Upgrading From Sora/Tiagra to SRAM Rival

d70ar9

I want to upgrade my gear shifters currently 9 speed Sora to 10 speed SRAM Rival - Im confused as to how much of my other components i will need to change to make everything compatible.

Currently my set up is:
Shifters: Shimano Sora STI, 9 speed
Front Derailleur: Shimano Sora
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Tiagra GS
Crank: FSA Vero 50/34
Cassette: SRAM PG950 11-26, 9 speed

I assume i will at least need to change the Cassette from a 9 speed to a 10 to compliment the Rival shifters and get a new chain. Will i need to change the rear and front derailleurs as well. I apologise if it is obvious. Is it worth just buying a complete SRAM Rival groupset or can i mix and match with what i have got.

Cheers

softlad

SRAM shifters, mechs and a 10sp chain & cassette is the minimum you will need...

cougie

A lot of expense for one more gear ? Personally I'd leave it until it breaks and you need to buy kit ?

ex-pat scot

Chainset will be useable.
As should front mech
as should wheels

You will need to replace:
cassette
rear mech
shifters
chain

(plus cables, bar tape).

Why are you that desparate to change?

softlad

ex-pat scot wrote:

As should front mech

SRAM mechs/shifters use a different pull ratio....

d70ar9

ex-pat scot wrote:

Why are you that desparate to change?

I have just done LEJOG and got thoroughly pissed off with my Sora set up during the ride - i read that the SRAM Rival set up is pretty much the best value for money set up. There seems to be debate about the compatibility of the mechs. Does anybody have experience of combining SRAM and Shimano? Also is the SRAM Rival groupset as good as many of the reviews make out?

Cheers

cougie

The new 105 groupset is out now - thats not much more expensive than the SRAM Rival ?

Stuy-b

softlad wrote:

ex-pat scot wrote:

As should front mech

SRAM mechs/shifters ....

SRAM rear mechs use a different pull ratio however all front mechs (shimano, campag, sram, micro shift) pull the same.

d70ar9

Can Source a SRAM Rival set up for £338.22 (excluding brakes and chainset) Seems good value

Shifters: http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=R0010
Front Derailleur: http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=R0007
Rear Derailleur: http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=R0004
Cassette: http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=R0026
Chain: http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=R0028

Thoughts?

mroli

Yeah - don't buy from PBK - Fudges will get you a Force set for about that much: http://www.fudgescyclestore.com/index.php?p=105835

and I bet you can do the same with Rival for a LOT cheaper.... Give em a call.

d70ar9

Contacted Fudges and they can offer me £310 for a SRAM Rival set up minus Chainset and Brakes. Some of the things are out of stock - which gives me a bit of time to think - am inclined to go for it though. What is the difference between braze on front mechs and non braze on ones?

Cheers

bendertherobot

d70ar9 wrote:

Contacted Fudges and they can offer me £310 for a SRAM Rival set up minus Chainset and Brakes. Some of the things are out of stock - which gives me a bit of time to think - am inclined to go for it though. What is the difference between braze on front mechs and non braze on ones?

Cheers

Depends on your bike. Braze on attach to a sticky out bit that is attached to your frame in the chainset area.

If you don't have a sticky out bit then you need a band on. And there are two sizes.

d70ar9

Cheers i need 34.9mm

Fudges have also offered me a combination of Force/Rival components
Force Shifters and Mechs and Rival other components for £400 - Is the jump up to Force worth the extra £90. I can also get a Camapg Centaur set up for under £400. Any people with experience of any of these set ups prepared to offer some advice

cooper.michael1

A campag Cassette will not work on a Shimano/Sram hub, it will simply not fit on the hub. You need one of these to Convert. http://www.ukbikestore.co.uk/product/17 ... sette.html

I've actually used a Shimano 10sp Cassette with Campag Veloce 10sp and it works 100% ok, you just have to know how to set it up.

spetnaz

cooper.michael1 wrote:

I've actually used a Shimano 10sp Cassette with Campag Veloce 10sp and it works 100% ok, you just have to know how to set it up.

Does that means a Campag 10 spd shifter + Campag 10 spd RD works with 10 spd shimano cassttee? Care to explain the set up?

cooper.michael1

spetnaz wrote:

cooper.michael1 wrote:

I've actually used a Shimano 10sp Cassette with Campag Veloce 10sp and it works 100% ok, you just have to know how to set it up.

Does that means a Campag 10 spd shifter + Campag 10 spd RD works with 10 spd shimano cassttee? Care to explain the set up?

Yeah i've made it work spot on. Campag 10sp spacing is 4.15mm per click, Shimano is 3.95mm (0.2mm per gear)

Therefore the trick is to set it up so that one of the middle of the cassette gears is spot on perfect, (say the 5th gear of the cassette). If you do this correctly, it will be less than a 1mm out at both ends of the cassette, and this has proved over 2000miles perfectly usuable...shifts as well as if it were built for each other, never skips a gear, spot on.

d70ar9

cooper.michael1 wrote:

A campag Cassette will not work on a Shimano/Sram hub, it will simply not fit on the hub. You need one of these to Convert. http://www.ukbikestore.co.uk/product/17 ... sette.html .

So i would need to get a cassette with a Campag index but Shimano spline?

Can get Campag Centaur minus Brakes and Chainset for under £300 - is that a better deal than SRAM Force minus Brakes and Chainset for just under £400

I know my Chainset and Brakes are compatible but how much difference would i notice if i just upgraded them as well?

cooper.michael1

Yes indeed, you would need the Campag Index, with Shimano Spline. For £30 they are a great solution to compatability woes!

I think when making your mind up about the groupset, the levers are the key difference. Firstly i'd recommend to avoid Shimano 105, purely because of the amounts of lever failures reported online. I've experienced this also, if you google it (left hand Shimano 105 sti failure) is well known about, and Shimano keep on producing poorly designed levers.

So that leaves you with Campag or SRAM, and to be honest at the level you are talking about both will shift very well and be durable. I've only experienced Campag of the two, and i'd say the new ultrashift levers are extemely comforable to ride with, really mould to your hands. Both systems shift in a different way, campag using the same system for 15 years, SRAM for about the last five, so it is all tried and tested. Some people have a preferrence for one or the other, but I think its just a case of getting used to it, and it becomes natural.

As for your chainset, sure a more expensive one might be better, but do you need that now, unless the rings are very worn probably not. Just keep an eye out for a bargain chainset over the next year or so....I picked up a brand new £150 FSA Gossamer Pro one on ebay new for £50 a couple of months back, and my mate got a carbon SLK FSA one for £50 from chain reaction when there was a sale on, just keep an eye out.

d70ar9

I think im going to go for SRAM Force for 2 reasons:

Firstly im impressed by all the reviews and the reputation it has built up also it seems like a pretty decent price for some top gear.

Secondly, and this may seem totally stupid to many of you here but given my bike is a Trek i feel the SRAM brand fits better with my bikes image than the classic Italian Campagnolo. Maybe in 5-10 years when i have myself a pimped Bianchi or Colnago ill go down the Campag route but i just feel it doesn't belong on my Trek...

Cheers for all the help and advice though guys