Updated Sram Red?

Specialized69
Specialized69 Posts: 9
edited May 2011 in Road buying advice
I'm looking at building up a new bike and want to use the sram red groupset. However I don't want to spend all this money on an expensive groupset if it will soon be updated and superseded. The current sram red has been out for several years now and I was wondering if it will be updated for 2012 or would we already be seeing prototypes and spy shots etc?
Also having read reviews of the force groupset I am left wondering if it's worth the extra money for red (please bear in mind I am a very serious under 19 and national elite level racer)

Comments

  • Scrumple
    Scrumple Posts: 2,665
    If you are an elite rider, you'd be fine with anything in that lot.

    I suspect you can't be as it is only leisure riders that worry about such things. Pros just ride what they are given and elite riders are usually sponsored anyway?!

    Your post makes no logical sense. You want the best, so will wait if necessary. Yet you want Force if it is good value?

    You may as well have just said SRAM - discuss -

    Troll ? One post??
  • ShutUpLegs
    ShutUpLegs Posts: 3,522
    Scrumple wrote:
    If you are an elite rider, you'd be fine with anything in that lot.

    I suspect you can't be as it is only leisure riders that worry about such things. Pros just ride what they are given and elite riders are usually sponsored anyway?!

    Your post makes no logical sense. You want the best, so will wait if necessary. Yet you want Force if it is good value?

    You may as well have just said SRAM - discuss -

    Troll ? One post??

    Anything with a gripshift gets my vote
  • Specialized69
    Specialized69 Posts: 9
    When I say elite I don't mean pro tour, I mean I can ride strongly at a NZ national elite level and I am a age group national champ on the track. Nobody will be giving me thousands of dollars worth of groupset. Specialized have agreed to give me 15% off wholesale price of a new frame and I want to build it up with high quality componentry. Nobody is going to give me a groupset but this does not make me a leisure rider. I am willing to use my current groupset for a few months if it means I won't be spending all my money on a groupset that will soon be outdated. I understand that force is better value for money but want peoples opinion on if the only benefits of red over force is bling value (something I am not interested in) or if there will be real benefits for a racer.
  • Scrumple
    Scrumple Posts: 2,665
    get force, mate

    I'm just grumpy today.

    No performace difference of major note bar a teeny bit of weight.

    Get red if it makes you happy to have the best, or if you can afford the extra without concern.
  • firetone
    firetone Posts: 64
    In my experience, Force is more robust and will last longer than Red but Red is lighter and smoother when shifting, there's not much else in it other than that. Basically it depends if you have the extra cash for Red.

    But if you want top performance for your money then I'd go with Force and put the extra cash into a wheel upgrade where you will notice it more, unless you already have some decent wheels.
  • Pseudonym
    Pseudonym Posts: 1,032
    Specialized69 wrote:
    I am willing to use my current groupset for a few months if it means I won't be spending all my money on a groupset that will soon be outdated.

    superceded is not the same as outdated. By definition, 2011 kit supercedes 2010 kit, but it doesn't mean that the 2010 kit is 'outdated' compared to 2011 - in practice there is little or no functional difference.

    I'm still using 09 Force levers on my SRAM setup, because there is zero benefit in moving to 2011 levers. My training bike runs 'superceded and outdated' 9 speed Ultegra with some parts dating back to 2003, but I can ride that just as fast.....
  • P_Tucker
    P_Tucker Posts: 1,878
    I hear SRAM will be releasing a new groupset in 2018 - probably best to wait for that.
  • Pseudonym
    Pseudonym Posts: 1,032
    P_Tucker wrote:
    I hear SRAM will be releasing a new groupset in 2018 - probably best to wait for that.

    followed by another one in 2019.....what to do...??
  • P_Tucker
    P_Tucker Posts: 1,878
    Pseudonym wrote:
    P_Tucker wrote:
    I hear SRAM will be releasing a new groupset in 2018 - probably best to wait for that.

    followed by another one in 2019.....what to do...??

    I have a similar problem with mobile phones.
  • Specialized69
    Specialized69 Posts: 9
    Would a mix of red and force work? For instance red zero loss shifters with red cranks and the stiffer chainrings but with force derailleurs, brakes and cassette?
    Also does anyone know if the steel cage front mechs we see on most sram sponsored pro's bikes are just re-branded force?
  • StillGoing
    StillGoing Posts: 5,211
    I have Red chainset and Force everything else. Works fine for me and seems to be a popular choice.
    I ride a bike. Doesn't make me green or a tree hugger. I drive a car too.
  • Scrumple
    Scrumple Posts: 2,665
    Pro teams often use the Red front mech, with a steel cage added instead of the more flexy ti one. It isn't rebadged Force - it is a specially made mix of the two with a rebadged cage.

    Also, the force cassette is used in some races, as it is easier to keep clean and more robust in dirty conditions (riding on pave and dirt etc.)

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