Ultegra vs. Dura-Ace?

If you were spec'ing out a new carbon-fiber bike with Shimano components,
which parts of the grouppo would you choose Dura-Ace, and which Ultegra? I
understand that at least for certain components, Ultegra might be preferable
to DA.

Weight is important to me, but the ability to handle 4000-5000 miles a year
without excessive maintenance/wear is even more important. I don't want to
be replacing everything yearly if I can help it.

Oh, and I will be wanting a triple chainring on this bike, not double. I
understand that DA is not good for triples.

Many thanks in advance!

Emily

For a triple, I'd opt for Ultegra. The DuraAce triple is nice, but has some
problems sometimes with the chain coming off the middle chainring up front.
Ultegra weighs a little bit more, but you could always create a hybrid by
using a DuraAce rear derailluer, with Ultegra for the front der, crankset,
bb & shifters.

Eventually one suspects there will be a 10-speed DuraAce triple that works
so well we'll all want it, but for now, Ultegra looks like a very practical
option. OR- heaven forbid that Peter read this- consider a Campagnolo
Chorus or Record 10-speed triple. Very nice stuff as well.

--Mike--
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com

"Emily" wrote in message
link.net...
If you were spec'ing out a new carbon-fiber bike with Shimano components,
which parts of the grouppo would you choose Dura-Ace, and which Ultegra?
I
understand that at least for certain components, Ultegra might be
preferable
to DA.

Weight is important to me, but the ability to handle 4000-5000 miles a
year
without excessive maintenance/wear is even more important. I don't want
to
be replacing everything yearly if I can help it.

Oh, and I will be wanting a triple chainring on this bike, not double. I
understand that DA is not good for triples.

Many thanks in advance!

Emily

"Emily" wrote in message
If you were spec'ing out a new carbon-fiber bike with Shimano components,
which parts of the grouppo would you choose Dura-Ace, and which Ultegra?
I understand that at least for certain components, Ultegra might be
preferable


Mike Jacoubowsky responded:
The DuraAce triple is nice, but has some problems sometimes with the chain
coming off the middle chainring up front. Ultegra weighs a little bit more, but
you could always create a hybrid by
using a DuraAce rear derailluer, with Ultegra for the front der, crankset,bb &
shifters.

Mike,

I've got two DA triple setups...and both function flawlessly. Both are
installed on bikes with chainstays a tad over 40 cm. They've both got
reasonable milage on them...one is well over 5K miles and two years old.

First kid on the block to have one.

Even with the funky triplizer setup and the ba**ard granny ring BCD, the
ability to run a 39/53 really works well for me. The granny is a true granny in
my case...and since I actually do use it as a bailout, perhaps I'm not seeing
what you've described, as the drop to the granny is not an every ride
thing...I've never dropped the chain on either bike, IIRC.

My only issue has been remembering to keep cable tension slack enuf to allow
all trim functions. the triple wants to be run much slacker than the double,
IMHO...

PH

If you were spec'ing out a new carbon-fiber bike with Shimano components,
which parts of the grouppo would you choose Dura-Ace, and which Ultegra?

Pete Hausner wrote:

I've got two DA triple setups...and both function flawlessly. Both are
installed on bikes with chainstays a tad over 40 cm. They've both got
reasonable milage on them...one is well over 5K miles and two years old.

Even with the funky triplizer setup and the ba**ard granny ring BCD, the
ability to run a 39/53 really works well for me.

That's an option with Ultegra too. We sell a lot of TA 38 tooth middle
rings.

This also allows a more reasonable granny gear, we commonly do 26 tooth
for that application, which lets you use a nice tight rear cluster and
still have a decent low "bail out" gear.

Sheldon "Custom Gearing" Brown
+--------------------------------------------------------+
| In the final analysis, our most basic common link, |
| is that we all inhabit this small planet, |
| we all breathe the same air, |
| we all cherish our children's futures, |
| and we are all mortal. --John F. Kennedy |
+--------------------------------------------------------+
Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts
Phone 617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041
http://harriscyclery.com
Hard-to-find parts shipped Worldwide
http://captainbike.com http://sheldonbrown.com

Emily wrote:
If you were spec'ing out a new carbon-fiber bike with Shimano
components, which parts of the grouppo would you choose Dura-Ace, and
which Ultegra? I understand that at least for certain components,
Ultegra might be preferable to DA.
Weight is important to me, but the ability to handle 4000-5000 miles a
year without excessive maintenance/wear is even more important. I don't
want to be replacing everything yearly if I can help it.
Oh, and I will be wanting a triple chainring on this bike, not double. I
understand that DA is not good for triples.
Many thanks in advance!
Emily


I suggest 7700 series DA everywhere except crank, BB, & FD. The 7800
front hub and 7800 DA brake calipers are also quite nice. Have you tried
the Campy Brifter levers?



--
--------------------------
Posted via cyclingforums.com
http://www.cyclingforums.com

"Emily" wrote in message
link.net...
If you were spec'ing out a new carbon-fiber bike with Shimano components,
which parts of the grouppo would you choose Dura-Ace, and which Ultegra?
I
understand that at least for certain components, Ultegra might be
preferable
to DA.

Weight is important to me, but the ability to handle 4000-5000 miles a
year
without excessive maintenance/wear is even more important. I don't want
to
be replacing everything yearly if I can help it.

Oh, and I will be wanting a triple chainring on this bike, not double. I
understand that DA is not good for triples.

Many thanks in advance!

Emily


I like the way the D/A shifters feel vs. the Ultegras, so that'd be the only
thing I'd change.

Campy shifters and rear derailleur would go a ways towards eliminating
possible triple "shifting gremlins."

Mike

Mike,

I've got two DA triple setups...and both function flawlessly. Both are
installed on bikes with chainstays a tad over 40 cm. They've both got
reasonable milage on them...one is well over 5K miles and two years old.

Pete: There's quite a bit of variability in experience with the DuraAce
triple. Two separate issues make the difference- First, some of the early
ones had very stiff left-side shift levers... stiff enough that the effort
made to get it to shift from middle to small front chainring became
something of an interruption in the "flow" of pedaling/shifting. We found
that hand-selecting shifters with a softer action took care of this problem
nicely. The second issue has to do with the middle chainring itself; some
apparently had a slightly-different profiling that allowed the chain to come
off a bit too easily.

I should have placed more qualifications in my post, as some people have/had
no issues at all with the DuraAce triple, and others who experienced
difficulties were, with a bit of patience, able to have those problems
either eliminated or greatly alleviated.

BUT... it remains the case the DuraAce triples are considerably more
problematic in setup and generally just fussier overall than the Ultegra
triples (although, as mentioned above, this isn't always the case, and it
can generally be dealt with effectively). The Ultegra setup simply works,
period, each and every time. It's ironic, but I'd still say that the
Ultegra triple sets the standard for others to come to.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
http://www.ChainReactionBicycles.com


"Pete Hausner" wrote in message
...


"Emily" wrote in message
If you were spec'ing out a new carbon-fiber bike with Shimano
components,
which parts of the grouppo would you choose Dura-Ace, and which Ultegra?
I understand that at least for certain components, Ultegra might be
preferable


Mike Jacoubowsky responded:
The DuraAce triple is nice, but has some problems sometimes with the
chain
coming off the middle chainring up front. Ultegra weighs a little bit
more, but
you could always create a hybrid by
using a DuraAce rear derailluer, with Ultegra for the front der,
crankset,bb &
shifters.

Mike,

I've got two DA triple setups...and both function flawlessly. Both are
installed on bikes with chainstays a tad over 40 cm. They've both got
reasonable milage on them...one is well over 5K miles and two years old.

First kid on the block to have one.

Even with the funky triplizer setup and the ba**ard granny ring BCD, the
ability to run a 39/53 really works well for me. The granny is a true
granny in
my case...and since I actually do use it as a bailout, perhaps I'm not
seeing
what you've described, as the drop to the granny is not an every ride
thing...I've never dropped the chain on either bike, IIRC.

My only issue has been remembering to keep cable tension slack enuf to
allow
all trim functions. the triple wants to be run much slacker than the
double,
IMHO...

PH

From: "Mike Jacoubowsky...
BUT... it remains the case the DuraAce triples are considerably more
problematic in setup and generally just fussier overall than the Ultegra
triples (although, as mentioned above, this isn't always the case, and it
can generally be dealt with effectively). The Ultegra setup simply works,
period, each and every time. It's ironic, but I'd still say that the
Ultegra triple sets the standard for others to come to. BRBR


Thanks for the explanation , Mike...

PH

If Ultegra is a reliable and functional groupset, aren't there better
places to spend $500 than on upgrading to DuraAce, if you're on a
fixed budget?

Kinky Cowboy

*Your milage may vary
Batteries not included
May contain traces of nuts.

emil- If you were spec'ing out a new carbon-fiber bike with Shimano
components,
which parts of the grouppo would you choose Dura-Ace, and which Ultegra?
BRBR

You do know that DA 9s, double crank is pretty much out of production, yes??
Along with the crank and crappy BB?

And unless you know of a good bike shop, like ours(;-)), it will be diffucult
to mix groups when using shimano-

emilys- Weight is important to me, but the ability to handle 4000-5000 miles
a year
without excessive maintenance/wear is even more important. I don't want to
be replacing everything yearly if I can help it. BRBR


Just get DA 10s, if ya gotta get shimano. It will be supported for a few years,
at least. ultegra as you see it will also be essentially out of production for
2005.

But if weight and reliability/maintainability is important..look at 2004
Chorus-cheaper than DA, a wee bit heavier, lighter than ultegra...same price
with a carbon crank....

emily Oh, and I will be wanting a triple chainring on this bike, not double.
I
understand that DA is not good for triples. BRBR


Then ya want ultegra or Campagnolo...

Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"