying a
decent bike. It's worth spending a couple of thou to get a bike that
you will love riding. There are other threads on a.b on how to
rationalise it to your wife ;-)



Someone asked me how much the 'bent cost and when told said "you could
buy a 2nd hand car for that!".

The idea that I didn't want a car was a bit hard for him to grasp....


Zebee

or a lot less. cars r cheap

In article ,
gravelmuncher
wrote:

but Learsport are just factory-to-buyer with NO LBS support at all

I believe some LBSes sell Learsport. Kathy Watt's store comes to mind.

--
Shane Stanley

"Jules" wrote in message
...
I've figured it's time to stop slowly morphing my MTB into something
faster and just get a proper road bike.

I'm not looking to spend heaps of cash, partly because I figure there's
less embarrassment in being passed by much fitter people when you're on a
cheap bike ;-)

So the choice basically comes down to a Sora-equipped or 105-equipped
bike.

I took one of each out for a test ride today, and didn't really feel a lot
of difference in the gear shifts and crank-ability.

Given this'll be my first road bike, I'm leaning toward the cheaper option
so I can get used to this "roadie" concept and perhaps in a couple of
years I might see reason to upgrade.

Opinions / thoughts?

Cheers,
Jules

Some comments from personal experience and as a bike shop owner (BSO):
Personal: I bought a Giant roady equipped with Sora some time ago. Hated it!
My MTBs have XT and XTR components so I was used to nice, efficient shifts.
I found the Sora to feel clunky and rough. A while late I bought an Azzuri
with a full 105 group set - I thought there was a world of difference!
Shifts went where they were supposed to with no hesitation and feel slick
and precise.

BSO: We don't sell many road bikes. Of those we do sell, I see the Sora
bikes back about three times more for adjustments and repairs than 105
stuff. It may be that more experienced cyclists are buying the 105 and ride
it with less grunt - I dunno.

I'd say it's worth going the extra $ for the 105 10 speed over the Sora 8
speed.

me

I'd say it's worth going the extra $ for the 105 10 speed over the Sora
8
speed.

Ahh...There's still no mention of Tiagra's quality here people. I
realise that the original question was Sora V's 105 - but to me the
difference between Sora and 105 is TIAGRA.

gm


--
gravelmuncher

On Mar 8, 11:55 am, gravelmuncher gravelmuncher.2n3...@no-
mx.forums.cyclingforums.com wrote:

Ahh...There's still no mention of Tiagra's quality here people. I
realise that the original question was Sora V's 105 - but to me the
difference between Sora and 105 is TIAGRA.

It must be the name. Where did they get it? TIAGRA? Is that meant to
evoke some emotion? Hmmm, Niagara falls? Or Viagra? Kill all
marketers.

Donga