Complete Build Kits

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Although many people revel in assembling their bikes component by component in order to ensure that their build is 100% personal (and we respect that), we also have many customers who simply want the performance from a higher end bike and want us to recommend a build for them. These build kits are our recommendations for those customers looking for the quick way to assemble a complete bike from a frameset.

At each level we give you an option from every major component builder, but rank them in terms of the goals in that category.  Just add the package price to the price of a frameset and you’ll arrive at the total cost.

Objective: Basic Build

These build kits are made to give you the lowest cost of entry into a custom built bike.  These will generally come out a little more expensive than one of our prebuilt bikes, but offer a choice of drivetrain, cockpit, and colors.  Bikes using these build kits will usually cost between $ and $.

Groupset Recommendations

1. SRAM Rival – For the entry level, it is difficult to beat the price/performance ratio of SRAM Rival.  The shifting is crisp and quick, the brakes perform admirably, the carbon shift levels look and feel great, and the all-black look matches well with what a lot of our customers want to see.

2. Shimano 105 - This has been Shimano’s tried and true entry level into their high end for over two decades.  It loses slightly in terms of value to the lower priced SRAM Rival, but is still a real contender to those who like the precision feel of Shimano.  The new model year will bring a new version of the venerable 105 groupset, which might see it move up to be our recommended entry-level build choice.

3. Campagnolo Athena 11 – It’s tough to think about Campagnolo in the “value” category, but that’s exactly what the Athena group does.  11 speeds in the rear sounds like uneccesary luxury until you ride it and see such a small change makes for a smoother, more enjoyable cruising velocity.  If you’re in the value segment and want to splurge a little, Athena is a great choice.  Spending another $200 will get you the carbon crank and shift levers which look a little more modern and also save a little weight.

Wheel Recommendations

Fulcrum Racing 5 ($440) – Fulcrum’s next to entry-level is an all-rounder that gives you far more than a basic ride.  They are durable, lightweight for the money, and roll nicely in all conditions.  This is our solid recommendation for a base level wheel.

Mavic Ksyrium Elite ($650) – The extra $210 on a wheel upgrade is money well spent (and the first place we suggest anyone spends more money).  The entry-level to Mavic’s Ksyrium line has better hubs (smoother rolling), better spokes (more responsive), and is noticably lighter than the Racing 5.

Component Recommendations

The Ritchey Pro series components are our favorite inexpensive cockpit parts.  Matched up with a Fizik Arione saddle and Fizik bar tape they are comfortable and reliable.  Finishing off the package is a pair of Continental Ultra Sport tires.

Total Package Price

  Rival 105 Athena
Racing 5  100  100  100
Ksyrium Elite  100 100   100

Objective: Mid-Range Build

 At this point we aim to gain signifcantly more performance than what comes on a prebuilt bike.  Your expectations in this range should be to get better shifting, higher performance wheels, lighter components, and more durability.  This is our most popular build objective, as we get very close to what the absolute best components in the world offer but just before the cost roars into the stratosphere.  Bikes here are likely to be between $ and $.

1. SRAM Force

SRAM also gets our nod for top choice in a mid-range build.  The previous generation of Force was a good start for a mid-range road group, but the trickle-down from SRAM’s experience with Red paid huge dividends and Force is now an amazing choice.  Rumor has it that Alberto Contador even “downgrades” his bikes to Force as he gets better reliability with only a minor amount of weight gain.

2. Campagnolo Chorus 11

Chorus is the perfect “real world” Campagnolo component set, and is considered to be the entry to their “race class” series with Record 11 and Super Record 11.  We could talk at length about all the minute differences between Chorus and the higher end Campagnolo gruppos, but if you were blindfolded you would be hard pressed to tell the difference in shifting feel between Chorus and its bigger brothers (don’t try that experiment at home!).  The new Ergolever hoods are also amazingly comfortable in all positions, making this a superb upgrade across the board.

3. Shimano Ultegra 6700

Shimano’s new Ultegra group easily outperforms the previous generation of Dura-Ace.  It was a big step forward for Shimano and has even more of that Shimano precision shifting feel.  However, it lacks the snappy performance and lower price of Force and the fluid feel of Chorus and that puts it into third place in our view.

Objective: High End Build

This is it, you have arrived at the pinnacle of the bicycle world.  When you consider this category you want to be using the same components as the pros, and sometimes better (assuming you don’t care about UCI component rules).  Price is no object here, and your expectations should be that you are making zero compromise.

1. Campagnolo Super Record 11 – When thinking about an ultimate high-end build, there really is only one choice: Campagnolo Super Record 11.  The clever use of titanium and carbon throughout this groupset shaves off precious ounces and adds performance everywhere, and the legendary Campagnolo luxurious look and feel is everywhere on this groupset.  CULT ceramic bearings in the bottom bracket are the icing on the cake, bringing a noticably smoother turning motion to the crankset.  Truly the pinnacle of modern componentry.

2. Shimano Dura-Ace 7900 Di2 – The brilliance of Di2 electronic shifting is clear the first time you ride it and realize that it actually exceeds your extremely high expectations.  Seamless shifting under load, no problem.  Automatic trim in the front that is so quick you don’t even notice it, absolutely.  Dancing back and forth across the cassette so quickly that you forget what old-style shifting was like, without a doubt.  It has a hefty price tag, but if you’re in this price range to begin with that might not be a problem.

Option 3: SRAM Red – We love Red, but the improvements in SRAM’s Force and the giant leaps forward that Campagnolo and Shimano have made since its release relegates it to third place in this category.  The nice part of this equation comes when you realize that Red gives you the lowest cost of entry into the category.

Objective: Lightweight Build

 

1. Campagnolo Super Record 11 - A third of a pound lighter than its Shimano and SRAM competition, Super Record is the lightest component group available today.  There is a premium price for these weight savings, and those wanting extreme weight savings for a little less money will choose Record 11 which saves $500 but is still lighter than the competition.

2. Shimano Dura-Ace 7900 - Even though the ultra-stiff alloy crank looks like heavy relative to the carbon fiber crank arms from Campagnolo and SRAM, the overall weight of this group is only a little more than the Campagnolo sets, and still lighter than SRAM’s Red.  Di2 electronic shifting

3. SRAM Red – Once again we’ll give the edge to SRAM here for having the least expensive super-light groupset, but if your primary goal is weight savings then this is the least light of the big three.