Groupsets

Groupsets refer to the mechanical parts of your bike - brake and gear shifters, brakes, front and rear mechs, chainset, hubs and cassette. To a certain degree groupsets can be mixed and matched as long as they are within the same system. For example if you use Shimano you can run a mixture of Ultegra and Dura-ace (from the same year) but not a mixture of Shimano and Campagnolo.

Asides from the frame itself the groupset is one of the most important buying choices as it significantly affects the way your bike performs and its over all cost.

Mountain Bike Groupsets

The market leader is clearly Shimano. Components, when used as a groupset, generally perform flawlessly as a unit to give great shifting, and braking.

Sram have been producng their twist-grip style shifting system for many years. It is a quality system, with fewer moving parts. Now Sram has bought up companies left right and centre to allow them to finally offer a full groupset like Shimano. This is great news for the consumer as it offers more alternatives in the future.

XTR

Shimano is the first choice for mountain bike equipment - Shimano mountain bike group sets start at the top with XTR. XTR has been designed with high performance racing in mind, it combines the expected level of Shimano reliability with a whole new generation of shifting and braking system designed to make changes faster and more fluid. Dual Control shift levers are the ultimate in performance allowing gear changes with a light flick of the hand and smooth powerful braking. XTR is super lightweight and combines clean lines and robust dependability.

Deore XT

Deore XT hovers just below XTR and benefits from a trickledown of many of XTR's developments. It combines lightweight performance, durability and ease of use with a slightly cheaper price ticket and small weight penalty. For all but the top pro riders XT will meet the demands of trail, racing and leisure.

Deore

Deore is the mid-way point between race and leisure, it offers fantastic value for money and a high level of quality. Its evolution develops a step behind XTR as each season it benefits from the filtering down of new technology ensuring that Deore remains a competitive system. Deore will handle most situations from entry level racing to trail bashing and urban cruising and is at a price which puts it within reach of most riders.

Road Groupsets

Shimano or Campagnolo?

The greatest and most enduring rivalry in bike racing is between Campagnolo and Shimano. Seasoned riders tend to hold very strong, personal affiliations to one system or the other. Campagnolo is the traditionalists favourite though they are being pushed to the limits by Shimano's top end groupset Dura-ace, the choice of Lance Armstrong and United States Postal Service.

There are subtle differences between the two systems; Campagnolo uses Ergopower shifters - a thumb tab on the hoods and a sideways moving brake/gear lever allow for easy shifting without changing your hand position. Campagnolo allows you to shift several sprockets in the one go unlike Shimano, which requires you to make one "click" at a time. Shimano STi's use dual levers, pushing both levers gets you shifting one way and just using the inner lever gets you shifting the other.

If you are unable to choose between Shimano and Campagnolo check how the hoods feel under your hand. For those with very small hands Shimano can be a better choice as not everyone can reach up to the thumb shifter although some smaller riders say they prefer Campagnolo because of it's lighter feel and the lower pivot point of the brake lever.

Dura-Ace

Dura-Ace is the top of Shimano's road groupset tree. As with XTR on mountain bikes Dura-ace is aimed primarily at racers and those who demand a high level of performance from their components. Dura-ace meets all the priorities of a competitive cyclist, it is light -weight, allows efficient energy transfer, smooth, precise shifting and reliability.

Braking and gear shifting mechanisms offer light feel and fingertip control. The advanced low mass bottom bracket chainset is as light as can be without any compromise on rigidity and strength. Last but no means least its aesthetically pleasing with smooth flowing lines and great shape - a compliment to any top end race bike.

The Campagnolo equivilent is Record Carbon.

Ultegra

Ultegra takes second step below Dura-ace, as with XT and XTR it benefits from the filter down of technology. Ultegra is a popular choice for a wide range of road bikes - technologically advanced enough to handle racing its dependable performance makes it suitable for training, touring and leisure.

Available as a triple and double chainset this is the perfect groupset for any sports cyclist.

The Campagnolo equivilent is Record.

105

105 marks the divide between race performance and leisure. Frequently found on entry-level race bikes it has what it takes to perform on the road but at an affordable price. 105 is interchangeable with Ultegra and Dura-ace 9 speed and has two finishes, black or silver, to compliment any bike. A wide cross section of riders from racer to enthusiast will enjoy and benefit from 105's technology.

The Campgnolo equivilent is Veloce.