[Mr. Hankey]

Found some info on the SRAM Red Groupo. Basically Shimano, and Campy can call it quits, and file chapter 11. It is game over folks.

Sub 2000g for a complete groupset? That's some claim, even if it does not include hubs, but with the forthcoming Red component group, SRAM has achieved it. Until recently a specialist in MTB components, the company stunned the cycling world at the beginning of 2006 with the release of the Rival and Force road groups. Both received favourable reviews, with the higher-level Force group going on to equip the Saunier Duval professional road squad for the 2007 season.

At the heart of both groups is SRAM's innovative Double Tap shift technology, which uses just one lever to make both up-and down-shifts. The system further benefits from Exact Actuation, which is designed to employ a constant cable pull across the range of rear sprockets, and Open Glide sprockets, which each lose one tooth in order to speed shifting across the cassette. SRAM's Skeletonized Dual Pivot brake calipers employ a braced 'Y' arm and multi-adjustable brake shoes for perfect rim alignment.

Red represents the next step for the US-owned company; not only is it lighter than Force and Rival, but it addresses reservations expressed over aspects of the previous groups' performance and brings new finishes and technologies to the contruction of the components themselves.

The group is expected to take Double Tap one step further by making the rear shift action lighter, adding a trim function to the front shift and making both dual control levers tuneable for reach. New pawl geometry is said to achieve something called zero-loss travel, which translates to faster, more precise shifts made with less effort. Although it is the brake lever that is adjustable for reach, this adjustment affects the shift lever at the same time, so it can be said that both brake and shift levers are adjustable. At the rear of the lever perch, Dual Cable Routing means the casings can be led on to the handlebars as desired. Finally, the left-hand shifter incorporates a trim function to ensure that there is no chain rub on the front mech when using extreme cross-over between the chainrings and cassette.

The Red rear derailleur gets parts in titanium and 'structural carbon' plus titanium parallelogram pivot bearings and hybrid ceramic bearings in the jockey wheels. The result is a claimed 25g weight loss, improved durability and faster shifting. The front mech gets a hardened titanium cage to go with its trim function.

Red's carbon crankset looks like a revamped version of the Force design, but gets BlackBox Ceramic bearings in the GXP outboard bottom bracket housings plus stiffness-optimised Red PowerGlide chainrings with a vaguely familiar solid side profile.

The Skeletonized Dual Pivot brake caliper design has been upgraded with a new, even more skeletal 'Y' arm that sheds another 15g; more exciting in some ways, however, is the PowerDome cassette. This combines the largest eight sprockets in a single forged, heat treated and CNC-machined piece of cromoly steel that shaves weight while apparently achieving exceptional rigidity and, thanks to the hard-wearing material used, impressive longevity. The remaining two sprockets are installed separately.

From road newcomer to lightest top-end groupset on the market in two years is some going, but here's the evidence. Going by the pics, there's not much to complain about on the aesthetics front, although a more considered opinion will have to wait until RCUK gets a test group to play with. As they say, 'watch this space.'

Now for the pics!

 

[muddy beast]

man I wanted to see a picture of that Cassette I've heard so much about.

sounds like sram has the right idea though, nothing unusual.

 

[Mr. Hankey]

Ask and ye shall receive!

 

[MtnbikeMike]

Looks good, although the graphics could be a bit more subtle in places.

I'd hate to see pricing on that mofo.

 

[Secret Squirrel]

I'd actually be super interested in grabbing one of those rear mech's for my dh bike....that would rule!

 

[MtnbikeMike]

I'd actually be super interested in grabbing one of those rear mech's for my dh bike....that would rule!

Unfortunately, the SRAM road and mtb parts aren't cross compatible.

 

[Mr. Hankey]

Unfortunately, the SRAM road and mtb parts aren't cross compatible.

Just mount the aero levers on the upper part of your fork tubes. Remove the handlebars to compensate for the weight of your 10lbs fork. Negotiating rock gardens at 50mph just got allot more fun!

 

[Secret Squirrel]

Unfortunately, the SRAM road and mtb parts aren't cross compatible.

You've got to be kidding....it's not all 1-1? I can't use an X.0 shifter with the road sh*t?

 

[MtnbikeMike]

You've got to be kidding....it's not all 1-1? I can't use an X.0 shifter with the road sh*t?

I think it's either due to the exact actuation, coupled with the road stuff being a true 1:1 and not a 1.1:1 or whatever the stuff...I'm not sure really, but whatever the reason, you cannot.

 

[Secret Squirrel]

I think it's either due to the exact actuation, coupled with the road stuff being a true 1:1 and not a 1.1:1 or whatever the stuff...I'm not sure really, but whatever the reason, you cannot.

fuq45

 

[GravityFreakTJ]

i'm not a fan of the graphics at all. i like the look of my force cranks and shifters better. but i am goin to snag one of those cassettes when the are available

 

[muddy beast]

just watch...the red cassette will be all the rage in Downhill racing, I predict it.

 

[Zutroy]

just watch...the red cassette will be all the rage in Downhill racing, I predict it.

No till 10spd makes it to the MTB side, which is kinda iffy...

 

[muddy beast]

anyone else notice the red cassette's teeth are missing toward the top were carbon fiber takes over...

odd...

 

[loco-gringo]

anyone else notice the red cassette's teeth are missing toward the top were carbon fiber takes over...

odd...

The Force/Rival cassettes have missing teeth as well.

 

[muddy beast]

The Force/Rival cassettes have missing teeth as well.

wow...road bikers can get away with that!?

geeze...

 

[James]

Should have a group in a couple of weeks...
But it won't be ridden for a while.

 

[MtnbikeMike]

wow...road bikers can get away with that!?

geeze...

Not that DH'ers can't....

 

[DRB]

anyone else notice the red cassette's teeth are missing toward the top were carbon fiber takes over...

odd...

That's how they get it to shift "smoothly".

 

[MtnbikeMike]

That's how they get it to shift "smoothly".

Too bad it isn't so smooth when it's not shifting.

 

[Zutroy]

Too bad it isn't so smooth when it's not shifting.

Mines as smooth as a babies butt.

 

[loco-gringo]

Mines as smooth as a babies butt.

Me too. I rode some Force around that was not. I have deduced that it is the mechanic.

 

[MtnbikeMike]

Me too. I rode some Force around that was not. I have deduced that it is the mechanic.

Well we've had a few guys on he team with not-so smooth cassettes(lots o bad mechanics ). It sounds like the der. wants to shift to another cog, but the cable tension is spot on...the Ultegra 11-23 I have on my training wheelset, however...

 

[Zutroy]

Well we've had a few guys on he team with not-so smooth cassettes(lots o bad mechanics ). It sounds like the der. wants to shift to another cog, but the cable tension is spot on...the Ultegra 11-23 I have on my training wheelset, however...

It sounds like the tension might be off. The SRAM stuff with the 1:1 uses less tension. I've noticed the tension feels loose compared to the shimano setup in the bottom cog.

 

[MtnbikeMike]

It sounds like the tension might be off. The SRAM stuff with the 1:1 uses less tension. I've noticed the tension feels loose compared to the shimano setup in the bottom cog.

I've messed with tension 'til I was blue in the face. I'll try again though. Not that it matters much due to the fact that I have to give the bike back tomorrow, but it'll come in handy when setting up next year's bike

 

[-dustin]

Just James, got it yet?

I ordered a System6 last week. Coming with D/A, which I don't plan on keeping. Considering either building it up with my 9sp Chorus group (which shifts better than any 10sp group), or trying to get ahold of a Force kit with Red shifters.

 

[MtnbikeMike]

Just James, got it yet?

I ordered a System6 last week. Coming with D/A, which I don't plan on keeping. Considering either building it up with my 9sp Chorus group (which shifts better than any 10sp group), or trying to get ahold of a Force kit with Red shifters.

No Supersix Ultimate?

 

[loco-gringo]

Just James, got it yet?

I ordered a System6 last week. Coming with D/A, which I don't plan on keeping. Considering either building it up with my 9sp Chorus group (which shifts better than any 10sp group), or trying to get ahold of a Force kit with Red shifters.

I am strongly considering some Centaur C for my bike. I can't afford Record, but would like to try Campy.

As for 10spd, I think it's as nice as 9spd. I have zero issues setting them up. Clean chains matter on Campy though.

 

[-dustin]

No Supersix Ultimate?

price is just too over the top. SS Ultimate with 303s and Red costs as much as a Pin Prince with Record and Shamal Ultras. Damn. I'm sure we'll get one for the shop.

2007 Centaur disappointed a few customers at the shop, and some employees, with the inability to drop more than 1 gear at a time with the thumb paddle. I'd go Chorus shifters, Centaur everything else.

 

[James]

Just James, got it yet?

I ordered a System6 last week. Coming with D/A, which I don't plan on keeping. Considering either building it up with my 9sp Chorus group (which shifts better than any 10sp group), or trying to get ahold of a Force kit with Red shifters.

Actually, the Red bike just got back from Interbike yesterday. I have to decide which frame I'm going to build it up with. I was thinking a C50, but I think we sold the one I was going to build to a shop. I was thinking my 585 Ultra would be a good match, but it's built with Force right now. I might just have to man up and make the something happen.
Bummers: they only had 172.5mm cranks, 39/53t, and didn't have a ceramic BB for Italian shells. That's ok, I have some SLK Light 175mm compacts with a ceramic BB I will use. But man those Red cranks are LIGHT!
I'll have pics by the end of the week hopefully...

 

[-dustin]

Damn...buyer today told me Red shifters availability is sketchy. Maybe October...which to me means "November...maybe December."

 

[James]

Update: one bad apple spoils the bunch, my Red stuff has to go back. Sigh. Hopefully have a "production" group in a couple of weeks...
Saves me the problem of what frame to build it with.

 

[Mr. Hankey]

Update: one bad apple spoils the bunch, my Red stuff has to go back. Sigh. Hopefully have a "production" group in a couple of weeks...
Saves me the problem of what frame to build it with.

What happened? Please elaborate.

 

[James]

What happened? Please elaborate.

Nothing major, the stuff was preproduction, so shouldn't really have been ridden, they want to replace it with "real" stuff. I can wait, especially if it means getting the right crankarm length.

 

[Mr. Hankey]

Nothing major, the stuff was preproduction, so shouldn't really have been ridden, they want to replace it with "real" stuff. I can wait, especially if it means getting the right crankarm length.

Tell them you lost all of it, but the cranks.

 

[gonefirefightin]

I had to return my red stuff as well. and the guy at interbike said wait on it after i had bought the group. no more red for me, FSA or dura ace.