Anyone have solid evidence of a SRAM road group? I've anticipated such a thing for a long time having come to respect SRAM from their mtb groups, but the emergence of a road group seems to be like an urban myth that keeps getting whispered around.

I went to the LBS this weekend and noticed that the cable for the rear shifter on the new Dura Ace (guessing 06?) has a small vial sized tube with gear indicator. Its similar to what you see on mountain bikes but it is incorporated in the cable housing. Pretty sweet....

I don't know, I prefer the big Shimano hoods over the old retro smaller hoods. It just seems more comfortable to me. That being said, Shimano is just cheaper and that's why a lot of people go with that.

It's just rumors as far as I know. Sorry if I mis-stated that earlier.

They have everything they need to do it. I think the biggest problem is the patent on the STI shifters....that and market receptiveness.

I am all for the opposite. The smaller hood on the campy part is more comfortable to my hands.

Shifting is easy and smooth.

I have shimano on my mountain bike (well shimano brakes, shifters, and deraileurs, rest is sram/truvativ/WTB), but my roadie is just the brake calipers (105) and chain (wippermann, I'm not changing that) short of full campy.

Nice photo 53-11! We need a bigger size to see those team jerseys though.

Yeah, I've been squinting to see that team jersey too. ;)

True perhaps for ShimaNO 9 sp., but for the 10 sp grouppos they're actually priced equal to or higher than Campy grouppos. Look at Ult. 10 and D/A 10 vs. Record/Chorus/Centaur.

Also, Campy does not do as much OEM business as ShimaNO, except on higher-end bikes. Campy sells more in aftermarket upgrades than OEM.

I like to mix and match. I'm not too big on Shimano or Campy cranks. I don't have either on my bikes. I have Shimano derailleurs, cassettes and shifters though but that should be changing on my roadbike. I'll migrate all the Shimano stuff including the brakes off the Aegis and move to Campy although I will still use a modified Shimano cassette because I like the way Shimano's cassettes shift. Then I'll rebuild a commuter/travel bike with the old Shimano stuff since by and large Shimano parts are still easier and quicker to get. As far as ergonomics go, I do find Campy brifters fit my hand better.

[QUOTE=53-11_alltheway]Problem with US market is that these massive online retailers (Performance, etc) practically give the Shimano stuff away.
QUOTE]

I guess that you and I have a different definition of what constitutes a problem....

How do you do it Penguin? You never fail to make my day with your funny video-pics. Thanks from a poor sap stuck at work.

I think you are going to see more campy creeping into the U.S. as a result of the pricing of the new 10 speed ultegra. I recently purchased an 05 Klein (with the awesome green paintjob) that came with campy 10 speed centaur. I have been seeing more and more mid-range bikes coming equipped with centaur as well.

Let's hope so!!

I don't know if 'shwing' can apply to females, but yes! Well said.

Girls can have "shwings" too, right? Sort of? :eek: :D

SRAM has all that they need for this as if memory serves me right they bought Sachs a French manufacter of road groups in the 90's. I seem to remember them (Sachs) having a "STI/ERGO" shifter for a year or two befor the buy out. I would like to see Sachs/SRAM and Suntour make comebacks in to the road market. To me Suntour was the best group for the $$$, they had the tech of high priced Campy/Shimano for the price of low to mid groupos from those two.

Interesting. I don't recall a Sachs-Sedis STI-like shifter but then again I'm not claiming to have the best of memories. If anyone has any information on that, can they post it?


Same here. SRAM really only needs to develop some road shifters, migrate their MTB drivetrain technology to road drivetrains and buy a company that makes wheels and hubs. I think they should buy Sun-Ringle. It would fit right in there with the rest of their products. Sensibly priced, highly functional and well respected.


I was a big fan of Suntour too and I'm glad that they're still continuing to make cranks because I really like their cranks. However, there were a few things about their shifting system I didn't like. I also didn't think they got it as right as Shimano in terms of smoothness and reliability. They were getting there though and I felt that they simply ran out of runway trying to play catchup. If they had only had a few more years...

If you're like me, you like to have *mostly* a single brand for components, or close to it. With the price of higher end crapagnolo components theres no way I'd buy it. Even for better looking or feeling hoods. Like the cassettes and cranks? Holy mother cow ship, it's like $130 for a chorus cassette. It's like $80 for an ultegra cassette.

Ultegra does not compare to Chorus. D/A is closer in quality/performance to Chorus. Record is pretty much in a class by itself.

Better to compare Centaur or Veloce cassettes to Ultegra. Still, IMO Centaur's are a bit overpriced at around $100.-$110. shipped, where Veloce's are around $80. shipped.

I've said this a million times. Well, maybe not a MILLION, but components comes down to simply what each person prefers in feel, use, maintenance, overall performance, etc etc etc.
I tried both. I prefer Campy, but that doesn't mean one is really all that BETTER than the other. I just like what Campy has to offer.
That said, I like my Rolf Prima wheels better than Shimano wheels. :D

I guess I don't understand what the "problem" is. You want the Shimano prices to go up? :rolleyes:

I can't speak for 53_11, but I wouldn't mind seeing ShimaNO's quality go up, especially since they've already raised their prices enough. (10 sp)

I'm not trying to be sarcastic, but he actually makes a good case for buying Shimano when he clearly is saying it is a problem, I guess. I can't tell what the problem is; if you prefer Campy then buy it. If you don't, then yeah you're kind of locked in to Shimano, but if that is the case I certainly wouldn't be complaining about the low(er) prices.

On a side note: I guess I'm kind of stuck in the '80s in the automotive sense: you'd be an idiot to buy an Italian car (Fiat comes to mind) and a Japanese car would be a very solid, reliable buy. Sure, that's ancient history but it might explain my subconscious thinking about the two companies. One thing we all can agree on, if/when SRAM steps up (or maybe even FSA?) and makes their own groupo, we'll all be better off for the added competition.

I like my 105/Ultegra just fine...but I am a newbie. I don't have any hand size issues. I didn't even mind the feel of Sora when I test rode it. I haven't ridden Campy yet, I can't afford most of the bikes I have seen with it, and the one I could afford (a Cannondale), well I didn't like the shop so I didn't buy there.

That's my point. Better to think this way than to point figures at Campagnolo which will causes a religious war of sorts.

For whatever reason Campagnolo hasn't been able to compete at the lower price points (previously) and that's why things are the way they are today.

SRAM would be wise to focus on the low-end market and then work their way up to the top level products.