I think the Red shifters/brake lever require less finger pressure to make the shift. I had Force on my primary road bike a few years back then got Red and it’s an improvement, i also have a new full set of Rival on my spare road bike and it’s great. It’s no Force or Red, and requires more finger pressure than Force or Red but it shifts great. I have a mixed setup with Red crank, Force F & R derailleurs, Red TT shifters on the Tri/TT bike and no problems there at all. Overall i think Red is best in all components, then Force, then Rival.
I currently own a Red, Force and Rival FD and I don’t know what the perceived problem of the Red FD is. I have absolutely no problems with mine and have never, not once, dropped a chain or missed a shift. Maybe it’s an adjustment thing or i do all my riding in the big ring. Based on my experience i will buy a new Red FD before i buy a Force or Rival FD if i want the smoothest best shifting combo.
IMO, Force says “I like quality and know I don’t need to spend top dollar to get it” while Red says “I know it may be more than I need, but I’ve got the money and I’m not taking chances…plus it looks a little more pimp”. I ride a full Red…
Purchases have been made and now I’ll excitedly wait for everything to arrive.
I will also take some before / after photo’s for slowtwitch to critique.
Went with the Force as the price after the upgrade to the R2C shifters was only abut $75 more than the Rival.
The woman that I was talking to at wheelbuilder seemed quite great and very knowledgable (but I know nothing so that wouldn’t be hard).
I ended up getting a Velocity Fusion rear wheel, which she felt would be good for the road conditions in Vancouver and for my weight. At 25 mm and with a rear wheel cover she said it would fit quite well and be good for climbing when I do IMC.
For the front wheel, we went with your suggestion of the FP 80. They only had 18H rims left, but I think that should be fine.
It will come with a powertap Elite + and I already have the 310 xt so will be ready to go there.
Overall, after purchasing the wheels, SRAM groupset, and aero cockpit, I am probably a few hundred over budget, but the budget isn’t a “hard” budget per se, but rather I was trying to only spend the money that I raised via selling other items, which would keep my wife happy. That said, when I told her the total amount spent, she didn’t seem to care, especially as this will likley keep me from asking her to let me buy a new time trial bike in the immediate future
