dragonian

After (mildly unexpectedly) winning a '08 Orbea Orca frameset on ebay tonight, I guess going to build up a bike this winter.

I've decided that I'm going to build this up with SRAM. I'm thinking primarily Red. Please don't reply w/ anything about Campy... It doesn't suit me.

I know that there isn't a major difference between the Red and Force, besides weight...(and price). That being said.. I'm planning on mostly Red. I'm sure that I don't *need* Red... hell, I didn't need a new bike, but it's a project.. and i'm sure that there are enough BF'ers here that fall into the same camp. I am likely going to find the parts piecemeal on ebay, like i've always done.

The questions are...

1) Is there any completely silly parts that I should not even think about the Red for? Something that Force would be functionally equivalent.. and only negligibly lighter?
2) Is there any model year differences that I should be aware of? ie, the 2009 FD is way better than the 2008 one, or something like that.
3) If i decide to cheap out..and go primarily Force.. are there some Red parts that are worth paying for?
4) Should I go with the Red crank? Is there another alternative? I think i'm planning on another compact.
5) Anything else I should know with a SRAM build?

For reference.. My current "good" bike is a '05 Specialized Tarmac with mostly DuraAce, cept for the crank (replaced DA crank for Ultegra SL compact), cassette (ultegra), and brakes (came with 105, never replaced). So i'm spoiled/vain.. and not intending on going down in components.

Thanks.

Tristan86

Many people like to run the Force FD over the red, because it is the stiffest and offers the best shifting performance

rOOster14

this is what i have heard too, i have ridden a Red FD and had no problems but this is the general consensus.
across the board though, the force stuff is very nice but the actuation of the red shifters is pretty darn sweet.
either way, post pics when you get it done. happy building

Everest

Force brakes might be a good place to save some cash too.

Dubbayoo

I went all Force with a Red crankset. If the Red FD is still titanium I would skip that; the flexibility was a negative for shifting. I would definitely go Red for the RD. If you don't buy into the ceramic thing you could go with the GXP team bottom bracket.

umd

The Red FD wasn't stiff enough on my Tarmac with the braze-on clamp adapter that I was using, but it was fine on my TCR which has a much stiffer braze-on tab. I'm getting an SL2 shortly and it has a braze-on tab too, since I won't have to run a clamp adapter I'll give the Red FD a chance again.

foresthill

For shifters, you should get either red of any year, or '09 Rival/Force. The '08 and earlier Rival/Force shifters have take too much throw shifting into the big ring for most people.

Tho if you do want some '07 Force shifters (and an RD), I've got some to sell cheap. They're in good shape.

EDIT: I am NOT selling the stuff in my sig below. That's what's on my bike right now, and I like it.

mhpopp

I have an 09 Orca with full Sram Red, no problems at all!

Nate552

That's what the mechanic for Bissell said in his blog
LINK HERE

"I would say if you are a racer use a Force front derail., the Red derail. is very light, but it's a titanium cage and isn't nearly as stiff as the cage used for the Force stuff"

SushiJoe

Go all Red and a Dura Ace front der. They work great and they are like $49 at Competitive Cyclist right now.

sfcrossrider

Or, just use Rival, and a Force RD. I'm sure the performance will be more than enough.

vic32amg

ON my R3-SL I run force front derailleur and Force rear derailleur. 11 grams is not worth $120 more. Especially when quality ceramic pulleys can be had for cheap. I have RED shifter, Crankset w Ceramic BB and Red Brakes. my bikes will come in under 15lbs no problem ( which is plenty light ) and I have never had a shifting issues.

Force FD I got for 40$ Ebay
Force RD I got for 85$ Ebay
REd shifters $270 EBay
Red Crankset w/ Ceramic BB - $250 Ebay
Red Brakeset $140 a friend.

SushiJoe

The first year SRAM was out (before Red) I was running a Force crank with Enduro Ceramic bearings in the GXP BB. This setup worked every bit as well as Red and for a lot less money.
$69 bearings in the cups I already had versus $200 for a replacement set up once it came out.