SRAM Apex Advice

Dezza

Hi all

My missus has trouble with her Shimano Tiagra shifters due to small hands. Her arms ache after a while because she has trouble squeezing the leavers. I'm hoping the smaller SRAM's shifters will help.

Before I buy a new groupset, does anyone have any advice on upgrading to SRAM? Any pitfalls? Thinkgs to look out for?

I will be fitting them to a 2012 specialized secteur elite, she's had a bike fit so reach and position are fine.

Thanks

styxd

At least let her have a sit on a bike with Apex to make sure you arent wasting money. Halfords sell em I think.

But yes, Sram hoods are smaller.

No pitfalls as such, completely different shifting mechanism though.

Also, you dont need to replace the whole groupset, only the shifters and the rear mech.

navrig

Have you inserted the biggest wedges into the shifters?

They move the brake levers closer to the bars for smaller hands. These are them:

wishitwasallflat

styxd wrote:

Also, you dont need to replace the whole groupset, only the shifters and the rear mech.

Sorry but I don't think this is correct as the cable pull ratios on SRAM and Shimano derailleurs are different - SRAM is 1:1 activation and Shimano ain't

Dezza

Is it ok to mix Tigra crankset with SRAM mechs then? Ive seen mixed messages about this - usually regarding Dura-ace kit.

Yep, the shifters are shimed already.

wishitwasallflat

Shouldn't be any issue with crankset, chain or cassette etc (as long as their the same speed AFAIK ) it's just that the two companies use different cable pulls so the derailleurs need the same make shifters. Search on Workshop as its been spoken about there a few times before - I think this is true of both front and rear but I seem to recall someone once saying the fronts may be ok but not rear (would need to search back myself to check for sure)

Dezza

Thanks for the advice

styxd

I use a shimano front mech with sram shifters, works better than the Sram mech (shit) did. Dunno if Tiagra is different.

Calpol

Dezza wrote:

Hi all

My missus has trouble with her Shimano Tiagra shifters due to small hands. Her arms ache after a while because she has trouble squeezing the leavers. I'm hoping the smaller SRAM's shifters will help.

Before I buy a new groupset, does anyone have any advice on upgrading to SRAM? Any pitfalls? Thinkgs to look out for?

I will be fitting them to a 2012 specialized secteur elite, she's had a bike fit so reach and position are fine.

Thanks

Got the same issue with my Mrs. ( 9 speed Sora) Should have bought her Campagnolo! I will watch this thread with interest. Didnt know you could get wedges for the levers.

handful

SRAM shifters will work well on Shimano FDs but not on RDs for the reason accurately exlained above, different cable pull on rear. I prefer the more snappy SRAM shifting but I did swap my Apex FD for an Ultegra after persistant shifting issues going from small to big rings on my compact and research I did at the time told me my issues with the FD weren't rare. The Ultegra FD works impeccably with my Rival STIs.

arthur_scrimshaw

wishitwasallflat wrote:

styxd wrote:

Also, you dont need to replace the whole groupset, only the shifters and the rear mech.

Sorry but I don't think this is correct as the cable pull ratios on SRAM and Shimano derailleurs are different - SRAM is 1:1 activation and Shimano ain't

he will be fine as suggested just replacing the shifters and rear mech, I run Apex on my CX and have replaced the FD with a 105 unit and it works fine.
I'd not recommend Apex as a replacement for Tiagra, change the shifters to 105 which require much less effort to shift than Apex. Also cheaper for some reason?

leedsmjh

Dezza wrote:

Hi all

My missus has trouble with her Shimano Tiagra shifters due to small hands. Her arms ache after a while because she has trouble squeezing the leavers. I'm hoping the smaller SRAM's shifters will help.

Before I buy a new groupset, does anyone have any advice on upgrading to SRAM? Any pitfalls? Thinkgs to look out for?

I will be fitting them to a 2012 specialized secteur elite, she's had a bike fit so reach and position are fine.

Thanks

Is it braking from the hoods that's the problem? I've got fairly small hands and struggle with that with older 105 which I think are a similar size to Tiagra, but am fine with SRAM.

Dezza

leedsmjh wrote:

Is it braking from the hoods that's the problem? I've got fairly small hands and struggle with that with older 105 which I think are a similar size to Tiagra, but am fine with SRAM.

Yep. She gets really achy hands/arms so ends up braking from the drops (with its associated issues). Its good to know that SRAM is a help - Ta.

patrickf

I have stubby fingers and much prefer SRAM Rival shifters. I'm sure Apex will be much the same shape wise.

I also much prefer the way you can adjust the reach on the shifters without having to use crappy block inserts. That said, I've not reach adjusted my Rival shifters at all.

That said, she ideally wants to test ride a bike with Apex kit to see if she likes DoubleTap.