Grip vs Triggers

[Catrin]

I did have the opportunity to feel what the high-end SRAM twisters felt like and fell in love! I REALLY like not having to use my thumbs at all, and I love how the shifting feels just as much. It isn't a quiet shift - but a very easy shift and if you need to do so, you can go jump ALL of the rear gears in a single shift without a problem (rear, of course). You also know exactly how many gears you have jumped. I can jump a few gears in the rear with my LHT, but I pretty much have to guess how far I've gone unless I am staring at the indicator.

I've decided to go with the X0 shifters, which is the highest level SRAM has. I think my fitter was a little surprised to find that I like the "tread" on them, and they are not too large at all - indeed they fit my hands well. He tells me that the X0 grips are less aggressive this year, so that no doubt explains it.

An X0 drive-train would be over-kill for asphalt application with the occasional gravel/limestone - it really is meant for mountain bike racing - so I've gone with an X7/X9 drive-train. Cassette will be 11-34 with a 22-32-44 crank.

I am really excited, in case that isn't obvious