2009 Dura Ace 7900
So I have been trying to figure out what I wanted to do. But what do you guys think? Do you think the electronic shifters are actually going to make it out? The new mechanical group looks pretty good as well. Just a fun little group discussion is all.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?id=tech/2008/features/shimano_da09_r...
SRAM!!
I think it's going to be a while before the electronic stuff is deemed "worthy". Plus hauling around the big battery pack on your frame doesn't seem appealing to me. Even if it is a little lighter. I'll probably change my mind down the road... but that's where I am for now.
I wonder what all those tough guys on the tour are going to do when they can't get down into TT position on their road bikes in a breakaway and grab onto their shift cables for extra support. The new stuff will put the cables under the tape just like campy and sram now.
I'm pretty happy with the sram stuff though... that new dura ace would have to be absolutely amazing to make me switch back to shimano. :)
R and D
To be honest I am curious to hear what Eric has to say after a couple months of riding on his RED. I am going to use his riding time as my R and D. I will be interested to know how low maintenance it is. Right now I might lean a little toward Shimono simply because I have been so impressed with how flawlessly the 7800 has worked.
SHIMANO!!
I will probably buy the new cable version of the stuff. Not interested in going electric at this point. SRAM looks interesting but I like setting my bike up and never having to tune it again and have things work flawlessly like Shimano always does.
Tune Shmune
What makes you think Sram requires more tuning? You guys both sound like you've heard stories of non-flawless operation. I haven't touched either of my bikes since the cables stretched... Well, actually the crankarm did fall off my force kit in that last cross race, but I don't think that was equipment flaw, more likely installation error. :)
Hehe
Well I based mine of all the years of tuning and tweaking SRAM mtn components and made some assumptions. To be fair I do not have personal experience with SRAM road stuff. Harris did mention he had imore ssues with his SRAM road stuff in the past but that is all I have to go on.
Soft Spot
Hey Brad I think you touched on a soft spot with Eric. Let me clear this up. Since I have changed to Rival I have had a lot of issues with the Sram groups. Also both my mountain bikes are Sram and have a lot of tunning involved. When I had my Force I didn't have any issues but I also never road it. So in my book since I haven't used the Red or Force enough Shimano has had a worry free usage to me. Shimano Ultegra is a worry free group. I guess I expected more from Sram on there mid lever groups. I love how they work. But I hate always working on my bike. So I guess my review is if you ride Sram make sure you go with the Red or maybe the Force. I know Eric's Force worked really well for him. Keep with Shimano on the mountain groups especially since they offer the shadow rear ders now. Well have I rambled off enough about this crap?
heh...
Just sayin... mine has always worked well. Sounds like maybe there is a quality difference in the Rival stuff to me. This will be my third bike with sram's road kits and my opinion hasn't changed. Although the carbon stuff gets scratched up like crazy on my cross bike, prob not the wisest move there.
I wasn't a fan of those original sram road cassette either... and even the new red cassette seems to run quite a bit noisier then dura-ace to me. Due to the fact it's one piece and hollow is my guess. Also I've heard that running a red cassette on a cross bike is asking for problems as there's no way any crud getting in there can exit with the solid design. The powerdome is crazy light and beautifully crafted though... dead sexy as far as bike parts go really. :)
So, my drivetrain is loud...
Loud enough that Brad asked what that racket was on my last ride and said I should adjust my dérailleur. It wasn't out of adjustment though, and has been loud since I put the red cassette on there. Harris said my bike was loud like a euro pro or something on our last Tuesday nighter... just plain loud! :)
So on Monday, I mounted my old wheel with a dura-ace cassette onto the bike and it was immediately silent. Then I swapped out another dura-ace cassette for the sram red on my current wheel and again silent and smooth. Sooo... what's the deal with the sram cassettes is the question? I think I'm going back to dura-ace for good now. It's really a pretty big difference.
Anyway, thought that might add some flame to this discussion. :) I'm still a sram fan all the way, just not the cassette anymore other than to look at and admire. (Oh, and just for kicks I tried another new red cassette and brand new sram chain with no difference to make extra sure it wasn't some fluke. Still loud.)
Indifference!!
You guys (I'm looking at Harris, or Mr. "I only show up to every 4th training ride") should care less about gear and more about riding.
Like, you know, working on your Flinstone braking skills for when your 3 year old chain snaps during a sprint.
Yeah, these forums need more smack talk ;)
Go get em Nate!:)
This little thread has developed some great stuff. Nate's motto: "Come strong or don't come at all." This debate is probably a little like debating which is better Mercedes or BMW. But since I can't afford either of these cars our debate is a lot more fun.
LIsten
Well since I am 20 lbs over weight and have no desire to train I have to look at the gear to make me faster. Isn't that what the pros do? If I can have the nicest bike in the world I would be that much fast. Matt Hanson always told me you can buy speed. On a side not BMWs are way nicer then Mercedes.
More Pictures of 7900
Here are some good pics of the 7900.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/tech.php?id=/tech/2008/featu...
Choosing Sides
HA! This thread is turning into something good :)
I am on Harris' side on this one too ;) (BMW's)
I am kind of the opposite now, I am also too heavy and out of shape but actually seem to care much less about gear than I ever have.
I say use whatever makes you happy and lets all be happy! One note though, I don't think I will be attending that Flintstone stopping clinic Nate has offered to the members.. That is one experience I think I will try hard to pass on.
So officially to all club members. Do not ride your road chain for more than around 1500 miles, spend the $20-30.00 and change it out.
It's a good mentality
I'm also rolling on a front tube that has had a slow leak for a little over a year now (started the day before the 2007 Camel's Back Duathlon). Knock on wood!
New Tubes
I don't think tubes are that much money. I would have to say I am sorry I missed that flintstone move of yours.
Flintstone Stopping Power
It was impressive. Reminded me of the time I was drafting a big trailer down a canyon in Bryce National Park on my road bike going about 35 mph and had 2 deer jump out infront of the truck. Next thing I new I was looking sideways, my brakes skidding, my tires sliding and seeing a deer, on its side, skidding down the road next to me. When I finally stopped I had deer hair all over me. The deer finally stopped, stood up looking at me funny and bounced off the other side of the road. It was a strange experience.
Nate kind of had the same look in his eyes as that deer did when I looked over and saw him doing his Speedplay, cleat surfing trick that Tuesday night.
More Updates
Here is the latest update.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?id=/tech/2008/features/shimano_dura-...
Wow
That stuff looks fancy! :)
2009 Record
Well to add to the mix (not really since they are 2 times the cost of Dura Ace, and Red) but just a heads up for those who have an endless wallet.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?id=/tech/2008/news/06-04
Eleven??
11-speed now... wow.
from a High Road tech...
http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&id=5978
Note the aluminum bar
The thing that struck me when looking at the review from the high road tech was that the bike receiving the new DA group had an aluminum bar. Not to turn the SRAM v. Shimano debate into a carbon versus aluminum debate, but I would never put a carbon bar on a mountain bike for fear of catastrophic failure when hitting something technical. On the road, it's more of a penny pinching mentality that's led me to run aluminum. I was surprised to see aluminum on a pro tour bike, though.
And oh, yeah, the DA 7900 looks nice. But I'll probably wait until it trickles down to Ultegra.
skibikejunkie.blogspot.com
Campy 2009
Just to add more to the fire. I think I need this because it is confirmed 11 speed.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?id=tech/2008/features/2009_campagnol...
And that Rear der looks sexy.
campy shmampy
You just need to show up to races instead. :) Matt, Tim & I missed you tonight at the crits...
Carbon Batr
Hmm, I have ran carbon bars on my various mtn bikes for 6 years or so now...
me too :)
...but I'm kindof a weight weenie. :)
carbon failure
Yeah, and I'm not sure who it was, but Ladd showed me the video of someone snapping their bar in two on porcupine rim. For the negligible weight savings, no thank you. But then again, I ride a steel frame 29er, so weight is obviously not my first priority on the MTB.
skibikejunkie.blogspot.com
Terry
That was Terry Deeble... and he was jumping a good 4ft drop when it happened. Actually talking with the bike shop guys afterwards they almost guaranteed that the brake was clamped onto the bar with too much force, weakening the bar. It broke cleanly right at the brake mount. That's the secret to carbon... get your torque wrenches out when installing the parts.
shredded carbon
I run carbon bars on the mtb also and while I haven't managed to break them (yet) I have shredded the ends of them from hitting the ground so much. They could make for a decent spear if I ever get stranded in the wilderness.
Carbon
I would prefer to have my carbon bar crack and the weave hold together (slightly) any day over a brittle aluminum bar break right in two leaving me with a total surprise. I am not a big jumper (that is what motorcycles are for in my opinion), and I don't crash too much but to each his own. To me its not really about the weight (20 grams or so vs a light aluminum bar) its more about the nice dampening carbon provides and in my opinion better safety if you install the bars correctly and don't crank down on them too hard or unevenly. As Eric said, and from my 16 years experience working and running bike shops, carbon breaks typically due to operating installation error, not from typical riding. This is why they make the leaf springs in big diesels & corvettes, the brakes in jumbo jets, the wings and many other high stress areas out of carbon fiber. Aluminum is inherently one of the most brittle alloys used in bicycles. Which is one of the reasons it rides so harsh (besides frame design with large tube diameters to save weight). Anyway, off my soap box now :) On the other hand, I haven't broken any aluminum bars before either though...