Upgrade my Shimano Tiagra components on Cannondale Synapse 6?

Question

I absolutely love the bike, but am wondering if I should upgrade the Tiagra components to the 105's or Ultegra. I want to get more competitive. What can I expect to spend of I upgrad to 105 vs. Ultegra and will I notice a major difference?

Answer 1

If your components are in good working order don't change them until something needs to be replaced. Usually a good rule of thumb is to replace the cassette whenever the chain wears out. That would be a good time to upgrade your components. You will shave off mere ounces from your overall weight on the bike if you upgrade from Tiagra to Ultegra, but it won't make you a better cyclist or make you more competitive.  Many people make the mistake of thinking they can "buy" fitness or that new components will make them better or faster. You'll notice a smoother transition during shifting, but to get stronger and more competitive on the bike, the answer is simple... all you have to do is keep riding. Ride often, ride strong, and ride on!

Answer 2

105 or better components will be a bit lighter. They will shift smoother and last longer. However, they will not make you faster once you've gotten into the correct gear for your situation. Tiagra has a 52 tooth crank. The biggest cranks on upgraded components are 53 teeth, not a significant change. I would wait until I wore out part of the Tiagra drive train before spending serious bucks on an upgrade. Of course, YMMV. Never discount the bling factor.

HTH

Answer 3

I've owned Tiagra with 105 rear before and it was a really solid setup. However, for racing, you'll need at least 105. Reason being is that 105 and above will shift better(particularly on hills) and you will want a double crank to assist in this as well. Now I ride with Ultegra group on one of my bikes and Dura Ace on the other. From my experience, 105 would've done just as well. Ultegra is slightly better but I'm not sure it's worth the extra cost over 105. If you like to impress others, then it is. Unless you're going Dura Ace, 105 will do just as well as Ultegra for quite a bit less. Remember this, the difference will only be noticed in the shifters. Ultegra does have the slight advantage, but not by much. You can throw a 105 group with Ultegra shifters and get the same results as a full Ultegra group for a bit less.