SRAM RED or Dura-Ace 7900?

Jonathan Partridge has been ridding SRAM Force on his best bike and now wants to up-grade to either SRAM RED or Shimano Dura-Ace 7900. He is worried if the Dura-Ace will work well on his Trek Madone. Which should he buy?

Question:
Hi Sam
I currently have a Trek Madone 6.5 as my summer bike. At the time I chose to have a SRAM Force group set that has worked very well.
I am now updating my winter bike and have decided to put my Force group set on this bike.
This leaves me with the wonderful chance to upgrade my summer bike. Should I put SRAM RED or DURA ACE on it?
Several reviews seem to point to problems with the DURA ACE if the cables are run through the frame as they are on the Madone. Any thoughts?

I must say that from a looks point the new Dura ace certainly looks the part although still not sure about the levers.
Your ideas would be appreciated. Many thanks
Kind regards
Jonathan

Hi Jonathan.

This is a very difficult choice as both group sets are top quality and both are successfully ridden by professional riders. As you have been using the SRAM Force group you will be used to the gear change, so up-grading to the RED group you wouldn’t have any problems there.

Shimano Dura-Ace is the top group by the Japanese manufacturer and it is a dream to use, I wouldn’t say it was any better than Campagnolo Super Record or the SRAM RED, but its one of the three best you can buy.

As to the problem with the cable routing I have only found this with certain one piece handle bars with internal routing that puts too much of a bend on the cable as it leaves the bar and enters the frame.

SRAM works very well on the Madone, as if it was made for the frame, and maybe it was as there is a big connection between the two companies.

I think I’m probably leaning towards the SRAM RED for all these reasons. I would suggest that you try a friends Shimano equipped bike and see how you feel about the quite different gear change, remember that you will be swapping from one bike to the other, would you want a different system on your bikes?

This should be your main decision maker as the quality of both groups is equal and both will please you immensely.

Let us know what you decide?