SRAM Force

[Triskeliongirl]

Talk to me about SRAM Force. I am considering a closeout on a bike that I really like that is already equipped with SRAM Force. It is *very light*. I am used to ultegra-9. Do you guys think it will be hard to adjust to the different shifting? If you are riding this group, do you like it?

The casette it comes with is 11-23 but I noticed I can get an SRAM Red casette 11-28 which sounds perfect. Is it safe to assume this will be compatable?

[celerystalksme]

Talk to me about SRAM Force. I am considering a closeout on a bike that I really like that is already equipped with SRAM Force. It is *very light*. I am used to ultegra-9. Do you guys think it will be hard to adjust to the different shifting? If you are riding this group, do you like it?

The casette it comes with is 11-23 but I noticed I can get an SRAM Red casette 11-28 which sounds perfect. Is it safe to assume this will be compatable?

Yes, you can use the Red cassette with your Force group.

As for SRAM...I had Rival on one bike...and now I have Red on one of my bikes. I also have Dura-Ace 7800 on a bike...and another bike with a mix of Dura-Ace, Ultegra, Ultegra SL, and 105 (frankenbike).

Functionally, the only difference is the SRAM Doubletap system. It's super easy to get used to. And personally, I think I prefer it over Shimano. But overall, it's just not that big a deal. You'll notice SRAM shifts a little rougher...you hear and feel the shift more than with Dura-Ace...in that way, SRAM is more similar to Campy, neither have that silkly smoothness of Dura-Ace. And even that is personal preference...some people prefer the more 'organic' feel of SRAM/Campy...others prefer the ninja like performance of Shimano.

I prefer SRAM over everything. They're affordable...light...and reliable. What more can you ask for? And their Doubletap system is actually a minor improvement, in my humble opinion.

[Andrea]

I switched from Ultegra 10 to Sram Red on my road bike, and the doubletap shifting only took a couple of rides before it became totally natural to me. It just takes a little practice to get an exact feel for where the "2nd" click is to shift to a lower gear. Until then, you'll likely try to downshift a gear, not push the lever over far enough, and end up upshifting a gear instead! You may also, out of habit, push on the side of the brake when you want to downshift...
I'd say go for it! I can now switch between my SRAM road bike and my Ultegra 9 cross bike with no confusion.

The 11-28 is compatible with all of the SRAM rear derailleurs, and it does come in the Rival-level group, so if you don't want to shell out the $$ for the red one, look around for it.

[Triskeliongirl]

Oh thanks for the great info. I just got off the phone with my dealer who also offered to build it up with durace for me if I prefer.

Its a cervelo R3. He is having trouble getting rid of the2008 XS frame cuz it has 650c wheels, so is willing to be very accomodating, while that is exactly the frame I have been drooling over, but didn't want to pay full price for.......

As a shimano gal durace will feel more familiar.

I currently ride terrys with the 24" front wheel, and had been looking for a bike with a slack seat tube angle to accomodate my long femurs and 650c wheels to get me good handling without tco (I know this doesn't matter to some of you but it does to me). Soooooooooooooo, I am just sooooooooooooo tempted.

[ilima]

Its a cervelo R3. He is having trouble getting rid of the2008 XS frame cuz it has 650c wheels, so is willing to be very accomodating, while that is exactly the frame I have been drooling over, but didn't want to pay full price for.......

I don't think the R3 came with 650c wheels, only the RS. I think either would be a great bike, but they are slightly different and the R3 frame cost a bit more.

Just an FYI to be sure you know what kind of deal you're getting. Competitive Cyclist has a 2008 RS with Dura Ace for $3K. The 48cm is all they have left. Wish I had $3K!

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za...RODUCT.ID=4530

[Triskeliongirl]

I don't think the R3 came with 650c wheels, only the RS. I think either would be a great bike, but they are slightly different and the R3 frame cost a bit more.

Just an FYI to be sure you know what kind of deal you're getting. Competitive Cyclist has a 2008 RS with Dura Ace for $3K. The 48cm is all they have left. Wish I had $3K!

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za...RODUCT.ID=4530

Thanks for the correction, yes its the 48 cm RS, and he is willing to match the comp cyclist price. Plus, he'll fit me to it and let me customize my stem length, seatpost (setback is an issue w me), casette size, etc. which comp cyclist won't. I think its a great deal on a bike I drooled over for a long time.

[Triskeliongirl]

What do you guys think of running an SRAM 11-28 casette on a durace 10 drivetrain? I like the slightly better gear ratios of the 11/28 (w 650c wheels 12/27= 30.6-101.3; 11/28=29.5-110.5) vs the durace 12-27, but will the shifting be crisper if I stick with all durace?

[ehirsch83]

I ride SRAM and I love it! One of the main reasons I really like it is because with the double tap system, I am always able to shift between my small and big chainrings. When I had Ultegra my hands weren't fully big enough to get the throw all the way.

Now, on another note- I run a Shimano Dura-Ace cassete with my SRAM because SRAM doesn't make an 11-21. I don't notice a difference at all! So I assume you can go the other way:-)

[Andrea]

A SRAM cassette will work fine w/the dura-ace components as long as it's in a size that shimano says will work w/their RD. In other words, an 11-28 may not be perfect, but a something-27 will be OK

[ilima]

What do you guys think of running an SRAM 11-28 casette on a durace 10 drivetrain? I like the slightly better gear ratios of the 11/28 (w 650c wheels 12/27= 30.6-101.3; 11/28=29.5-110.5) vs the durace 12-27, but will the shifting be crisper if I stick with all durace?

The SRAM cassette should work fine. Because the DA cassette is only 12-27, though, you're going to have smaller gaps when you shift. To me, that's a good thing. [Technically, Shimano's road RDs have a capacity of 27 teeth, but it's well known you can push them another tooth to 28.]

What sort of crankset are you going to run up front? Sometimes 650c-equipped bikes come with bigger chainrings to make the gear ratios like on a standard crankset equipped bike with 700c wheels.

If you're running a standard crankset (which would approximate a compact on a 700c bike; it's what I'd want on a 650c bike), the cassette with the tighter cluster might be preferable. If you live in a pretty hilly area, you might appreciate the 28.

[ilima]

I think its a great deal on a bike I drooled over for a long time.

I've been drooling over the RS ever since it was introduced, too! And I like the 2008 color better than the 2009.

[Triskeliongirl]

I am running a 50/34 which is how I calculated the gear ratios I posted. Its not just going lower, the diff. between the 27 and 28 isn't that big, its also going higher, the diff between 11 and 12 does seem to buy a lot on the high end (to compensate for 50 tooth front ring and 650c wheel), unless I ran the calculations wrong.

At this point I am used to HUGE gaps since I run an 11/34 mountain casette on a 700c rear wheel with a 50/34 in front. But I would effectively only be giving up my largest cog in terms of gear inches in the new set up with an 11/28. I hope having a ligher bike will make up for the lost low gear..........or that the bike will motivate me to get stronger, or some combination thereof, if that makes any sense. This bike is too pretty to junk up with a mountain casette.

And yes, I like the color and specs (durace) on the 2008 more than on the 2009. The frame is the same but the 09 was downgraded to ultegra.

[Triskeliongirl]

I BOUGHT HER!

My kids borrowed my camera so I could only take a picture on my cell phone which doesn't do her justice. I love the colors a lot more than the girly girl white and blue of my terry titanium isis.

The bars are temporary, he is ordering me a shorter reach bar but even with this one she feels amazing (tweaking gals).

The shop was amazing to work with! All this time they were in my town but I had been going to the wrong shops. I finally found someone that understands my fit issues, and a stock frame that looks like it was designed just for me.

She is the most amazing bike I have ever ridden. She climbs like a dream. I LOVE THE DURACE, and the durace compact FD works perfectly with my custom compact crank which I was worried about. I did go with the shimano casette at the shop's recommendation, although he told me the new durace group does come with an 11/28 if I find I don't like the 12/27 to consider when it wears out.

I did have to ditch the carbon crankset and put my heavy leather brooks saddle on her due to some personal biomechanical stuff, and while I know I will never race I can tell she will let me be the best rider that I can be.

Thanks for your help and encouragement!

[Wahine]

I'm coming a little late to the party but congrats!! And just to ease your mind further, I have a very good friend who is an amazing bike wrench and does custom builds for a living. He loves SRAM and says it's a way better deal than Shimano and also far more reliable. As for mixing the 2 go ahead. And I would also go for the 11. I have the SRAM 11 -27 on my compact double and I love it, the 11 does make a big difference.

[Crankin]

Congratulations! The bike looks beautiful. I'm jealous you can go outside and ride it!
I have the same wheels.