SRAM Red and Shimano Dura-Ace: Are they really worth it?

SRAM Red and Shimano Dura-AceSRAM Red and Shimano Dura-Ace…the top of the pack of road bike components that roadies all over the world lust after on a regular basis. With SRAM entering the market and having huge success at this years Tour, Campagnolo and Shimano now have some serious competition out of the once mountain only component group company.

When you think of ultra-light, high performance components for road bikes, names like Red, Super Record and Dura-Ace are the go to groupos to shave the grams and extract more speed out of your road bike, but are they really worth the price of admission as you try to increase speed?

SRAM Red, Shimano Dura-Ace and Campagnolo Super Record

I am going to let you in on a little known secret in the road biking industry. The majority of the lower end models in all lines from SRAM, Shimano and Campagnolo use the same designs as the flagship top of the line components. That’s right…so that same feeling you are getting out of Ultegra, Force, Athena and even the lower end lines is the same feeling you get on the ultra high end component groups.

So if they feel the same…what is the real difference??

Typically, the real difference is in the materials. As you try to decrease weight and keep the same performance and durability, you have to use higher end, more expensive materials to get the job done. The amount of extra dollars that goes into saving grams is disproportional to say the least. When you jump from readily available materials like aluminum and steel to higher end titanium and carbons, the price starts to rise at a drastic rate. On top of that, there are typically pricing structures build into higher end components to set them away from the lower end lines.

So who is the top of the line really for?

If you are super weight conscious and have the coin to drop on higher end road bike components, you are going to feel right at home with the best of the best. You are going to get blinged out looks and drop those precious grams in search of the lightest bike possible.

What if I really just need solid performance?

Then you are in luck. Today’s component manufactures have brought high-end performance to the lower lineups with less bling appeal and a little bit higher weight. If you want to get closer to the higher end in regards to look and weight, look at the Ultegra, Force and Record road bike components. If you really don’t mind adding just a little bit more weight but want to save a lot of money, stepping down one more to the 105, Rival and Athena groupos will bring you a solid performing road bike component group without completely robbing you blind.

If you want to get creative and bring in the best of both worlds, you can mix and match components within the same brand (Shimano, SRAM and Campagnolo) to save money in certain areas and getting the high end in others. In road bike component groups, most of the dollar value hits in the shifter/brake lever combo and there actually is a stiffness difference in most cranksets. If you want to save money and spend it where it matters, jump down one line in the hoods…go up a line in the crankset…and drop back down for the derailleurs. You will get the same shifting performance at a little bit higher weight but gain back the stiffness in your main power source to the ground.

Building Your Road Bike: Money Where It Matters

Building your optimal road bike is all about pulling the maximum amount of performance out of the budget you have set. By forgoing the ultra high end rear derailleur, you can spend that money in areas that you will see a more drastic difference on the road like the wheelset or frame. Too often, riders get stuck on wanting that high-end rear derailleur and skimp on other areas when there money could be a lot better spent from a weight and performance level.

Find the best prices on road components: JensonUSA | RealCyclist | eBay

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