The sky is the limit when it comes to how much you can spend on a road bike. $2000 (£1690) is not an insignificant amount of money for a bike, so you’ll want to make sure you get a good one! However, to the uninitiated, the bike marketplace can be confusing. You’ll find bikes that seem … Read more
Shimano’s mid-range groupset offerings – Tiagra and 105 – are some of the most common groupsets among amateur cyclists.
Shimano is the world-leading manufacturer of components, and for a good reason. They are trusted by much of the pro peloton and have supplied the groupsets on every winning men’s Grand Tour bike since 2020.
So, it begs the question, is it worth the upgrade? What’s the difference between Shimano Tiagra vs 105?
Love it or loathe it, the term “brifter” is now well-established in the cyclist’s vocabulary.
But if you’re not familiar with them, this might leave you wondering: what are brifters, and why do they matter?
Shimano is the world-leading manufacturer of cycling components, renowned for producing high-quality bike parts and accessories. Shimano wheelsets are no exception, with various options available to suit different riders and needs. The wheelsets are named in the same hierarchy as their groupsets, entailing a large range of different wheels that suit any price point. However, … Read more
Shimano 105 is the best mid-range groupset in Shimano’s lineup – and the 105 series has arguably represented the best bang-for-buck in cycling components for decades. But how does it stack up to its more expensive big brother: Ultegra? Shimano is the world-leading manufacturer of components, and for good reason. They are trusted by much … Read more
Shimano and SRAM are two of the biggest and most successful manufacturers of bike components, making up 85% of the bike componentry market combined. Choosing the right groupset for you is absolutely essential. Whether you’re building a bike from scratch or buying a complete bike outright, SRAM and Shimano are both tried and tested options … Read more
The bottom bracket has become something of a mechanical hydra: innovate on one model, and two come along to take its place. And when it’s time to replace yours, you need to do your homework. What started as a near-universal component is now a compatibility minefield of different types and standards, and without proper research, … Read more
Many consider Shimano the gold standard of bike component manufacturers – and Shimano MTB groupsets are no exception. At the cutting edge of the industry, they are chosen by professional cyclists from every discipline time and time again. Arguably none more so than the MTB pros; producing specific groupsets for cross-country, gravel bikes, and downhill, … Read more
Accompanying the explosion of gravel bikes in the past few years, the component manufacturing giants have all released specific gravel bike groupsets. Over the past decade, gravel bikes have become exceedingly popular. It fits a need for a versatile bike that performs well on the road and off-road. Initially, they used road bike groupsets, but … Read more
An integral part of your machine, the bicycle groupset refers to all of the components that allow you to propel yourself forwards and bring yourself to a stop. Whether you’re new to cycling or a two-wheel fanatic, it may not be obvious exactly how your bike works. The parts that comprise the drivetrain and the … Read more
Let’s be honest: for gear-heads like us, getting our hands on the latest cutting-edge tech is one of the most exciting reasons to take the bike out for a test spin. But electronic bike shifters aren’t just a gimmick – they offer a smoother, deeper, and more enjoyable cycling experience. With the level of performance … Read more
Imagine a time before your trusty Shimano indexed shifters. Everything’s normal until you approach a steep hill. You look down towards your handlebars and see nothing to help you change gears – except for these strange-looking twisty levers on your down tube. These are friction shifters. They’re old-school bike shifters and were the standard until Shimano … Read more
Shimano groupset components are consistently ranked among the best around by cyclists the world over. They’re trusted by everyone from Tour de France champions to everyday commuters to weekend gravel grinders – and for good reason. Shimano groupsets are known for their reliability, cost-effectiveness, and innovation, with technology from their flagship Dura-Ace components filtering down … Read more
One of the most critical points of contact you have with your bike is the pedals. You can put an incredible amount of power into them, but they also give you valuable feedback from the surface you are riding on. Therefore, you should carefully consider what pedals you fit to your bike. There are different … Read more
