I am trying to decide if I should put SRAM Red on my bike that Carl Strong is building for me.. I currently am using Dura ace 7800 and it feels fine to me but I keep hearing some people say the SRAM hoods are smaller and levers shorter? Only experience I have had with riding SRAM Red is around in a parking lot at the LBS.. I haven't spent any time riding with SRAM but thought I might try something different than Dura ace on this new bike... So if any of you have really large hands that have experience with SRAM would like to give your opinion let them fly.. I want to make the right decision here... I hear great things about Red and would love to try it but if it's gonna be something that I will regret I will go with Dura ace.. The old standby...
Anyone with Really Big hands use SRAM? What's your opinion?
lacofdfireman
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I am trying to decide if I should put SRAM Red on my bike that Carl Strong is building for me.. I currently am using Dura ace 7800 and it feels fine to me but I keep hearing some people say the SRAM hoods are smaller and levers shorter? Only experience I have had with riding SRAM Red is around in a parking lot at the LBS.. I haven't spent any time riding with SRAM but thought I might try something different than Dura ace on this new bike... So if any of you have really large hands that have experience with SRAM would like to give your opinion let them fly.. I want to make the right decision here... I hear great things about Red and would love to try it but if it's gonna be something that I will regret I will go with Dura ace.. The old standby...
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2,299 Posts
My glove size is XXL, so I believe I'm qualified to answer this question. Additionally, my bike is running with SRAM Force, further adding my my answering abilities.
Yes.
That is all.
Yes.
That is all.
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8,252 Posts
I have big palms (they are almost as big as my wife’s entire hand), and overall...fairly big hands (shorter fingers).
I have zero issues with fitting on SRAM hoods. Pretty much I ride with my hand completely on the hood with my index finger wrapped around the top of the brake lever. I do this whether just riding in the hoods or climbing on the hoods.
Reaching the brake levers isn't an issue whether on the hoods or drops and clicking up or down gears is just as easy as with Shimano.
Previously I rode Ultegra before making the switch to SRAM...I like SRAM better both from an ergonomic standpoint and functionality standpoint. The fact that it's lighter is a nice bonus also
I have zero issues with fitting on SRAM hoods. Pretty much I ride with my hand completely on the hood with my index finger wrapped around the top of the brake lever. I do this whether just riding in the hoods or climbing on the hoods.
Reaching the brake levers isn't an issue whether on the hoods or drops and clicking up or down gears is just as easy as with Shimano.
Previously I rode Ultegra before making the switch to SRAM...I like SRAM better both from an ergonomic standpoint and functionality standpoint. The fact that it's lighter is a nice bonus also
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162 Posts
I don't have baseball mitts for hands, but I do wear L size gloves. The SRAM hoods are smaller and I definitely prefer the Shimano hoods. I like the functionality of the SRAM levers though. I've tweaked the hood positioning and after riding them for a year I'm used to them and am not looking to change them out. But they are smaller and therefore concentrate the pressure in a smaller area of my hands and I get some numbness issues as a result. I have developed the habit of changing hand position more frequently while riding.
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1,814 Posts
I am not as seasoned as other riders here, but I also really like the ergonomic design of the SRAM vs. the Shimano. Obviously, the DA series is also very good, I just prefer the SRAM. In fact, I am upgrading my SRAM rival to RED (brake levers/shifters and crank) and FORCE rear and front derailleurs.
EDIT: Not much help in terms of "size" b/c I have relatively smaller hands (size M gloves).
EDIT: Not much help in terms of "size" b/c I have relatively smaller hands (size M gloves).
I have pretty wide hands, though not excessively so.
BUT.
WHen I started riding again, some 9 years ago, I started on an early 80's road bike with downtube shifters. About a year later, got my first bike with Shimano - 105 9 speed. After about five miles with my new STI levers, it was 'you can prise my dead, cold hands off these levers'.
Another few years on, made one of the bigger mistakes of my renewed interest in cycling, by buying an 09 Trek Madone. Ignoring that the first frame cracked after around 1000 miles, I'd gone for SRAM Force, for reasons that now don't seem as logical and hated it within weeks. I spent more time untaping, moving the bars and levers around and re-taping than riding. Never liked holding them, and disliked shifting with them even more. Plus, the whole neighbourhood knows when you shift gears. One issue was that the back edge of the SRAM levers has a deep edge that dug into my hands when in my usual riding position. Shimano's hoods taper down to virtually nothing at their rear edges, so they fair into the bar tape smoothly
EBay solved the problem in short order and I shall be boring from now on and stay with my Shimano levers. If I was that passionate about weight, a little less calories over a couple of months would take care of that issue
Advice, at usual internet rates? You like your Shimano - stick with it. You want to be comfortable holding those levers and like how they shift the gears. End of problem.
Carl Strong? Good choice.
Regards
Dereck
BUT.
WHen I started riding again, some 9 years ago, I started on an early 80's road bike with downtube shifters. About a year later, got my first bike with Shimano - 105 9 speed. After about five miles with my new STI levers, it was 'you can prise my dead, cold hands off these levers'.
Another few years on, made one of the bigger mistakes of my renewed interest in cycling, by buying an 09 Trek Madone. Ignoring that the first frame cracked after around 1000 miles, I'd gone for SRAM Force, for reasons that now don't seem as logical and hated it within weeks. I spent more time untaping, moving the bars and levers around and re-taping than riding. Never liked holding them, and disliked shifting with them even more. Plus, the whole neighbourhood knows when you shift gears. One issue was that the back edge of the SRAM levers has a deep edge that dug into my hands when in my usual riding position. Shimano's hoods taper down to virtually nothing at their rear edges, so they fair into the bar tape smoothly
EBay solved the problem in short order and I shall be boring from now on and stay with my Shimano levers. If I was that passionate about weight, a little less calories over a couple of months would take care of that issue
Advice, at usual internet rates? You like your Shimano - stick with it. You want to be comfortable holding those levers and like how they shift the gears. End of problem.
Carl Strong? Good choice.
Regards
Dereck
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