Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

TECH NEWS

Eurobike 2012: SRAM update Force groupset

Incremental performance upgrades for Force groupset

SRAM are upgrading their second-tier Force groupset for next year with some technology and features trickling down from top-level Red, with no change in price.

The new Force looks very similar to the previous groupset as the main changes occur in the chainset, shifters and rear mech. The chainset borrows heavily from Red with new chainrings that are stiffer so offer cleaner and crisper shifting.

SRAM has introduced a WiFLi all-new mid-cage rear derailleur to the Force 2013 groupset. With a new 11-32 cassette there's the option of a much wider spread of gears for scaling the steepest of climbs. And with the new AeroGlide pulleys, which have a new tooth design, the drivetrain should be a lot quieter as well.

And something you can't see but is one of the best things about SRAM Red is the Zero-Loss technology in the shifters. Previously the biggest tactile difference between the two groupsets, Force now gets the technology that eliminates the wasted lever travel before the mechanism is activated for immediate gear changes.

It's not a huge overhaul but the changes bring Force into line with those changes made to Red earlier this year, and there's been no change to the price.

There's no word on availability yet. Get more details at www.sram.com

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

Add new comment

5 comments

Avatar
usernameforme | 11 years ago
0 likes

Does it have the "Yaw" technology?

Avatar
Timbo13 | 11 years ago
0 likes

Is the 11-32 cassette really new or just the already-existing PG-1070? The Apex groupset has had the 11-32 and 12-32 PG-1050 for over a year now, and SRAM have been promoting the 11-32 and 12-32 PG-1070 options through spring and summer 2012.

Avatar
cat1commuter | 11 years ago
0 likes

Yes, you can run those cassettes. The rear derailleur needs more capacity to accommodate a larger range of gears. Being under capacity is a problem, but being over is not. You might want to adjust the screw which governs the clearance between the top jockey wheel and the largest sprocket to ensure optimum shifting.

Avatar
jackh | 11 years ago
0 likes

11-32 cassettes sound like a great idea!

Bit of a technical question I know; can you run the same chain length with a normal cassette (say 12-27, or ideally 12-25) and the new 11-32 cassette? That would make swapping pretty straightforward if so.

Avatar
notfastenough | 11 years ago
0 likes

Like the look of this.

Latest Comments