The drivetrain of a bike plays an important role in cycling. Basically a drivetrain consists of the chain, cassette, derailleurs, brakes, shifters etc. The frame of a bike is said to be the defining point of a great bicycle and all the major manufacturers spend millions of dollars to make them lighter, stiffer and more aerodynamic each day. But it is the drivetrain that takes up most of the stress that you put it under.
All the energy that is generated through your frame and then to bottom bracket transfers straight to the cranks. That relentless stamping on the crank transfers power to the wheels through the chain and cassette. Simultaneously you are also shifting gears to engage derailleurs. And don't forget all the grits and grimes that it faces each day as the terrain changes. So you can imagine the life of a drivetrain is pretty difficult to say the least.
Therefore, reliability is one of the most crucial aspects of a solid drivetrain. For a road bike it's no different as you want your components to last as long as possible after putting huge efforts- whether in racing or in training. Also weight plays a significant role in road biking as lighter groupsets help to keep down the overall weight of the bike. Finally a better groupset is more efficient and it helps to deliver maximum power to your wheels that you generate which in turns save you precious watts of energy in the long run.
So if you're into road bikes and you want to get yourself a roadie but have less idea on groupsets, this article is for you. Basically there are three largest manufacturers which are renowned for their groupset production: Shimano, SRAM and Campagnolo. Here's a more in depth look into each brands.
1. Shimano (Japan):
Shimano is the most popular and widely used brand in the market. Shimano thrives on being the ever reliable and no compromise products. Shimano is also widely available and as a result replacement parts are easy to find.
The hierarchy of Shimano road groupset is as of following (from best to worst)
Pic: Shimano Dura-Ace 9000
2. SRAM (USA):
SRAM is the latest manufacturer of the big three but they have caught up pretty soon with their innovating technologies and bold designs. Their graphics are really eye-catching and performance of their components are really awesome. They are also widely available like Shimano.
The hierarchy of SRAM road groupset is as of following (from best to worst)
Pic: SRAM Red 22
3. Campagnolo (Italy):
Campagnolo is definitely the classiest groupset maker of the lot. When you think about Campagnolo, you think about art. They have the artistic touch in almost everything they make. They are also the most expensive of the three manufacturers and compared to Shimano and SRAM, a little hard to replace.
The hierarchy of Campagnolo road groupset is as of following (from best to worst)
Pic: Campagnolo Super Record EPS
One important thing to note that, both Shimano and SRAM are interchangeable i.e. you can use SRAM components with Shimano and vice versa. Campagnolo doesn't give you this flexibility.
So if you want a drivetrain with solid and reliable performance, then Shimano is your best bet. If sleek performance and innovative designs are your priority, SRAM is the way to go. If you have money to spend and want to get the classiest groupset of the lot, opt for Campagnolo.
All the energy that is generated through your frame and then to bottom bracket transfers straight to the cranks. That relentless stamping on the crank transfers power to the wheels through the chain and cassette. Simultaneously you are also shifting gears to engage derailleurs. And don't forget all the grits and grimes that it faces each day as the terrain changes. So you can imagine the life of a drivetrain is pretty difficult to say the least.
Therefore, reliability is one of the most crucial aspects of a solid drivetrain. For a road bike it's no different as you want your components to last as long as possible after putting huge efforts- whether in racing or in training. Also weight plays a significant role in road biking as lighter groupsets help to keep down the overall weight of the bike. Finally a better groupset is more efficient and it helps to deliver maximum power to your wheels that you generate which in turns save you precious watts of energy in the long run.
So if you're into road bikes and you want to get yourself a roadie but have less idea on groupsets, this article is for you. Basically there are three largest manufacturers which are renowned for their groupset production: Shimano, SRAM and Campagnolo. Here's a more in depth look into each brands.
1. Shimano (Japan):
Shimano is the most popular and widely used brand in the market. Shimano thrives on being the ever reliable and no compromise products. Shimano is also widely available and as a result replacement parts are easy to find.
The hierarchy of Shimano road groupset is as of following (from best to worst)
- Dura-Ace di2 (9070) (11 speed electronic)
- Dura-Ace (9000) (11 speed)
- Dura-Ace (7900) (10 speed)
- Dura-Ace (7800) (10 speed)
- Ultegra di2 (6870) (11 speed electronic)
- Ultegra (6800) (11 speed)
- Ultegra di2 (6770) (10 speed electronic)
- Ultegra (6700) (10 speed)
- 105 (5800) (11 speed)
- 105 (5700) (10 speed)
- Tiagra (4600) (10 speed)
- Sora (3500) (9 speed)
- Claris (2400) (8 speed)
2. SRAM (USA):
SRAM is the latest manufacturer of the big three but they have caught up pretty soon with their innovating technologies and bold designs. Their graphics are really eye-catching and performance of their components are really awesome. They are also widely available like Shimano.
The hierarchy of SRAM road groupset is as of following (from best to worst)
- Red22 (11 speed)
- Red (10 speed)
- Force22 (11 speed)
- Force (10 speed)
- Rival (10 speed)
- Apex (10 speed)
Pic: SRAM Red 22
3. Campagnolo (Italy):
Campagnolo is definitely the classiest groupset maker of the lot. When you think about Campagnolo, you think about art. They have the artistic touch in almost everything they make. They are also the most expensive of the three manufacturers and compared to Shimano and SRAM, a little hard to replace.
The hierarchy of Campagnolo road groupset is as of following (from best to worst)
- Super Record EPS (11 speed electronic)
- Super Record (11 speed)
- Record EPS (11 speed electronic)
- Record (11 speed)
- Chorus (11 speed)
- Athena EPS (11 speed electronic)
- Athena (11 speed)
- Centaur (10 speed)
- Veloce (10 speed)
Pic: Campagnolo Super Record EPS
One important thing to note that, both Shimano and SRAM are interchangeable i.e. you can use SRAM components with Shimano and vice versa. Campagnolo doesn't give you this flexibility.
So if you want a drivetrain with solid and reliable performance, then Shimano is your best bet. If sleek performance and innovative designs are your priority, SRAM is the way to go. If you have money to spend and want to get the classiest groupset of the lot, opt for Campagnolo.
