SuiNeko wrote:
Then... Groupset! Everything seems ugly and carbon fibre based these days. I dont like shimano flappy flight deck, but SRAM seems hideous. Ideas? Thinking force or ultegra. Last years sets - campy chorus is megabucks for what it is.
How serious are taking this? Your post seems to be all over the place with the direction you want to go.
I've not used the Force line, but I have had several bikes with 105, Ultegra and Dura-Ace. 105 is passable in my opinion for light use and "around town" kind of riding, but I wouldn't use it on my regular road bike. Ultegra is pretty decent, but I find the derailers tend to develop issues faster than I would like. I currently have Ultegra on my bike, but the front derailer is pissing me off. However, it also has 7k miles on it, and I was not as diligent on this set with replacing chains as I should have been. The shifters and brakes I have never had any issues with (had some problems with 105 brakes getting dirty and sticking closed), though I have older rim brakes. I also tend to ride on 23s, though with my frame and height, I should be on 25s.
Dura-Ace... you get what you pay for, and its worth it if you are serious about riding in my experience, though its limited.
I have ridden bikes with Campagnolo components, but never long enough to develop a sense of their worth or performance. They worked like I expected and did their job.
However, if you are intending to do some distance riding in moderate to difficult environments (lots of climbs), I question your choice of the chrmoly frame... flexing frames while climbing is murder on derailers and your chain.
When I bought my most recent bike (granted, a couple years ago now), I spent more time on seat and bar selection than I did components or computer.
Of course, your milage may vary depending on the type of riding you do. I don't ride competitively, but more for endurance/site seeing, so its hours in the saddle at a time.