Looking for feedback from SRAM users

[zoom-zoom]

I love, love, love my SRAM shifters! I went from Dura Ace to Rival and it's made a big difference in my ease of shifting. The reach was way too long with Shimano, even with their shims in. SRAM fits perfectly from every position. I don't really think the shifting is harder. The levers are in a better position and I've never had trouble shifting.

I had short-reach Shimano shifters and the reach was STILL too long. SRAMs adjusted right are perfect.

[salsabike]

I went from Campy to SRAM, am perfectly happy with the SRAM.

[Becky]

I regularly switch between Ultegra and Rival, depending on the bike. I like them both, although they each have their strengths and weaknesses, as pointed out above.

It took me a couple of test rides on a Sram-equipped bike before I felt comfortable ordering one. Go do a bunch of test rides....it's the only way to know.

On a semi-related note, have you ridden any other 6700-equipped bikes and had the same issues? Sometimes it's not the drivetrain, it's the frame.... (Not trying to talk you out of a change, just thinking out loud!)

[Dogmama]

I've been riding the same Campy for almost 17 years. Absolutely love it. Short throw, easy to shift. I have arthritis in both hands, so easy shifting is a must. If/when I replace my bike/components, I'll go with Campy, hands down (pun intended )

[blue_angel]

If you have problems with pain in your hands, perhaps you should look at an electronic shifting system?

[ehirsch83]

I would have to say the opposite of Denise.

SRAM is meant for smaller hands. Where I used to be in the drops(same bars) and barely be able to reach around my Shimano levers to brake and shift, SRAM is nice and compact and everything is right there.

I have ridden Shimano then SRAM then back to SHIMANO, played with Campy on a rented bike and then finally back to SRAM on the new bike(never wanted to go away from SRAM but when I bought the old bike, it came with shimano and the company I was working for went under- so $$ was tight).

I feel that SRAM may take a little getting used to from shimano- but once you do, you will wonder how you ever were without

[hulagirl]

Rode SRAM last night.

I have to use 2 fingers to throw my front chain to the larger wheel. And sometimes I use 2 fingers to get the reach for the shift on the R/D.

Another thing to note: On Shimano if you need to slightly adjust a shift, you can use the same lever. On SRAM, if I miss a shift or mess it up, I usually end up shifting the opposite of what I wanted due to it using the same lever. Hard to explain, but I don't feel I have the tiny "tweak" control on SRAM that I do on Shimano.

[nscrbug]

Thank you EVERYONE, for the valuable feedback! Clearly, there are lots of differing opinions on SRAM...which I fully expected. Like several of you have pointed out...I will have to try it out for myself to see if I like it.

To answer some questions that were asked -

@smilingcat - I've had 2 separate bike shops look at this issue. Between the 2 shops, there were 6 mechanics that actually looked at the bike and all of them agreed that there was indeed a problem, but none could offer a solution or fix. Between these 2 shop/6 mechanics, we tried new cable & new housing, new cassette, new chain, new shifters, and more RD adjustments than I can even recall. All of this was at my expense, except for the shifters, which were replaced under warranty by Shimano. I finally took the bike to an independent mechanic and he was the one who suggested lengthening the cable because there was such a tight loop right where the cable goes into the RD, that he felt it was creating a lot of friction..thus causing the hard to move shifter. He replaced the cable with a brand new one (and new housing) only in a longer length making the "loop" at the RD entry much larger. I immediately felt a difference in the downshifting. It's been about a month since then, and now it's starting to feel stiff again. I feel as though I've exhausted every option up to this point.

@blue_angel - I would love to consider Di2, or even the new Ultegra electronic that is due out soon...but the cost factor of electronic shifting is preventing me from doing so. Believe me...I have seriously contemplated it, but DH is standing in the way.

@hulagirl - What you just described in your last post about using 2 fingers to move the SRAM shifter....THAT is what I go through with my Shimano shifters. Infact, for the big ring...I require all 4 of the fingers on my left hand to move that lever...it is THAT difficult to move. And, on top of that...I either have to HOLD the lever in that position until the chain "catches" onto the big ring...OR...I have to continuously push the lever over and over again (usually as much as 3-4 times) before the chain goes onto the big ring. It gets to the point where if I'm approaching a hill, I just say "F it!" and stay in the big ring and mash my way up instead of dropping down into the small ring and spinning up the hill.

So...with all that said, my goal this weekend is to find a shop that has a bike on the floor equipped with SRAM (and maybe even Campy) in my size, and go ride it. I'll never know unless I try it for myself. I don't want to be stuck with another new bike, wondering if I would have liked another component group better than Shimano.

Linda