Are disc brakes better on a road bike?
Not for every purpose and every budget. Gravel bikes are not available without them because wide tyres demand them. Disc brakes are also becoming more and more popular on marathon road bikes, with models starting at around € 3,000 almost exclusively available with them. Below this price limit, however, there is often still a choice for both marathon and competition bikes, and this can certainly be in favour of rim brakes: With good rim brakes that brake on aluminium rims, the difference in braking performance is not so striking, but the extra cost and additional weight for the disc is comparatively high. Here, the rim brake is often the better choice.
How much does a bike with a Shimano, Campagnolo or Sram groupset cost?
As a general rule, the more expensive a groupset, the lighter it is. Expensive parts are sometimes made of higher-quality material and are more elaborately processed, which makes them smoother and, at best, more durable. The differences in shifting behaviour, on the other hand, are marginal. With the exception of very inexpensive bikes (around 600 euros), 22 gears (two chainrings and eleven sprockets on the rear wheel) are standard, while the high-end groupsets from Campagnolo and SRAM already offer twelve sprockets. Very inexpensive Shimano groupsets sometimes only have nine sprockets on the rear wheel, but are then often combined with a triple crank, which enables lighter gears. The overview shows the groupset hierarchies and the prices that are charged for correspondingly equipped bikes.
Prices can vary greatly depending on the manufacturer, frame material and brakes - disc brakes are up to 500 euros more expensive.
What are the benefits of an electric circuit?
First and foremost, greater ease of use - shifting gears at the touch of a button is convenient, and the operation of the buttons can usually be customised to suit individual preferences. In the long term, electric shifting is also more reliable - provided the batteries are charged. Because no Bowden cable can elongate or wear out, the electric gearstick is precise in the long term.
Which translation do I need?
The gearing on the bike should match the performance level and intended use. This means: Generally large gears and narrow gradations for well-trained racers or flat terrain; a wide range with small gears for hobby cyclists and touring cyclists in the mountains. Marathon bikes are almost exclusively fitted with compact cranks with 50/34 teeth and wide-range cassettes; competition bikes usually come with a 52/36 chainring combination. Later conversion of the crank is generally unproblematic, but a different rear derailleur may be required for cassettes with significantly larger sprockets (lighter gears). Drivetrains with only one chainring weigh less and are easy to use, but: The range is smaller and, depending on individual requirements and fitness, light mountain gears or very fast gears may be missing, which not everyone can cope with. Be sure to try it out first! Converting to a double later on will be very expensive and is not even possible with some frames.
