I am considering several ways of setting up my Gunnar - regardless it will have a mountain bike drive-train rather than a traditional roadbike for assorted good reasons.

For those who are familiar with SRAM trigger shifters - what would you say are the main differences between X7 and X9? I have read elsewhere that X9 is lighter/more attractive while X7 is easier to shift. Has anyone found that to be so? Would I be able to tell a difference between them for road use? I have not committed to go with SRAM, yet, but it is attractive. Just trying to work out the difference between the two.