Dallas Cyclist

So, after about a month of doing test rides and asking you guys questions on here, I have finally decided on the road bike I am going to get. I am going to get a Cannondale Supersix 3 (Ultegra). But, I am starting to have some questions about my decision. I am very used to shimano componets and have never considered Sram. I test rode one bike that had Sram on it, and I was a tad thrown off by the "double tap." Some folks say that after you get used to it, that Sram is great. I asked my guy at my LBS as he seems to be very unbiased. He rides Sram so he told me all the things he likes about it, but he also gave me some upside to shimano as well.

So, I dont really have a question... I just want to hear from some Sram users and some Shimano users and I want you to tell me what you love, or dont love about your current groupo.

Thanks! Im alsmot there!

AMFJ

Sram: Love double tap, love the shape of the hoods on my hands.

Shimano: Don't like the shape of the hoods on my hands. Don't like having to push the brake lever over to change gears.


As to them doing their actual job (changing gears and acting as a brake)---they both work great.


I have a bike with Ultegra and a bike with Red.

In my mind it really comes down to which feels best in your hands.

Chickenstrip

I was looking for a Caad 10/4 (rival), when I happened upon my Supersix 3 in January this year. I hadn't even considered ultegra till then as I thought it too expensive. I still prefer the shape of SRAM hoods but am loving the 6700 and have adjusted to shimano hood shape well.

Ian560

When comparing say rival to even Ultegra, Why would anyone take the more expensive, heavier, less crisp, uglier, and less durable component group we call ultegra? If smooth, "soft" shifting is your only concern, and you don't race and have tons of money, you should still go sram.

milkbaby

Both STI and Doubletap work fine. I'm not a fan of doubletap when tired as it's easy to upshift into a harder gear at exactly the wrong time. On the other hand, while STI's light action works great, it's not as positive or solid feeling. I don't have a strong preference towards either Shimano or SRAM hood ergonomics.

If you don't have a strong preference for either style of shifting, I vote going with the hood shape that seems the most comfortable for you.

Shimano vs SRAM vs Campy threads always makes me think of rednecks arguing over Chevy, Ford, and Dodge...

roadwarrior

SRAM. Never had a problem with either my Red or Rival bikes.

NachoLibre

Pretty much sums up my thoughts. Downshifting just feels like a quicker and smoother action with SRAM. It could all be in my head, but either way I like it.

dayday82

Sram all day. Lighter, faster, crisper, and better hoods (both asthetically and feel).

rpenmanparker 

SRAM! I rode Shimano for 25 years and would never go back to it. Besides the shifting action and feel and the hood ergonomics all being superior, you can't beat the weight advantage for the price. I would rather have Rival derailleurs and shifters combined with an FSA, Force or Red crank than Ultegra any day. The Red cassette is pure genius. The most elegant development in cycling equipment I have ever seen.

Dallas Cyclist

Wow, You guys are really swaying me in the way of SRAM. Would you guys say that SRAM Rival is comparable to Ultegra.... I mean as a direct competitor? Or would I have to move up to force?

himespau 

Whichever feels best to you. Try them both, pick one, and then come back here and start talking about how superior it is to the other one. Wash, rinse, repeat a few times and then you're ready to start considering Campy.

Dallas Cyclist

Compare these two set ups and you guys tell me what you think has the all around better set up...

https://www.cannondale.com/2012/bikes...-4-rival-21233

https://www.cannondale.com/2012/bikes...-ultegra-25362

It seems to me that the Supersix with the rival comes with slightly less better components with it,
while the Supersix with Ultegra seems to come with some upgrades (crank, rims, etc...)

Let me know what you guys think.

zigmeister

First of all, you are going to either need to run BB30 cranks, or get an adapter to run Shimano cranks. Your choice. You could run another brand of BB30 cranks, and all Shimano stuff elsewhere.

Full Shimano, you need a BB30 adapter for your cranks, not a big deal, but something to think about, more work, maybe some loctite to sleeve it, or use other press fit adapters. The choice is pretty limited on this front and solutions have their drawbacks and issues.

I like/dislike things with both groups. I like Sram's brifter setup and cranks. But some of the other stuff, I'm on the fence, although I run full Red, except I run a DuraAce rear cassette. Another one of those things I don't like about Sram, cassettes. And I don't think $300 for a 2012 rear cassette they are making now that is quieter is acceptable and reasonable on any level.

Really up to you TS on what you prefer.

NachoLibre

The Ultegra bike has better wheels, and the rest is equal besides the two component groups. Ride both, pick which component group you like better. If it is the Rival, you can use the $650 savings to buy better wheels if you wish.

qcpmsame 

I went from Shimano 105 to Rival on my 10 4 CAAD10. I now prefer the SRAM double tap to the brake lever shifting on Shimano. Got used to it very quickly, nothing special to me, just smooth shifts and fairly quiet. I believe Ultegra is lighter than Rival but wouldn't bet on that with my memory. JMHO

GlennR

I vote for Sram. I have a Madone 4.6 with Rival and find it very easy and natural. This was my first real road bike so I had no learning curve. Just last week i rode someone else's bike with Ultegra and didn't like the shifters. The shifting was slower and I had to be careful not to pull the brake levers the wrong way and tap the brakes when shifting.

My son has Sram on all his bikes except his Cervelo and is replacing the older Dura Ace with Force.

dayday82

It is considered that Rival is a direct competitor to Ultegra, but is cheaper and much lighter. Even Apex, is lighter than Ultegra. Check out this link.

https://totalcycling.com/component-weights.html

dayday82

Nope, even Apex is lighter than Ultegra.

Golfster

Which is better has a lot to do with personal preference and not just weights. Ultegra is lighter than Rival (based on standard component build kit weights) by about 1/2 ounce (not pounds) - hardly a difference worthy of a "better" award. So I would also consider your preference in wheels, shifting, other components, etc.

You can take a few sips of water out of your bottle and make up the difference in weight on some components. Force (based on standard build kits) is only 3+ ounces lighter than either Ultegra or Rival, but heavier than Dura Ace yet Force is 1.25 lbs. heavier than Red and add 3 ounces to that difference for Rival. So, also consider ergonomics, percieved reliability, shifting action preference, replacement parts costs, etc., and consider YOUR style of riding in the mix, along with your spend tolerance to your needs/wants.

Good luck with your decision and enjoy the ride on the bike you ultimately select!!

lamazion

I have Ulterga on my cross bike (used as a foul weather road bike) and Force on my main road bike. The ergonomics on the hoods are both good for me, but they may not be for you. Both shift great! I like the crank on the supersix ultegra bike, but I don't think it would be worth $600 to me. I would most likely buy the SRAM bike and upgrade the wheels.

boze

My experience was so out of line with the SRAM fans on this site that I'm kinda confused.

My other bikes have been Ultegra but I just recently got a like-new 2010 Madone 4.7 that the seller built up with SRAM Force. The Madone is the fanciest bike I've owned and it only has a few hundred miles on it. That said, I prefer Ultegra and could switch if I could. SRAM feels cheap, plasticky, and loud to me. I'm hopeful that maybe these cables haven't finished stretching because the group saw such little use before I got it. That said, even when it's shifting more crisply it's still gonna feel cheap. That's part of the SRAM tradeoff, I think: it's lighter and less expensive but it feels plasticky and clunky to use.

I can say that the 6600 Ultegra hoods on my other bike were never my favorite, the SRAM hoods are more comfortable. I also like the Force brakes quite a bit.

Doubletap is not a big deal. It's nice, they're both nice, just different. For me it's not even a preference one way or the other.

saintsfaninks26

I guess I will be one of the few that goes against the grain and say that I prefer Shimano. I have traditionally had Ultegra equipped bikes up until my last bike which had SRAM Force. I thought the group was OK but I think the Shimano groupsets have a more refined feel to them in their shifting where as SRAM feels clunky to me. I also had an issue using the double tap shifting while wearing thicker winter gloves and I have never had an issue with the Ultegra.
I will say that Ultegra needs to be adjusted more frequently to operate well but when adjusted correctly feels better.

If you are that torn though, I would say go with the cheaper bike.

Homebrew01

Campy Centaur 10 speed is good.

qcpmsame 

Thanks, that is exactly I put the statement in my reply;-)

jesspal

SRAM all day