Stix Zadinia

Hello all

I'm currently trying to figure out how to put together a stealth build that includes SRAM shifting for an Allez frame.

Please tell me what you think about this component selection (compatibility problems, bang for buck etc):

- SRAM Red shifters, FD YAW and RD.
- SRAM Force BB, and maybe also the cassette-- BTW, does anyone know the difference between say, 11-23 and 11-23T?
- Shimano 105 brake calipers and crankset (perhaps also the cassette)
- KMC X10SL DLC chain

I would like not to spend too much on a crank/cassette combination for now, since I'm new to road bikes, and so I prefer to try combinations on a somewhat cheaper Shimano setup, which locally, happens to be much more readily available, too.

If you have any opinions or suggestions, please let me know!
Thanks

Lew.

Considering it's all Sram on the drivetrain, it should work fine.
12-23 and 12-23t mean the same, it's just the teeth on the smallest and largest cogs of the cassette.

If you're preferring the cheaper Shimano setup that is available, howcome you're listing SRAM components? Either way, both companies make stuff that will make the chain shift up and down a cassette, so it doesn't really matter as long as the shifter and derailleur match company-wise. If you're not looking to spend much also, why not go for 105 or Tiagra, even Sora (or SRAM equivalent)? They all shift, and it doesn't sound like you're looking for the marginal gains that you get with higher spec stuff.
If the Red and Force is low in the SRAM groups, I apologize, I thought it was around what Shimano offer as Ultegra? I'm probably wrong though, I don't have a clue what the SRAM line up is...

igknighted

You can't use a Force BB with a Shimano crankset. Stick with the Shimano BB until you get a new crankset.

chil2makefun

Red is the top of the line group of sram which is more or less comparable to dura ace from shimano. Force is comparable to ultegra.

lunacycle

Why a 105 crankset? You can get SRAM Rival crankset complete with BB for $140 online. I bought a set last summer to replace my Force crankset after the pedal thread inserts busted loose (Force crank arms are carbon fiber, not aluminum like Rival).

Elduderino2412

Not much difference between a force and red RD except weight and apperance. That BB won't work with shimano cranks

RollCNY

I wouldn't think it qualifies as a Frankengroup. A Frankengroup is more like:

Centaur Ergos
Microshift FD
FSA crank
Rival RD
KMC Chain
Shimano cassette

Yours looks like a fairly normal SRAM build

rpenmanparker 

OP I think you have it backwards. I would save the money on the derailleurs and brifters which work very well in the lower SRAM lines like Force and Rival. I would spend a few extra bucks on the very lightweight Red level cassette. Also you can get an FSA SLK Light crank for not too much. Overall cheaper solution, similar functionality and much lighter. Not Frankenbike at all. The KMC chain is a great, quiet choice.

dudemanppl

Is the Allez BB30?

I say

Red:
FD

Force:
BB30 cranks, shifters, rear derailleur, cassette

Get a regular X10SL chain cause a blingy one is a waste IMO, but not my money. And for the brakeset get these: https://www.planet-x-usa.com/product-p/bcpxulcnc.htm
Lightweight and pretty and cheap. And get Yokozuna Reaction cables.

Stix Zadinia

Yes the frame is Allez E5 (BB30)

What caught my attention about the Red FD was the rotating cage (Yaw), which seems to be amiss the Force (10 speed) FD.
The Shimano brake callipers (105 or any other) seem to have good reviews and are very easy to service, as most LBS around here (outside US) carry that brand way more than anything else. I like the look of the Ultegra crankset, but as I mentioned I'm more interested in how well the drivetrain ends up working for me.

The Rival groupset was my first pick, but on ebay it seems to be very similarly priced (if not the same) as a Force group. I was thinking it could be nice to pony up and go with a Red shifting setup like this, and then basically 'fill in' the rest with Shimano parts. Don't know how good an idea that would be, though.

Going with a Rival crankset with it's corresponding BB sounds like a good idea. I like the aesthetics on them better than those bulky Red/Force cranksets, anyway.


If that's correct then how come Amazon shows them on cassettes as two different options?

dudemanppl

I say get a Force BB30 crank with the older style rings in black (since you seem to like that style), you'd have to use an adapter to use any other crank. And don't think Amazon CAN'T be wrong. You'll see no difference in shifting from Force and Red, same tech with Zero-Loss and other stuff, just using the Red 2012 FD will save you from needing to trim.

Lew.

Thanks for the clarification of models, I wasn't too far out.

I straight out refuse to buy anything cycling related from Amazon any more - I've had more than my fair share of BS from them. (Sending the wrong items - funny how they never send anything of a higher price than I ordered, always about half the price!)
But, if you find a good seller off there, I bow down, and I am in the UK and probably get different sellers of the site than other countries.

The fact that someone has called me an idiot for saying that the cassette size with or without the 't' is the same might lean in my favour, but I won't go so far as to argue it, this is the internet after all... I ordered a 13-27 and a 13-27t from online and they were exactly the same, except they were different models (I had ordered them that way, nicer one for my nice wheels and cheapest thing I could find for my bad-weather wheels).

Lasrsktr

If you are set on on piecing together a group from Ebay, might I suggest the following as I went the Ebay route. And in hindsight I would have prefered to just buy a complete group and this would end up much cheaper in the long run.

https://www.merlincycles.com/bike-sho...-groupset.html

or

https://www.merlincycles.com/bike-sho...et-grey-1.html

But the group I put together is as follows:
Sram Red 2012 Shifters
Sram Red Yaw FD
Sram Red 2012 RD
Sram Red 11-26 Cassette
Sram Force 2012 Crankset
Sram Force Brakeset
Sram 1070 chain

To me there wasn't any reason to jump up to red for the crank and brakes. But an entire force group would work in the same way just be a bit heavier (like this matters).

~Steven