SRAM Red Crankset

Price Paid:  $220.00 at eBay

Bike Setup:
Giant TCR with SRAM Force and Red.

Summary:
I swapped a DA crankset for this one and couldn't be happier. The crank arms and rings are just as stiff as DA. I know some hate the looks but I really dig the way they look. The shifts are also much smoother.

Strengths:
Weight, stiffness, shifting and looks.

Weaknesses:
The chain is a tad bit noisier than the DA set.

Similar Products Used:
Dura Ace, Ultegra, 105

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Bicycle Express

Favorite Ride:
Adelaide to Lobethal

Bike Setup:
Colnago Extreme Power, Pro Hushovd bar and stem (excellent), Mavic Ksyrium SLs and Cosmic Carbone Pro singles, D/A pedals.

Summary:
Well...where do I start.
To begin I think I have to give credit to my LBS (Bicycle Express and in particular Ben) and Kristjan from SRAM, for all the assistance they have given me.

As one of the first non-pro's to get a RED groupset I was very keen to give it everything and threw it straight into an Elite Teams Criterium race for it's first hard ride. Maybe not the best idea in hindsight...

It was during the first race that I first hit problems... On the jump to lead out our team sprinter, coming around a 90% bend in the 53x13, I put all my force into the cranks and "CRUNCH!". The chain popped off the outside of the big chainring and wrapped itself around the crank arms and fed itself back through the chainrings!!!
The cranks locked up and I rolled to the side of the road. It took a mechanic 10 minutes and removing the cranks to get the chain loose.
Luckily I was on the outside of the bunch and didn't bring down the entire field!

Anyway, long story short, a few months later after a change of cranks and 2 new sets of chainrings - and the National Manager of SRAM telling me that it must have been my "flexy frame" that was the problem (note, I ride a '08 Colnago Extreme Power) - I was given a pair of "Black-box prototype" chainrings that the pro's were using in the TDU.
I must say that this has fixed the problem.
They look just like FSA's and are a muh heavier grade.

So, I guess the cranks may be stiff, but the chainrings aren't suitable for larger/stronger riders.
If you are over 80kgs or an A grade rider or a sprinter make sure you buy a set of Record or FSA chainrings to go with them.
If you're a 60kg climber then you can keep the cool D/A knock off ones.

I'm not knocking SRAM - I love the rest of the group and have Force on my training bike now - but the chainrings are a 'known' problem.

Strengths:
Look cool! I like flashy...
For a while I was the only one with them.

Weaknesses:
Very flexible chainrings. You can see them flex as you climb or sprint!

Similar Products Used:
Campy Record, Shimano Dura Ace, FSA K-Force

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Price Paid:  $500.00 at Hawley's

Favorite Ride:
Century rides with hills

Bike Setup:
2008 Cannondale SuperSix with SRAM Red group minus brakes, FSA K-Force carbon handlebars, Zero-G Brakes, Ritchey Carbon stem, Mavic SL ES wheelset, Easton EC-90 seat Post.

Summary:
I purchsed a 2008 Cannondale SuperSix with the SRAM RED group and could not be more please with this product. I've owned four Trek bikes, all with Shimano cranksets and was amazed by by the noticable quality of the SRAM Crankset over the Shimano. I got the RED Crankset with the Black Box ceramic bearings. The SRAM is so smooth, stiff, light weight, and looks really cool.

Strengths:
Stiff, very smooth, very light weight, and looks great.

Weaknesses:
none

Similar Products Used:
Shimano Dura Ace, Ultegra, and R-700

Price Paid:  $360.00 at Countrysidecycling.c

Favorite Ride:
Countrysidecycling.com Wednesday Night Ride

Bike Setup:
Fuji SL-1, Sram Red, Ksyrium elites and Zipp 404s, Ritchey 4 axis stem, K-force Carbon Bar, Fizik Arione, Dura Ace pedals.

Summary:
Very Nice crankset, Great looking graphics, and the Rings are very cool looking too. I got the 53/39 rings, and I DID NOT get the Ceramic Bottom Bracket. So I saved about $150 bucks by doing that. Why? Well I think ceramic Bottom Brackets are only good if you can pedal about 700-1000 RPM.

For another 300 plus I could of got a fulcrum to shave like 70 grams, or a Zipp Vuma Quad to get the lightest group ever for like another 1000.

Strengths:
Light, Stiff, and Great Looking.
Don't have to get Ceramic Bottom Bracket.

Weaknesses:
Not the Lightest.

Similar Products Used:
Ultegra 9, FSA SL-K, and Sram Force.

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