jeffremer

I have a feeling this has been done to death, but my cursory search didn't yield a quick definite answer...my intuition and that feeling of having read it before a dozen times says "yes", but I just wanted to make sure:

Will a 10-speed cassette (SRAM or Shimano) go on a 9-speed hub (Ultegra 6500)? Needs a 1mm spacer, right?

I'm going with either Force, Red, or 10sp DA next season and I'd like to keep my Ultegra 6500/Aeroheads around as pit wheels/spares.

Second question:

Missed out on the Red test ride at Interbike this year. Anyone riding it and think it's worth $400 (through team deal) more than Force for a little weight savings, better trimming, and a cooler look? Assume that the trade-off is between the following for the same price with the rest of the build being the same in both cases:

* 50mm carbon fiber tubular wheelset (1375g) and SRAM Force group
* 30mm aluminum clinchers (1367g) and SRAM Red group

If I got the deep CF tubulars I'd like to keep my Ultegra/Aeroheads, if I got the Red group I'd sell them (I know they aren't worth much but I like 'em). That said I'm liking SRAM vs Shimano as it is right now when considering DA at all. Obviously I'm planning to be put my hands on everything long enough to let feel take priority.

Campy zealots and weight-weenie bashers keep the noise down a minimum please, thanks for your time.

nitropowered

If I were to go with Sram, I'd probably go with Force, considering how cheap you can get it with the Interbike deal. I'm sure you grabbed an EP form? (if not, pm me and I can fax it to you).

I tried riding Force but it just messed with my head, considering I've been riding Campy for a while. I will usually release the paddle as soon as I get a click, so I was always going the wrong way when I was trying out the force.

'nother

Yes, and the cassette usually comes with the spacer.

shouldn't be a problem.



I my opinion, it boils down to looks, and possibly the big-ring trim feature (not insignificant if you are a frequenter of the big-big combo). Personally I don't think it's worth it, but I favor function and cost over form and weight. Even if I didn't, the weight difference barely justifies it. The "penalty" of that guilty feeling you get when you show up to a race with anything less than "the best" on your bike might justify it, if you swing that way. If you have the $$ to spare, why not?

jeffremer

Sorry I mis-worded this - I missed Interbike altogether, one of the reasons being I didn't get in on the Red test ride list and therefore had one less reason to make the trip, the other just being crazy scheduling.

Thanks for the offer, not sure how good the EP deal is, but our team deal is shaping up to be $725 for Force (I'll be getting the frameset and group/build-kit through the same sponsor). I'm more inclined to get Red but getting some tubular CF race wheels would be awesome.

I'm coming from Shimano and have played with Force very very briefly, I can feel the definite learning curve, it's a little tricky, but I do like how SRAM and Campy keep the derailleur cables hidden and Force felt very crisp.

jeffremer

Great, thanks.

Looks aren't vital, but they do help the ego a little. I'm definitely not a cross-chainer but I like having the option, not sure if it's a $400 option worth having though.

Definitely, weight it less a physical factor, I could piss the difference before a race, mostly another psychological motivator.

I'm on a budget, It's definitely not money to spare, just a moderate lump-sum dedicated to getting the best I can for a certain amount given an insanely good sponsorship deal. However going with Force and the clinchers, then selling the Ultegras could put a little more wiggle room in there for something else, say improving the rest of the build kit. I'm on somewhat limited means but I'm not pinching every penny either, if I was I'd definitely go with Force. This is going to have to last me a while.

patentcad

My bike shop told me in no uncertain terms to avoid Sram groups below Red. I ride Dura Ace now.

'nother

Related: here's a chart that a club-mate of mine put together, comparing costs and weights of various groups. Actually Red comes out the best in the pure cost-per-gram analysis, but its an awful lot of overall cost for a gain of ~.5 to .75 Kg. Bang-for-the-buck would seem to be Force + a light wheelset.

But again, if you can afford it all, why not? It's just money.

'nother

Yes, but you've also been snookered into buying ZIPPs and tons of other crap that sounds good on paper but doesn't actually do anything.

EDIT: sorry, I should have said "tons of other crap that sounds good on paper but doesn't actually do anything but get you to post on BF about it"