I am thinking about buying a sram red group. Coming from Shimano, I have felt that the differences in shifting between 105, Ultegra, and Dura Ace were pretty small. However, the one place I notice a difference is in shifting under load, when I am standing and trying to make it up a steep hill. My 105 is very clunky in that situation, whereas my ultegra and dura ace groups shift smoothly. I was wondering how Red performs in that situation.

My guess is that I will be very happy with its shifting under “normal” conditions, even if it is “positive.”

Thanks for any insights!

SRAM has always performed well shifting under load.

I use SRAM Rival -- rear shifts well under load. front could be better (I ride a compact), but it might be the way I have it set up as well.

Had Rival on one of my bikes as well and it was quite a bit better under load than my Dura Ace bike is now. I don't believe shifting the front while standing is recommended. That would suck big time to drop a chain while you're standing.

Odd coincidence, I upshifted twice on Red yesterday charging up one hill standing, when I got to spin speed and wasn't in the mood to sit down or spin standing up. Flawless shifting. I've also done downshifting up hills standing, no problemo. At least for the RD. FD downshifts shifts uphill sometimes require a little soft pedaling, but it's not hard to figure out how to do this, or you can get a less-flexy steel FD cage. Overall Red's a great gruppo.

Compared to Shimano, SRAM shifts are always clunky...

Depends on your cassette too. The OG cassette always shifts in the same spot, as the right foot comes from about 2-5 o'clock. I shift standing all the time, but wait for the right place in the stroke to do so.

I have Red and I think it shifts great under heavy load, whether climbing or sprinting.

Two issues with SRAM climb shifting, while standing:

1. You do want to release the load for just an instant to get a nice, clean shift. You don't have to stop pedaling, just enough letup to take some of the tension off the chain.

2. I don't like the ergos of shifting while standing, while climbing, on SRAM. Having to reach back behind the brake lever is a tad contorted to me. While on the hoods, Shimano's brake lever shifting is right where it ought to be. YMMV.

i would recommend saving your self the $ and getting a 2010 force groupset as opposed to the red.

i've had mixed results shiftimg Red under load. If I think about it and adjust my weight a little, I have no problems.

This is what you should do when shifting, no matter the group. And it becomes more automatic the more you ride.

That said, I've found Red shifting to be very positive and reliable.

Huh?, there's no relationship between pedal position and cassette location, you have freewheeling and varying gear ratios that make it impossible to achieve (leaving fixed gear systems out of it)

I've had Campy, Shimano and Sram. They are all great. You have to play with whatever you select, and you will figure out what your gruppo likes.

Red swept the podium at last year's TdF. Sram is top-notch. Tulilo Campagnolo who was a genius, died 27 years ago but his assistants/successors are doing a great job. I had his first gen Record '62 WOW. Shimzo makes really good stuff. I got Ultegra when it was labeled 600. Niice.

I'm jealous--my 105 group is so weak on the hard climbs. Gotta love the falling knee when "dancing on the pedals" and trying to upshift... :/