North Drinks. Every Week, Wednesday 6pm - The Maynard N8

Down tube shifters ftw!

I was sure this was going to be about two girls and one cup!

@Ben.

If you'd been involved in the conversations at the beginning I was having with people I candidly admit that my experience is limited to approx 100m of riding Sram Red.

However what you should realise is that I've been riding bikes all my life and specifically racing bikes since I was 14. That's 15 years of pretty much daily riding experience. I also am in more than just the LFGSS community but am a member of two race clubs in London and Dorset. I also know a number of people who work in the industry; not the likes of Tokyo Fixed Gear but proper, dedicated race bikes shops. I also know Albi ;).

I'm sorry but people who got involved in cycling through the fixed scene over the last few years and suddenly have a race bike (often their first) who then feel they have the knowledge base, skills base and experience base with which to inform me that I don't know what I'm talking about is slightly abrasive.

SRAM has a comfortable hood, yes. But from what I gather and understand the shifting system is certainly down in usability from both Campy and Shammy. Furthermore I have heard numerous people complaining that the braking quality is poor and (also per Albi last night) there is also no centering screw on the calipers (at least Rival, not sure about Red).

The 2 jobs a groupset serve is braking and gear changing. Seems Sram have someway to go.