Higher End Frame or Higher End Groupset

[Venod]

I would go for the best frame within my budget.

Relatively low end group sets are so good nowadays it’s very difficult to begin to justify anything above 105 level for the average cyclist.

But when did that stop many of us?

I used to build with Ultegra but now I use 105 I can't tell the difference, Ultegra is probably a bit lighter but not much.

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

Frames don't wear out (well steel ones don't anyway), so money spent on a quality frame should be considered more as an investment, whereas moving parts do wear out so should be considered consumables.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Frames don't wear out (well steel ones don't anyway), so money spent on a quality frame should be considered more as an investment, whereas moving parts do wear out so should be considered consumables.

Ever heard of rust?

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

Ever heard of rust?

It's extremely rare for a steel bike frame to rust to the point of structural failure. Surface rust spots and rusty gouges caused by scraping the frame against street furniture etc, might not be pretty to look at, but they are irrelevant as far as the integrity of the frame goes. When I started work in the 1980's there were old blokes who were still riding to work on battered 3-speed roadsters dating back to the 1940's and 1950's. Frequently the original pressed steel mudguards would be full of holes or hanging off, but the frames were still holding up the weight of an adult rider after 30 or 40 years use without any problems.

 

[Drago]

My 35 year old Claud had lots of paint scrapes down to the bare 531, no rust.

 

[Milzy]

The frame is the heart of the bike. In this day and age a 105 groupset is ample.

 

[Paul_Smith SRCC]

Simple question really, at most price points, is money better spent on a higher end frame or a higher end groupset?

Frame and wheels offer for many the most noticeable changes to the riding experience.

However swapping out a group set can be both expensive and wasteful. Many will initially choose cheaper wheels then upgrade later, potentially allowing for a 'best' wheelset, with lighter tyres and the downgraded wheels can used as a winter set with heavier tyres for example.

 

[jowwy]

I went with frame first and then bought new groupsets as and when I got bored........no other reason

These last few weeks I was bored with sram etap and mechanical disc, so I sold the shifters and the trps to help ease the pain of buying the etap hydraulic disc.......but the titanium frame deserves the best I can afford, even if the engine can't ever do it justice. New wheels next

 

[froze]

Looks like a landslide victory towards a better frame.

You are going to feel the results of a better frame over better components much more. If your on a budget go with the better frame, this is what I did when I got my last bike a titanium Lynskey, but I bought their bottom of the line the Peloton it was called at the time, but titanium is high end material and cost more then other materials. So with the Lynskey I got it with 105 components and only upgraded a few things, component wise I upgraded the rear 105 to Ultegra but the rest of the 105 components stayed, that upgrade only cost me $32 more so I did it. Campy wise I would go with Athena. Even Shimano Tiagra is not bad, but I wouldn't go below Tiagra due to inflexibility to upgrades.