We have SRAM time trial and triathlon shifters and brake levers here for testing and examination. Three guys are going nuts on them right now. So far what we’ve seen is impressive and encouraging.
More later today or early tomorrow. If you have questions you want answered about the new brqake levers and SRAM Red shifters, post them here so we can address them in our examination.
tom, my understanding is that sram’s tt brake levers and endshifters are not really part of the ‘red’ group. are they marked as ‘red’ components?
The brake levers and shifters are compatible with Red, Force and Rival. The shifters in particular seem to be color-keyed to match the Red components more so than either Rival or Force since they include red anodized parts.
i understand they are all compatible, but i was told that they are not ‘red’ products. what does sram or the packaging say?
There is no packaging. I think they are designing that. Part of the reason they may be holding back packaging/marketing/branding right now is due to perceptions like the one you mention and how to best direct those perceptions.
If SRAM labels the packaging as “SRAM Red Triathlon Brake Levers” then consumers may perceive it will not work with any other component kit and that could hurt market share and sell-through.
The challenge right now is to see to what degree they want to make a stand-alone product, especially with the brake levers. The shifters are more specific to a SRAM drivetrain (I presume at this point).
Interesting question and one of the dilemmas SRAM faces bringing this to the general public.
not a ‘perception’, this was just said to me by a sram employee.
So, you have stuff that really isn’t Red Series, but has been out for several months already and it supposed to be a big deal?
Bob
Here’s the official response:
SRAM brake levers for bull-horn style base bars (SRAM part # 00.5215.010.000) as used on time trial and triathlon bikes are and the bar-end style indexed 10 speed shifter (SRAM Part # 00.7015.069.000) is part of a new “ensemble” of SRAM components offically called (By SRAM) “SRAM TT” designed for SRAM Red, Force and Rival. This provides triathletes and time trialists with the highest level of sophistication in engineering, performance and design for the entire specturm of SRAM components.
We have already noticed that some wholesale distributors have incorrectly labeled the aero brake lever and shifter components as “Force”, and in my case, “Red”.
The correct nomeclature for part numbers 00.5215.010.000 and 00.7015.069.000 is “SRAM TT” according to SRAM.
This harkens back to the Campagnolo “Speed TH” ensemble that included a crank and chainrings directed at the time trial/triathlon market.
Additionally, Shimano has developed working prototypes of an aero brake lever for use in bull-horn style base bars that is slated for 2009 model year introduction.
Interesting stuff.
I would like to see some info regarding the chain drag reduction in the ceramic bearing derailleur pulleys (ala SRAM Red). Any real wattage woould be great.
I’d also like to see some info on the ceramic BB bearings.
I have a Force group on my road bike and am switching frames from Italian to English BB, so i’m trying to figure out if i want a ceramic or regular one.
Maybe some kind of Powertap hub hooked up to an electric motor turning at a normal cadence speed through a drivetrain. I dunno.
I saw the TT stuff at Interbike and i liked both the shifters and brake levers.
That would be interesting. It might be a tricky test to do. I guess it is sort of what we are doing with Q Rings right now to a degree, but the differnces may be too small for fellows like us to measure.
huge…
My only question:
Is the company name pronouced S-Ram, with 2 syllables, or Sram, with one syllable?
I rode with a racer chick on Sunday who has the Red group her road bike (sponsored) and likes it.
My only question:
Is the company name pronouced S-Ram, with 2 syllables, or Sram, with one syllable?
I rode with a racer chick on Sunday who has the Red group her road bike (sponsored) and likes it.
It’s one syllable
I upgraded to Force w/ the TT shifters and Nokon cables ( my first time using) The shifters work great- no issues at all after 2 months.
S
I have had the brake levers on the gay bike for some time. I did have one of them get a bit loose and had to put some locktite 242 on the pivot bolt. They have a great feel to them, good return spring and install MUCH cleaner than my old crappy levers.
The sales rep fellow was saying “Sir-AM”, as in, all one word.
Thanks Tom, looking forward to the review.
Best guess is that the “new” Sram Red shifters and brake levers are like the Shimano Dura-Ace Bar end shifters, label them with the high end groupo even though there is nothing special about them. Also guessing that if you do a similar comparison of the shifters with a red and force front and rear derailleur you won’t notice a difference either.
There was a nice improvement over the Force group with the Red road shifter/brake lever and rear and front derailleur but the shifter throws for the front are still too long, at least there is a trim option though on the front, that was badly needed. The PowerDome cassette is very light and impressive reminds a lot of guys in the shop of stuff that they saw back in the 80’s. The crank set is very nice, it was very smooth which was a nice change from last years Force crank/BB set.
They had a pronunciation guide on their website at one time; may be gone now. It said something to the effect of "it’s not S-Ram or Shram or Sah-ram, it’s SRAM’'. One of those awkward, not-part-of-my-daily-speech things, like actually pronouncing ‘Mraz’ right.
This year I up-graded to FSA K-Force Light cranks, and I’m very happy with them, are they compatible with SRAM red?
Can I put the new red rear D. and cassette in my mavic-shimano rear wheel? Is the upgrade worth it? What about the problems that people talked about in the force and rivla front D.?
Thanks Tom, I’m slowly upgrading the older parts in my bike and is very useful to get advice from guys like u!
Do you have any info on how much faster or better are the s bend aero bars vs the sky bends?