Some exciting stuff for SRAM

At the Sea Otter Classic this week SRAM is showing off the 2009 stuff. Most of the upgrades are happening to the Rival group inheriting a lot of the technology that went into SRAM Red this past year. Rival brifters gain adjustable reach, the same paddle as Red and big ring trim just like Red. They are also now carbon levers.

The Rival group will also get some cosmetic updates with a new gloss black finish. The crank is updated also and will be hollow forged, the older solid arm will be going away.

Force only gets new brifters with the adjustable reach and bigger paddles and big rim trim. It seems to me that SRAM has positioned Force to be the big loser in this deal. Even with a lower price, all the improvements to Rival will make the only advantage Force has is a few grams. If I was looking to buy a new complete bike this summer or fall I would give Rival a very serious look over.

Red gets a new crank set. It is rumored to use some of the technology from the Vuma crank that Zipp introduced last year (SRAM owns Zipp) and will come in a BB30 specification. SRAM claims the Red crank will be about 100 grams lighter than the current offering. The Zuma stuff will allow a BB30 crank fit in a standard frame, will also allow for a narrower Q-factor (measurement from one side of the crank arm to the opposite arm). They are claiming better bearing life, but I find that hard to believe.

The OG-1090 cassette will come in two new sizes, 11-25T and 11-28T. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone will build a light MTB with the 11-28T and a Shimano XTR rear derailleur.

There are also some new TT parts and some MTB parts, but since I do not care for either of those two riding disciplines, you will have to search for the information yourselves.

SRAM has one more trick up their sleeve. Leaving Zipp with the high end wheel market SRAM will be introducing some mid & mid/high-level wheels to fill in a gap that Mavic, Bontrager, Rolf and others have filled in the past.