SRAM, Shimano or Campagnolo Group Set?

Question:

I am building up a bike. I am a little more then a recreational rider and ride 100-200 miles a week. I ride for the exercise and for fun, not competition (20 mph). On my current commuter I have low/mid end Shimano components. I am looking at the mid/upper end Shimano/Sram/Campagnolo groups. Which set is which? Can you tell me which ones I might take a look at based on the riding I do? I am price/quality motivated.

Thanks.

Hi Scott,

The first thing I would like to say to you is that it the equipment you use is not dependent on how many miles you ride or the level that you ride at, if you want, and can afford the best available then you should get it. If you can justify the purchase to yourself and more importantly your family then there is no reason why you shouldn't ride the top available bike. It's just as hard, but maybe you will go faster with the best and you will enjoy the smooth working and accuracy of the gear change and the smoothness of the brakes, I know I've said this before, but you get what you pay for.

Shimano

You ask which group sets we would suggest you look at? For Shimano it has to be the top two groups that they manufacture which is the Dura-Ace and the slightly cheaper and heavier, Ultegra. Anything lower is good quality, but not for a rider who wants the sort of equipment that the professionals use.

Campagnolo

Just like the Shimano you want to be looking at the top two group sets, the top class Campagnolo Record or the Chorus group sets. The Record group is the cutting edge of technology with the use of carbon and titanium, the Chorus is as well made and works very well, but is heavier.

SRAM

I would suggest that if you are thinking of buying a group from SRAM then it has to be the RED group set as it is there best and lightest, the Force and the Rival groups are good, but they where the first road groups from SRAM and since then they have ironed out any little problems they had for the production of the RED group set. Once you get used to the "Double Tap" gear change system it's a very fine group.

Our Conclusion

The SRAM RED is nice, but not cheap, it's well made and works well and a few teams now use it, so it's getting well tested on the roads. Shimano and Campagnolo are well known and to choose between the Japanese and the Italian manufacturer normally comes down to personal preference. Shimano don't use Carbon, but Campagnolo do, the weights are very similar, it comes down to which you like the look of and which system you prefer. Let us know which one you go for?