I finally got to test out SRAM at the new LBS last night. I'm officially in love. The double tap shifting is stellar. The gear changes were so smooth and it felt like a completely different bike under me. Technically it was but you know what I mean. I gotta get me some of that stuff. Better start saving...

Welcome to the club.

Does matter too much, but, which group did you try?

Welcome to 2006.

Yeah its good stuff. My first bike has 5600 105 on it which isn't bad in any way. I purchased a new bike in January with full Force on it and i'll be sticking with SRAM for any future bikes or builds. Hoods are a lot more comfortable with SRAM and double tap shifting is awesome.

Sram Rating Scale:

Rival - Excellent
Force - Even Better than Excellent
Red - OK, Now your just showing off and I hate you and, OK, its Superbly Excellent

You left out
Apex - You're too fat to ride a bike

I was waiting for you to say it ;-)

It was only Rival. I know the shifters are all the same except for Red having zero loss. What is that?

My only complaint with Rival is that there is no texture on the shifters. In wet conditions, my fingers are always sliding between the shifter and brake lever. But I would never go back to Shimano.

You guys are thinking too much, having went back from SRAM red to Ultegra 6700, i feel no difference at all. The setup of the groupset are more important.

You know that little slop in the shifter(Rival). Zero loss gets rid of that. With rival the front shifter is zero loss. Play with them both and you'll see.

Got it. I'll remember that next time I test a bike out. Thanks!

I know what you mean by being very impressed. I test rode red and fell in love. but money talks so i am building up a new frame with all sram (rival) including wheelset. Cannot wait to ride this bike

From what I have been told, Force is the best groupset to go with in the SRAM line. I have SRAM Rival right now, but cant wait to have a bike with Force or Red.....SRAM really needs to come out with an electronic groupset...
If they take any longer, I will have to make one myself...

Definitely digging my Force set-up. Shifting is nice and despite a lot of people claiming Sram drivetrains to be noisy, I have no complaints. Its all smooth here.

Idk about shifters, but as far as derailleurs go I have been told/read that Force is actually better and more durable. Same goes for cassettes.

Lol as it sits, the only Shimano part on my bike is the FD braze on clamp.

Blasphemer! How dare you say the 'Shimano' word. SRAM is just to simple and easy, I don't know why everyone doesn't use it.

This is comforting to read as my soon to be next group will be Force.

I'm riding 2010 Force on a Pedal Force RS2 and its awesome. It does have more noise than my DA/Ult setup but functions flawless.
My only complaint is when shifting (upcog) feels like undo force on the paddle which may break someday.

I'm Force on a ZX3. I haven't read or heard anything about the paddle breaking so I wouldn't worry too much about it.