So Shimano is introducing a lighter, more expensive version of Ultegra called Ultegra SL. It saves almost 100 grams.
First of all, it's enough with the "SL" suffix already. Every wheel, frame, and pedal has a damn "SL" after its name now. I say these companies take a cue from 70s-era Detroit and just put "Ltd" in swoopy script after every product name.
Nextly, the thing I always liked about Ultegra is that it's the blue-collar group. It's always been the cheapest legitimate racing gruppo. Good enough to take the start at a Pro/1/2 race, yet inexpensive enough to slap on that project bike or on your first 'cross frame. Ultegra says, "I don't care about shiny, I don't care about grams, I just care about riding."
That's why pimping up Ultegra is stupid. It's like when people take a perfectly good economy car and then put on wheels that cost three times as much as the vehicle. You go from looking like a sensible, economical person to looking like an idiot.
If you need 100 grams, buy the Ultegra group but swap out the crankset for Dura Ace. You'll net the same weight savings and not look dumb.
First of all, it's enough with the "SL" suffix already. Every wheel, frame, and pedal has a damn "SL" after its name now. I say these companies take a cue from 70s-era Detroit and just put "Ltd" in swoopy script after every product name.
Nextly, the thing I always liked about Ultegra is that it's the blue-collar group. It's always been the cheapest legitimate racing gruppo. Good enough to take the start at a Pro/1/2 race, yet inexpensive enough to slap on that project bike or on your first 'cross frame. Ultegra says, "I don't care about shiny, I don't care about grams, I just care about riding."
That's why pimping up Ultegra is stupid. It's like when people take a perfectly good economy car and then put on wheels that cost three times as much as the vehicle. You go from looking like a sensible, economical person to looking like an idiot.
If you need 100 grams, buy the Ultegra group but swap out the crankset for Dura Ace. You'll net the same weight savings and not look dumb.
