goose70

I am building up a new frame and, to save some money with minimal performance loss, am considering purchasing a SRAM Rival group but adding a 2013 Force crankset to the mix (found a good deal on the crank). I have two questions: First, have any of you found any problem with mixing a Force crankset with Rival derailleurs? Second, have any of you found that Force presents some significant performance advantage over Rival (noticeably smoother shifting, greater reliability, etc.)? I suspect the answer to both questions is no, but I'd like to hear from folks with experience in both Rival and Force.

Beaker

Given that my 2010 CAAD 10-4 came stock with full Rival group with Force cranks, I know this is absolutely no issue. I believe the rationale was that Force cranks are stiffer - but damn, they just look better.

antmeeks

I just upgraded my bike to Force cranks w/ a Rival front derailleur. No issues whatsoever.

In fact, I'm pretty sure that all Red / Force / Rival / Apex components are interoperable.

As for the performance of the Force cranks, I'll agree with Beaker, they are noticeably stiffer - and yes, they look pretty damn badass, IMHO.

oldbobcat

Having worked on SRAM equipped bikes with Apex through Force, I'm sure they are completely cross compatible. Shifters all behave the same, they are all 2x10 configurations, and they're fully compatible with the same SRAM and Shimano 10-speed chains. I'm not sure about Red, mainly regarding the behavior of the front derailleur. I believe you need to use Red levers with the Red FD. The RD is no problem, though. In last year's Giro D'Italia the teams on SRAM were using Apex long-cage RDs on bikes that were otherwise Red. And I have a buddy who's on a Rival equipped Wilier, except for the Force crankset.

Nagrom_

+1 to all of this, and a little bit more of info.

You can use the new yaw FD without the new red levers. No personally experience (yet), but this article says so.
https://velonews.competitor.com/2012/...ibility_209270


I'm probably going to get a new red FD for my 2013 Force equipped bike.

abstractform20

shifting quality for apex, rival, and force will be the same (excellent).

stiffness and power will vary slightly.

Psimet2001 

SRAM is 100% compatible across all lines. Whether they like it or not. This is based on years of direct experience doing just that.

On the article listed - Caley was right on. Caley knows his stuff. Great guy. I chimed back to him right after that as we set up a rig with yaw and red/silver levers and an old force crank. No issues whatsoever and in fact a much improved front shifting performance.

So in short - don't EVER take a component company's statements about compatibility at face value. Ever.

goose70

Thanks. Very helpful! This is going to be my new race bike, so I'm hesitant to put very expensive components in places where they'll have little impact on performance and where a crash is most likely to wreck them (brifters, RDR). So, I'll probably go with Rival except for the crank and possibly front DR.

qcpmsame 

+1, Rob has this one nailed down. One reason I chose SRAM components (Rival) for my last N+1, a Force or Red WiFli may be in my future as well as the Red yaw FD swap.

Bill

Psimet2001 

I used to race on rival for a couple of years. For just that reason. Rival is an EXCELLENT race group.

I used to advise people do the following builds:

Shifters:rival
Rd: force (no real price difference and the force knuckle is forged instead of cnc'd)
Brakes:rival
Crank: Force
FD: new red yaw 2012

First real upgrade would be to red levers for the rear derail cable performance/ lack of slack / zero thingy they have.

qcpmsame 

Thanks Rob, I'll keep those recommendations in mind. The WiFli is a thought but in Florida it isn't even needed at all. I'd most likely be better off directing my funds to a Force crankset to upgrade my stock SRAM on the CAAD 10 4. Wheels for you will be the first thing, in the future, however. Not an advertisement just a fact.

Regards,
Bill

Psimet2001 

Wifli is great for cyclocross......

.....not necessarily for Florida road use. They can wrap some serious chain wrap with short cage in SRAM. If its a concern then get a compact, but honestly in Florida you never end up using your front derail anyway.

qcpmsame 

That is truer than many think, Rob, and my physical limitations rule out any CX, unfortunately, for me. I am running a compact SRAM crank set (I am a geezer anyway) and strictly a road rider. the WiFli piqued my interest as an engineer and looks like a good idea with a long cage or intermediate cage RD. You last set of recommendations more closely follows my reality of not getting into real hill climbing situation here, only our rollers ...... or an Interstate overpass, maybe.

Bill

ls01

I have yaw front derailluer on my Force bike, works flawlessly. You just end up with the extra trim position on the shifter.

thisisbenji

I'v mixed apex with my force over the last year as some of my force bits broke. It all worked flawlessly. I have an apex compact crank and a force standard crank that I switch out depending on the ride. There are no issues. I can't really tell too much of a difference between the two, but I'm only a 135LBS Cat IV so I don't put down too much power.