A year ago at Press Camp, SRAM unveiled its latest 22-speed drivetrain: the Rival, designed with some of the latest trickle-down technology from the Red and Force groups. While we were able to get a first ride on the new equipment during the event, we have spent a full year with the workingman's group, giving it a full review in Issue 28.
Since then, Rival has entered the realm of more options, now being offered as a single chainring drivetrain as SRAM released at 2015 Sea Otter. While the single chainring set up is becoming popular for cyclocross, many riders find the benefits of a double, especially when training on the road, and the Rival 22 remains one of the more affordable and versatile groups on the market.
Today, we offer Clifford Lee's full review from Issue 28, including the our observations for the weight of the set as well as a final verdict. For more quality content like this, be sure to order your backcopy today, which is also available on Uberflip, in the App Store on iTunes, and on Google Play for Android.
Use the slider below for the detailed review on each part. More info: sram.com
Hydro-R DoubleTap Brake/Shift levers
It has been one year since SRAM voluntarily recalled all the Red and Force hydraulic brake levers after discovering some brake-seal problems in freezing conditions, a problem that surfaced during the cold of cyclocross season at the end of 2013. The new levers have not only solved this problem, but SRAM also took the opportunity to improve the entire lever, including the ergonomics and aesthetics. The SRAM hydraulic brake levers have an iconic appearance with the tall front “horn” of the master cylinder reservoir.
The new version is better padded and more rounded behind the horn for better comfort when gripping the hoods, and SRAM put a subtle finger groove into the front of the horn for a finger to rest more comfortably. Rival hydraulic levers did not exist before the recall, being just introduced after delivery of the new and improved Red 22 and Force 22 levers. Generally, aesthetics differ between the levels only with the graphics.
The Rival 22 levers with the tall horn of the hydraulic cylinder. © Cyclocross Magazine
The Rival hydraulic lever blade and shift paddle is made of aluminum alloy instead of carbon fiber, but is shaped exactly like its brethren, offering a similar look and feel. It comes as a pre-bled system with the HydroR caliper branded as Rival, though the system weight is 50 grams heavier than Red, and 20 grams heavier than Force. Much of the weight difference comes from the use of aluminum alloy instead of carbon, and to keep that difference minimal, the aluminum levers are slightly more slender and the shift paddle minutely smaller.
In use, SRAM DoubleTap is fast and crisp, and the Rival Hydro lever feels the same as the Force or Red version. Though the lever is slightly more slender, you cannot tell with your fingers wrapped around the front, and though the shift paddle is slightly smaller, it is difficult to discern. Arguably, Rival’s aluminum levers are stiffer than the carbon versions, but this is hard to verify. In the winter weather conditions, the aluminum will feel colder, but you’d probably have gloves on in those circumstances.
