Seems like a good deal if you like how it rides.

So you can get a caad10-2 for around $2200? Why are you even debating? It's not just the force group upgrade. You also get better wheels, saddle, stem, handlebars, seat post, etc. I think even the tires are better. That's a lot of upgrade for $500 if it's within the budget.

A number of people have experienced issues with the shift paddle breaking off. It's a real PITA when it happens. My guess is that the vast majority of people don't have problems.

It's a common issue with SRAM parts. One of the common upgrades people do to their SRAM bikes is forged Praxis chainrings and a Shimano FD.

Shimano hollowtech crankarms are widely acclaimed, and their chainrings are already forged and extremely stiff, machined for crisp shifting without need of upgrading.

If you get the Shimano, people will question your self worth Personally Im like the DA 9000..someday

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...nd-of-Ugliness

Big groupset review here https://www.tour-qtr.com/epaper_4_2011 (Page 34)

Thanks! What a cool link

Yeah but the actual bike is about 2200 but i still got to consider the extras like pedals, shoes, bad, etc. And i dont want to be 'cheap' when i go for it. I am planning on eventually upgrading the wheels. But it depends on the future, maybe a cheaper set of mavicks to go light or a aero set of zipps. But thats the future. Is there a big difference on the wheels between the sram and shimano?

Well, my lbs has a warranty program i believe. But thanks for the heads up!

lol, i dont think shimano is that ugly! i actually like the durace with the black trim. It is just...plain which is unlike sram or campy.

When Force came out a few years back, it was the top of the SRAM line, it weighed less than Dura-Ace 7800, and it was priced somewhere between Dura-Ace and Ultegra. If I remember correctly, Red came out a year or two later and Shimano announced that it was working on a new Dura-Ace (7900) that would compete in SRAM's weight class.

The first Force and Rival kits that I tried seemed fussy and loud, and we had one bike with Red that was in the shop repeatedly, until we finally warrantied his front shifter. I think most of the problems were caused by bad setup, though, probably by mechanics who spent their formative years on Shimano 9-speed. I still deal with badly set up Shimano 10-speed bikes.

After four years of happy shifting on Dura-Ace 7800, I'm planning to order a Madone with Force tomorrow. I'm not too sure about the compact gearing, but I'm ready for a change.

Wow I just spent an hour looking through that whole e-mag

I wouldn't even do that I would just say sram vs shimano all together aka double tap klunkiness vs shimano smootheness.

Check this out for a good objective comparison.

https://vimeo.com/9582338

Thanks for finding the vid -- I remember it from the ol' testrider.com page.

Remember on a Cdale and the BB30 you won't actually get a 105 crank, but an FSA crank.