Trickle Down
Shimano does a great job of pushing their top-level technology down to their lesser component groups. Cyclingnews.com just did a review of the 105 group, and I really have to second their praise. The 105 stuff works great on my rain bike. If I ever get around (read: get the funds) to building up a travel bike, I’ll probably spec it with Shimano 105. The only thing I can’t get past is the chainrings: What’s up with the cookie-cutter finish on those? The cranks themselves look fine to me, but the rings look a little cheap. Because I’m a vain SOB, I’d swap out for the FSAs and it would be a great looking setup.