The Third Way?

markos1963

Was looking at a bike on the internet the other day as a possible buy due to the late arrival of the bike I had ordered. My question is there anybody out there using Sram Rival groupsets and if you are what is it like? For instance shifting performance, wear and tear and replacement parts.

markos1963

I guess that the lack of replies and opinions means that the domination of the big two is total?

giant_man

God i hope so. sram have been on the market five minutes, so why would you want to trust such a new brand in road groupset terms instead of two such established, tried and tested makes of groupset?

leguape

SRAM have been in the market 5 minutes? That'll come as news to MTBers round here. They've been making parts for a few years now for the sectors of the market where function and durability are priorities - hybrids, MTB, etc. Oh and They own Sachs, Truvativ and Rockshox among their portfolio.

Anyway to answer the question, I've been running Rival on my race bike since last January. Since then it's done Tour of Flanders Sportif, London Canterbury, Etape Du Tour and a full season's racing in all weathers. I'm taking it in for a service next week and as far as I can tell there's next to nothing that needs replacing other than possibly the chain.

Shifting performance is excellent - still pretty sharp and short even after a year. The ergonomics and design that have gone into the shifters make them a great mix of the good things about the big two plus a few considered touches both of them lack. Ignore the "it takes a bit of getting used to" reviews. If you can cope with Shimano's short push for up, long push for down on two levers then you have to be pretty simple not to cope with the same on one lever.

I've also run a second set on my cyclocross bike and one thing I can confirm is that it takes well to cleaning and comes up looking fresh with not too much effort. I did however trash a rear mech when the mech hanger on my frame snapped and it will cost me 50 for a new rear mech, then again you'd pay similar for the equivalent from the other two.

It has reviewed well pretty much everywhere I've seen. I'd recommend it.

redddraggon

leguape wrote:

SRAM have been in the market 5 minutes?

Compared to the other two, SRAM hasn't been around long.

SRAM hasn't got the history that the other's have got either. Although they will probably get their first grand tour win this year in Spain.

Smokin Joe

As a point of interest, Leonard Zinn reckons that Campag Ergos will shift perfectly with a Sram Mech and cassette.