Price Paid:  $0.00 at Colorado

Favorite Ride:
Mt Rose highway

Bike Setup:
Carbon frame, Easton wheels, FSA cockpit/post, Force.

Summary:
I decided to build my new bike with SRAM because Campy is too expensive and Shimano's floppy STI brake lever is one of the all time stupid bike ideas (right there with under-the-chainstay U-brakes and every single aero tri bike ever made).

To make a long story short, I gave the group a "4" but I'm a little disappointed overall. Now for the long story...

Previously, I put about 60,000 miles on an Ultegra 9-speed kit, and even though I hated those idiotic Shimano swing-a-flop brakelever/shifters from day-one, I still think the Ultegra group shifts a lot better than the SRAM. Shimano also has higher quality fit and finish, is a LOT quieter, and it has two front der. positions in each ring. The lack of SRAM front derailleur trim actually might make my pantheon of stupid bike ideas. Very, very, VERY bad move by SRAM. Front chain rub is almost guaranteed with the Force group, which just plain sucks. I'm definitely feeling a touch of buyers remorse, but all is not lost.

There are things the Force group does well. When it does shift correctly, it shifts really, really fast and positive (unfortunately sometimes it gets stuck in some intermediate rattling and clunking limbo mode where it coughs and hacks it's way down the road until you reset the shift). It's very light, the brakes/brake lever combo is much more positive and powerful than Shimano (see "stupid floppy Shimano brake lever", above), the carbon cranks look great and are very stiff, the different SRAM rear cog options seem to make a little more sense than Shimano's choices, the hidden shift cables are slick (but unfortunately add additional sharp housing bends and their associated drag to an already stiff-shifting system), and the hoods/levers are very comfortable and natural feeling both on top and in the drops, and they require much less reach than Shimano, which is very nice.

But overall, the best word for how the group looks, feels and performs is "unrefined" (it's certainly nowhere near as fluid as Shimano or as buttery as Campy). It's got a racy, edgy, aggressive feel to it that's cool, but too often it gags on a shift and takes Incredible Hulk hand strength to shift (more so on the front than the rear, but still both are too stiff). And it somehow manages to have drivetrain rattles for no apparent reason even with everything alligned and set up just right, and still there are these mysterious rattls...).

Strengths:
Light. Racy. Great braking performance. Very comfortable.

Weaknesses:
Loud. Clumsy. Cheap-sounding. No front der. trim (duh!). Stiff shift resistance. Inconsistent.

Similar Products Used:
Shimano Ultegra, ancient Campy Record.

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Belmont Wheelworks

Bike Setup:
Stock Cannondale 2007 Force equipped SystemSix 2 (Ksyriums, Easton carbon bars etc.)

Summary:
I purchased Cannondale's 2007 Force equipped SystemSix 2 when both first came on the market, the bike because of how impressed I was with its ride qualities and the Force components because of both their huge weight advantage over Shimano and Campy as well as my positive experience with X9, XO and other SRAM components on my MTB. After 6000+ miles of training and racing in all conditions, including Boston's snowy winters, and these parts have not disappointed me once. Properly dialed in, shifting is stellar and Double-tap is instantly intuitive.

Strengths:
Accuracy, weight, durability, fit and finish, Double-tap, ergonomics

Weaknesses:
Front shifting requires a bit too much lever swing in the original version, though SRAM has since corrected this in the 08 road lines. Go Rival if you find it pricey, as mechanically its identical and is comparable in weight to D-A.

Similar Products Used:
Current generation Dura-Ace, previous generation 105

Price Paid:  $0.00 at LBS

Favorite Ride:
na

Bike Setup:
Scott Addict R2 with SRAM Foce levers, Brakes, Rear derailleur, Shimano R700 Cranks, Shimano DurAce FD78oo front derailleur

Summary:
Ive been using using Sram Force now for at least 2 years and have had to endure all the problems since they first came out 2 years ago and it has been worth it. Having used Shimano for 5 years prior (Ultegra and Durace)I was able to compare Durace to Force as my training bike which was a Scott CR1 had force. Initially the Scott R2 come with Durace componentry and enjoyed the silky smooth shifting of the rear derailleur and the clean smooth shifts with the front derailleur. It was like a hot knife through better. Brilliant! I also liked my CR1 as a training bike and found the shifting was crisp, clean, exact and provided good feedback. I like the way the shifters can be pulled back and used in any riding style and even better sprinting while in the drops. In the end I changed over the Force group set to the R2 but left the Front derailleur and R700 cranks and was amazed with the discovery. All the shifting is still crisp and clean but all my front derailleur problems simply went away. Trimming is no longer an issue as the cage is wider and stronger and has a better spring system so I no longer get the big drop I used to. I can shift both levers at the same time and have no issues with lock ups on the front chain ring. I have tried everything to fault this system but found I just rode it harder into the ground and found myself getting used to the agressive changes.
In the end I got the best of both worlds but prefer Force over Durace simply based on faster shifts crisp feedback back and the smooth changes I now get on the front chain ring. I dont think one is beter than the other but different riders will prefer one over the other, but the biggest advantage of both these group sets is their compatibilty! You can take the best out of Shimano and use it for Force. Most riders wont even notice untill they take a closer look and there are some of us out there who prefer the detail over performance. I chose performance. So if you are looking for a change and you are a shimano user and enjoy working on your bike you should give this a try but note their are problems with he factory standard group that will begine to emerge 6 months after purchase. Try some of the changes I have made and they should go away.

Strengths:
Excellent compatibilty with Shimano, crips shifts great feedback. No triming required in any position after installing Durace derailleur

Weaknesses:
Didn't like the crank of the force set. I had this come off twice. Force front dearailler was spring loaded and dropped off small ring everytime on the hills

Similar Products Used:
Shimano Ultegra, DurAce 7800

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Berkshire Bike & Boa

Bike Setup:
2008 Giant TCR Advanced 0, Ksyrium sl, easton ec90 slx bars, Ritchy wcs 4 axis stem, Selle Italia SLR carbino saddle, SRAM FORCE GROUPO!

Summary:
Top notch product. When it came time to get a new bike last fall I knew I wanted the force kit. I hadn't used it yet, but I had seen it and heard good things. Coming from a mountain background I was in love w/ the X0 drivetrain and knew I would be able to count on the force for similar reasons. The exact actuation (1:1 in mountain terms) is one of the best features of the kit. shifting is audible and precise. The brakes stop great and the cranks are stiff. Get this kit if you get the chance!

Strengths:
precise shifting, looks, comfort

Weaknesses:
maybe price, but what isn't pricey these days?

Similar Products Used:
Ultegra, 105, DA

Price Paid:  $1600.00 at geardsbikes

Favorite Ride:
Tassie

Bike Setup:
Guru Veloci'ti SL titanium frame, Easton EC90SL forks, DT RR1450 wheels, Thomson post and stem, Arione CX seat, FSA R200 bars, Continential 4000S tyres, SRAM RED.

Summary:
This review is for SRAM RED.
I received this group last week after waiting almost 3 months for it to arrive to complete my new bike. It was worth the wait. Have used both Shimano (Ultegra 9 speed) and Campag (Chorus 10 speed alloy) on previous bikes. Loved the Campy except for the reach to the release lever from the drops and the brakes (not much power). The red shift levers are exceptionally comfortable, light and look awesome. The shift action is quick, smooth and light both on front and back, and works flawlessly on my Campy cassettes (used while waiting for the RED cassette to arrive). The brakes are great. Love the adjustablity of the leaver reach, although the shift lever adjustment is fiddly. The weights are as advertised or even slightly under. As a bonus the whole group set has no rattles, squeaks or any otherr weird noises. The cranks are good, shift very well and the bb runs smooth after about 100km to wear in. Also get "ride on" teflon coated cables as standard!
Now the negatives. The cranks achieve a reasonable "q factor" of 135-140 mm but in doing so with this design of externall bb ankle clearance is comprimised. I havn't had a problem but I can imagine that some people would. Also the front does not have a trim position on the little chainring (only on the big) so with the chain only just missing the inside of the cage on the 23 it rubs the outside on the 14, rendering the 13 and 12 unusable (11 is anyway as chain rubs the inside of the big ring). In fairness the big ring trim means that the whole cassette can be used from the big ring.

Strengths:
Comfort, Finish, Weight, Shifting and braking perforrmance. Value if you take into account the ceramic bearings and materials/machining.

Weaknesses:
Ankle clearance, 2-3 gears unusable on the small ring, Shift lever reach adjustment fiddly.

Similar Products Used:
Campy Chorus (2002), Shimano Ultegra (1997)