Which Groupset?

+1 for 6800, got the option to go Di2 now or later. Force is lighter by about 100g or something, there is a thread on WW if you care about that kind of thing.

At the end of the day:"They're all great. Ride the brand that you are comfortable with in terms of hood shape, appearance and shifting mechanism."

Can't comment on force, but 6800 for me was a massive step up from 6600 (I never rode 6700). Once you get a feel for how the lever interacts with the derailleur it's rather smooth shifting, and fairly accurate. Braking was a huge step up, I was actually surprised. Brakes also have spring tension adjustment...6600 didn't. Can't comment on the pads, I immediately switched them out to koolstop blacks. FD takes some learning to set up correctly, but isn't challenging. I still use a chain watcher out of habit, but haven't heard it impact the watcher yet, even under abusive shifting to cross chaining. Just make sure you get really good inline cable adjusters!

The best way is to get out there and test both, be that through a LBS or nicking a mates bike for the day.

On that note, does anyone know of a cable adjuster that doesn't slip out of position (tension wise) or some sort of solution to it slowly undoing itself? I use jagwire aluminium adjusters at the moment.

Not really fussed about the weight that much, with the budget I have, I can afford either the force or Ultegra. I tried both and felt good with th3 grips. Just wanted to know people's owns experience with th3 smoothness and reliability on terms of tuning it.

IMO the force/ultegra decision comes down to:

• doubletap: do you like it?
  
• cross-chaining: do you do it?
  
• small hands: do you haz them?
  
  

If so you're probably better off with Force (or SRAM in general). This is for Ultegra mechanical obvs. Di2 is another matter entirely.

Personally, I'd go for Force but that's because I personally prefer the Force hoods and the braking, and I don't mind the DoubleTap shifting system. It's a highly subjective decision though - both are excellent and will work well.

^ +1... the shimano brake lever blade being able to pivot/flap about annoys me, I guess this is not a problem on the Di2 version though...

Quick question - I'm trying to get a parts-bin special on the road... will a campag mirage '9 speed' front mech work with sram force levers? can't think why it wouldn't... anyone? Cheers in advance!

It's simple - choose the one you like the shape and feel of.

Ultegra brakes however are awesome.

Depends on pull ratios no? Sure somebody else can chime in with better advice.

@mattyc should be alright, front derailleur pull ratios weren't too different until 11 speed came along, most charts etc. around the web are more concerned with rear shifting, best way to check is trying. If it doesn't work I have an Ultegra 6600 you can have for 15posted that I know works as I had it running with 10sp rival :)

Main difference is that it cannot be trimmed, as long you don't mind not cross chaining.

lines starting with a 'greater than' denote quoted text

Ah, depends which version we're talking about, if this is 10 speed force, or any other 10 speed Sram (apart from the final 10 speed edition of Red) for that matter, then there is trim, and it should work.

You're right if it's the 11 speed one though

@noBlakes cheers for the info, the shifters are 1st gen force so all should be well!

Wut is cross chaining?

I'm not sure if you're being serious... but... cross chaining is basically where your chainline isn't straight. So, example, you're in the big ring and your biggest cassette, or vice versa. A la:

slow off the line
:(

More in depth tho

Good lad, he's been getting my emails then.

Garmin weren't sponsored and chose to buy Shimano, however I think that was mainly down to Rotor. Who knows why now?

EQS are set to adopt the FSA electronic group set when it's available (rumoured to be later this year).

Lolz

6600 brakes are terrible. I couldn't believe the step up when I went to 6700.

That said, I thought 6600 was otherwise excellent.

I can't wait to go 6870 Di2 but I think I might buy one of Merlin's gear packs so I can choose my own chainset and get something better looking than Ultegra. Maybe even DA 9000.

I found the brakes terrible initially too, until I switched koolstop pads in. Miles better after that, but still a spongy feel from what I remember.

I've had Swissstop BXP pads in for the last week. They're the blue ones for aluminium rims.

They're a big improvement over the SS Greens and Koolstop Salmons. They'll going on all the bikes ASAP.

< / cool story >

Curious about Ultegra Di2 on a CAAD10 - Chainset options? BB30 (not using an adaptor). Running SRAM Red Exogram now, 10 speed. Could I keep that? Also, does the black 2014 CAAD10 frameset have electronic cable routing? Can't see it, or am I being a dunce?