The carbon bar end shifters look cool. Wonder if they're coming with TT chain rings.

Ric

Very interesting.

I hope it's available for OEM spec'ing on 2008 bikes.

That's a pretty weird setup, now that I look at it.

There appear to be some sort of custom machined aerobar clamp/extensions. The aerobars might even be mounted upside-down.

I wonder if this is for an especially short or tall rider or one with specific tastes? Simoni, or perhaps Miller?

Also, am I nuts, or does the drop on the brake levers look long. I do think its wise to go ahead and make the aero levers, though. No point in giving an opening to another company.

I think the brake levers look like they have a long reach because they're not made for a totally flat bar. I suspect they'd look a lot more "normal" if they were on the end of a Profile base bar.

But those shifters... Fugly (in my opinion). Look like they're much bulkier than they need to be. Friction option?

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Some are born to move the world to live their fantasies...

https://triomultisport.com/
http://www.mjolnircycles.com/

This is David's bike, and he's over 6ft tall.

I am not big on the shifters either. I do like the fact that someone has come out with carbon bar end shifters but they look horrible. Also for a TT bike the Nokon's installation is just plain bad. This is a wind cheating machine and the cables are all over the place.

To be honest I am a little dissapointed. I was hoping for something more revolutionary such as a "push-pull" shifter using something related to their mountain bike components, or a version of double tap using a mechanism rather than indexed friction.
As much as I like my SRAM Rival, I wont be getting rid of my Shimano bar ends for these.

Kevin

They should be made for a flat bar.

The curves create a weird wrist angle for out of the saddle action and they are most definatly more aero.

Plus, an up-curved bar would only make the long reach further away, not vice versa.

Those aerobar clamps look just slightly over engineered. I like the look of the flat bar though.

Those are not the standard clmp for the Hammerheads.

Bulky? I actually just built a bike with these bar ends and they are the least bulky out of any bar ends in my opinion.. very slick!

The SRAM system looks great. Only, on this bike the cable routing along the housing section has been done very shoddily. For example, the two derailleur cables are looped around each other creating an unsightly mess. At first I thought the shifters were put on the wrong side then noticed the loop. This could be done to look much nicer.

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Peter Solymosi
The Tri Bike Fit Studio
Vernon, BC

The brakes work very well and considering this is a first attempt, I'd say they pretty much nailed it.

The return spring is a nice touch as well.

The best is yet to come however...

[The best is yet to come however... ]

How cryptic and facinating.

What, now?

Lots of strange criticism about this and that, considerring that all we're looking at is a photo. In the grand scheme I think it will be pretty hard to criticize the SRAM products, even for people on this forum, once they're available to us. My experience on the MTB side of things is that they make things that just plain old work better than what's out there...period. They'll no doubt do the same for all of their road components. Nothing gimmicky, nothing strange, just good old reliable, well engineered parts.

Can't wait to rid my bike of the big S.

I don't think you have your history right. SRAM is making some of the finest components out there, no question. But to say they've "nailed it" with each attempt along the way is a stretch. Nothing gimmicky? SRT-800, johnnysnot?

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https://www.kickstarter.com/...bike-for-the-new-era

except for that whole Force brake recall thing...

isn't that more of an assebly problem?

Wow, Millar must really be focusing on power output these days instead of superior aerodynamics...I calculate at least 10cm less drop than Cancellara and DZ.

Chris

One does not trump the other; power and aerodynamics work in concert to achieve optimal speed (ceteris paribus).

Just saying...from pictures he appears to be several cm higher than when he was World TT champion (granted, he was EPO'd to the gills). I think he would still have been top 3 without the dope, his form and position were good then.

Chris

DM apparently did a wind tunnel at the SDLSWT last winter for the first time, so my assumption is that is what drove the changes. You're right, at Cofidis and at world's he had a much more aggressive looking bike/position.

Given the custom-ness of his current Ritchey system, there has got to be a reason for the height increase. I found one picture as well with some Vision R bend clipons that had the 25mm risers fixed on.

Chris

OK - we're not talking the x-ray shifters of years past. Let's call them the "new" SRAM...the SRAM of recent years. The smart company, building great components. The SRAM that is cutting huge into Shimano's market share in the MTB world, and the SRAM that is becomeing widely knows for reliability, durability, and flawless shifting.

If their road components are any bit as good as their MTB stuff, and there's no reason to think it won't be, you're going to see them as a major player in the road world soon. You know you're making good stuff when the pro's choose to BUY your product, rather than get someone elses for free, because it works better. You see it a lot in the xc MTB world.

Odd that the brake release is opened all the way up, yet the pad looks so close to the rim. And what's with that glue job!?!?

Nice looking shifters though........

@ Trisur

What's with the electrical tape?

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//FRISK

Save a bike - ride a triathlete

From this angle, the shifter bodies look much better -- fair better with the bars. Though the levers thmselves look far too delicate. The front angle in the OP shot make the shifters look rather wide.

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Some are born to move the world to live their fantasies...

https://triomultisport.com/
http://www.mjolnircycles.com/

It looks like they're using an EA90 (31.8 clamp) with the Attack TT aerobar (26.0 clamp diameter), with a shim. Hopefully Easton comes out with a 26.0 version of their high end stems. A shim doesn't make much sense on such a lightweight setup, unless I'm missing the advantage.

He's on Rival not Force. Strange mix: Pinarello $$$$$$ bike with Rival.

He is on Force, with the exception of the cranks, which is Rival. Notice they covered the brand with electrical tape, so it would stay under wraps..

When I was talking to the guy from Sram, he said Velonews had the first pictures, and those were supposed to be kept secret. He said they would come out early summer (If i remember correctly) But they are going to officially unveil them on Friday, as long as everything goes right.

On a side note, the rider was very nice, He got off his bike so I could take more pics. The guys from Sram are also very nice, as I was in the pits of Priority Health, and they were there to talk to the riders, and not there to be asked questions...

Jackson Stewart and some of the KGSN guys ran aluminum cranks last year. The Q-factor is like a millimeter narrower, and I guess at this level of racing it matters. I dont think I would be able to tell a difference.

AF

I loved the fact they covered them with tape and then put sram stickers on the bike. Who were they trying to fool?

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Donate now to the war on ALS

they dont make force cranks longer than 175 and all real TT'rs use much longer cranks.

More picture......

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My TT bike
BMC TM01

If there isn't a friction option for that rear shifter, I only have two words for it -- "no thanks".

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Some are born to move the world to live their fantasies...

https://triomultisport.com/
http://www.mjolnircycles.com/

Because of the increased cable actuation ratio, SRAM derailleurs don't do out of tune as much as Shimano ones do, so there is no need to worry about the indexing getting out of sync like you experience with Shimano stuff. It takes more cable mov't for a SRAM rd to shift, so the probability of gears skipping and indexing falling out of adjustment is extremely low.
I used to adjust my XTR stuff before every ride because the indexing was so touchy, but with SRAM derailleurs I set it at the beginning of the season then never think about it again until it's cable change time. It's a HUGE difference.

When you run a mix of 8-, 9-, and 10-speed cassettes, the probability of an indexed shifter causing skipping is, oh, some where close to... let me see...

100%

Friction or nothing for me.

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Some are born to move the world to live their fantasies...

https://triomultisport.com/
http://www.mjolnircycles.com/

I'm with you! I have full XO on my XTERRA rig. I set it once per year and ride, never another thought!

To me, SRAM is the Mac of the bike world, Shimano - Windows. Sure, Windows/Shimano sell more volume, but when is the last time your Mac got a virus or crashed?

I'm a Mac/SRAM guy all the way

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"Lemond is cycling's version of Rev Jessie Jackson." -johnnyperu 5/18/07
"Just because I suck doesn't mean my bike has to" -rickn 9/2/08

Ok, good point. I just move my cassettes around from wheel to wheel - even chain wear, and all.

You want a shifter that will work with 8, 9, and 10sp cassettes? I assume then that you're running the same chain on all three cassettes? An 8sp chain on a 10sp cassette can't be all that smooth, and will probably skip regardless of shifting mode.

Yup, just like the info-mercial - "Set it, and forget it."