John Morgan <
[email protected]> wrote in message news:<Pakkc.8648$A27.6901@fed1read06>...
> ...are made of plastic.
>
> But before wishing death to you
I wuz gonna say this, Gianni...
> I am going to tell you that IMO, SRAM makes
> a fine product. I've used SRAM Attack shifters with Shimano derailers in
> the past, and I currently use a SRAM X.O system on my hardtail. The attack
> shifters were good, but X.O is marvelous.
I have Attack shifters/XT on my good bike, and they have been great
for the last year and a half. No adjustments required.
> I also enjoy Shimano XTR dual control levers, but they're quite expensive.
When I look at them, I think "damn, if I crash, and snap off a lever,
or something goes 'boing' inside, I really have to fork over."
> Despite everyone being afraid of "accidentally shifting while braking," I
> stand firm on the statement that this has never happened to me in the 11
> months I have used them. I also hear people say that these levers "allow
> you to shift while braking," but again, I have never done this, nor have I
> ever felt the desire to shift and brake at the exact same moment.
I can do that with my GripShifters. Middle finger on the brake, twist
with thumb and forefinger. I also have my brakes rigged
right-brakes-front, so I'm working the rear der with my primary
braking hand. No problems yet.
> If you want a comparison, here you go. The Shimanos shift smoother, almost
> like you can't feel it sometimes, the tradeoff being that they aren't
> always as quick to snap into gear as SRAM. With my X.O system, when you
> click that twister barrel you can feel the chain immediately engage the
> selected gear.
I like the fact I can grab a gear three lower *right now.*
> I also like the ability to adjust the front derailer using
> the several clicks in between numbers with grip shifts, it allows you to
> use different gear combos without rubbing- if you need to.
Something I do automatically, and now that you mention it, it is
nice...
Must be from my friction-shifting days...
> Some people are not in favor of SRAM components, usually claiming the tired
> old 'accidental shift' BS or claiming some issue about the longevity of
> SRAM components. Don't take what that naysayers give you at face value,
> most of them operate only on hearsay.
On the Loon Lake Death March last year, Paladin's buddy busted his
front der GripShifter about two miles in. In the middle ring, IIRC.
Kinda sucked for the climbs we had coming. They do break, but I have
broken Shimano stuff before, too. I like my old school 9.0SL set-up
on my beater. Works great, looks good. Keep them lubed, and they
work a long time (again, hearsay...)
The real bonus is that you can now have triggers via SRAM, and can go
totally Shimano-free, even on a geared bike. You just have to find
one of those early SRAM front ders.
--
Jonesy