We've updated our policy regarding how we treat and protect data that is collected and used from our websites. This site also uses cookies which are necessary to its functioning and required to achieve the purposes illustrated in the policy. By using this site you agree to our use of cookies. Please read our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy anytime for more information and your related choices.

triathlete logo
Search Triathlete
triathlete logo
  • Gear & Tech
    • 2018 Buyer’s Guide
    • Swim
    • Bike
    • Run
    • Kestrel 5000 SL SRAM Red eTap

    • Garmin Forerunner 935

    • 2XU P:2 Propel

    • Saucony Liberty ISO

    • Giro Vanquish MIPS

    • How to Put Your Triathlon Wetsuit on Like a Pro

    • Reviewed: 10 Wetsuits for Triathletes

    • Your Smartwatch Is Getting Smarter

    • Suit Up! 9 Wetsuit Reviews

    • A Look At Finis’ New Edge Fins

    • Oakley Flight Jacket Fights Fog with Flip of a Switch

    • Augmented Reality: The Future of Triathlon Training?

    • The Lube You Use Can Make You (Marginally) Faster

    • Face Off: 2 Bike Cases for Triathletes

    • How to Adjust Your Rear Derailleur

    • What to Do When Your Running Shoe Is Discontinued

    • Find The Perfect Pair of Running Socks (For You)

    • Why Do Some Running Shoes Cost So Much More Than Others?

    • Our First Impressions of Zwift’s Run Platform

    • 4 Tips for Buying Trail Running Shoes

  • Training
    • Swim
    • Bike
    • Run
    • Injury Prevention
    • Quick Set: Scale The Pyramid

    • Tips and Tricks from One of Triathlon’s Fastest Swimmers

    • Six Steps To A Better Streamline

    • Quick Set: 2, 4, 6, 8

    • Quick Set: Frogs And 3/2/1/0 Breaths

    • One-Hour Workout: Wildflower Windups

    • One-Hour Workout: Weight-Room-On-Wheels Bike Set

    • One-Hour Workout: Brick-Build Bike/Run Quad-Burner

    • One Hour Workout: 2-Prong Power

    • One-Hour Workout: Colt 45 Bike Intervals

    • Are You Reaping the Benefits of the Fartlek?

    • The Myth of the Ideal Running Cadence

    • One-Hour Workout: Criss-Cross Run

    • Hide and Train: Use This Unique Trend to Spice Up Your Workouts

    • Most Runners Overstride—Here’s How to Stop It

    • Unlock Tight Hips in 3 Moves

    • Improve Your Posture with This One-Minute Exercise

    • A Doctor Solves the Bum Problem You’re Afraid to Google

    • Video: Shoulder Strengthening Exercise For Triathletes

    • The Triathlete’s 15-Minute Anywhere Strength Routine

  • Nutrition
    • Race Day & Training
    • Recipes
    • Weight Loss
    • How Hydrating Properly Is Key For Optimal Recovery

    • Should You Ditch Sports Nutrition Products for Real Food?

    • What’s the Best Way to Approach Nutrition on Long Bike Rides?

    • Nutrition Case Study: The Swollen Ironman

    • How to Adjust Your Nutrition During Injury Recovery

    • 10 Ways To Use Protein-Packed Greek Yogurt

    • Make Your Portable PB&J Healthier With This Salad Twist

    • Real Food For The Road: Crispy Rice Omelet

    • It’s Spring! 4 Gardening Tips For Triathletes

    • Simple Chef: 3 Tasty Recipes Centered Around 5 Ingredients

    • Is Intermittent Fasting a Good Idea for Athletes?

    • 3 Healthy Ways to Battle the Nighttime Sweet Tooth

    • Should I Stop Eating After 6 P.M. As Part Of My Diet Plan?

    • Are You Eating Enough?

    • 5 Steps to Reaching Your 2018 Nutrition Goals

  • Lifestyle
    • Culture
    • Races
    • Travel
    • A Brief Complaint From a Salty Triathlete: Stop Hating on Pros

    • ProFile: Meet XTERRA World Champ Bradley Weiss

    • How This Estee Lauder Exec Fits in Triathlon Training

    • A Brief Complaint from a Salty Triathlete: Stop Rolling Starts!

    • Professor Multisport: My Friend Skips Body Marking Because He Thinks It’s Pointless. Is That OK?

    • Ben Hoffman On the Sheer Relief of Surviving Cape Epic

    • 9 of the Most Popular Races in Triathlon

    • Need a Race-Cation, Pronto? Head to Bermuda

    • 5 Must-Watch Pro Races of 2018

    • A World Inside: A Look at the Big Shift in How We’re Racing and Training

    • Need a Race-Cation, Pronto? Head to Bermuda

    • What to Do If You Are Injured at a Race Abroad

    • Dear Coach: How Do I Deal with Time Zone Changes?

    • Triathlon Tour Guide: Baton Rouge, Louisiana

    • Swim Camps: Improving Your Freestyle Has Never Been So Fun

  • News
    • Triathlon
    • Gear
    • Ironman
    • The Absolute Best Tri Gear of 2018

    • The 2018 Triathlete Buyer’s Guide Is Available Online

    • Tim Don Crushes Boston 6 Months After Kona Crash

    • Enter Triathlete Magazine’s First Ever Photo Contest!

    • Bkool Launches Online Tri League

    • The Absolute Best Tri Gear of 2018

    • The 2018 Triathlete Buyer’s Guide Is Available Online

    • A Ventum for the Masses?

    • Win the Bike from the Cover of Our Buyer’s Guide!

    • Get the 2018 Triathlete Buyer’s Guide!

    • Photos: Jan Frodeno, Anne Haug on Top at 70.3 Oceanside

    • Wanda Considers IPO for Triathlon, Cycling Holdings

    • Ironman Overhauls Pro Qualification System (Again)

    • Van Collides with Pro Matt Russell at Ironman World Championship

    • Daniela Ryf Earns Third-Straight Ironman World Title

  • Subscribe

    Subscribe to Triathlete Magazine

    • The hottest gear and tech
    • Expert training, gear and nutrition advice
    • The latest on the people, places, ideas, and issues that define the multisport lifestyle

     

     

    VIEW PACKAGES

    Sign up for the Free Email Newsletter

    • Everything triathlon delivered directly to your inbox
    • Editors’ top story picks
    • Exclusive offers from our sponsors available only to newsletter subscribers


  • Follow Us on Twitter
  • Like Us on facebook
  • Follow Us on Instagram
  • Search Triathlete
  • Triathlete.com
  • Gear & Tech

2012 SRAM Red: Shifting To The Front

Gear & Tech By Aaron HershUpdated On: Oct 31, 2014

Photo: Aaron Hersh
TABLE OF CONTENTS
  • Page 1: Front Shifting
  • Page 2: Rear Shifting
  • Page 3: Ergonomics
  • Page 4: Braking
  • Page 5: Hydraulic Brakes Coming
  • Page 6: Weights, Prices And Availability

Rear Shifting

Rear shift performance of the new 2012 Red kit feels very similar to the 2011 Red group. SRAM kept their 1:1 cable pull-to-derailleur movement ratio. It still has that definite click and feeling of solid resistance, but the whirring, clanking and reverberating of last year’s Red kit is gone.

2011 Red shifts very precisely, but makes a lot of noise due in part to the hollow cassette and derailleur pulley tooth design. The hollow cassette design is gone, although most of the cogs are still constructed in a single unit. All cogs but the largest are machined from a single block of steel and connected to each other. The biggest ring is aluminum. Holes are drilled between the larger cogs to save weight and elastic rings are slotted between the cogs to help quietly guide the chain on to the cogs.

The idea behind these elastomers SRAM has dubbed “StealthRing” is to provide a soft surface to catch the chain as it is guided on to the lower segment of the cassette under minimal tension. A deeper trough is machined from the rear half of each grove and the elastomer protrudes slightly into this gap. As the chain links move from to the top of the cassette and gradually accept more of the load, the links are pulled off the elastomer and into contact with the metal tooth only. Durability of these rubber parts is the obvious question but SRAM’s initial ride and lab testing shows that the elastomers last a very long time, although not quite as long as a cassette in some cases. Should they degrade or break, SRAM offers replacement rings. The system should continue to work if one breaks.

The other change intended to quiet the rear part of the component group was made to the derailleur pulleys. The old pulleys have blunted teeth that make a whirring sound when the chain rolls onto them. The side of each tooth that first connects with the chain has been narrowed to smooth that transition.

Although we can’t say which change is responsible for the improvement, the rear of the bike is much, much quieter. Riding in a pack of bikes built with 2011 Red is cacophonous, but the group of bikes on our test ride was whisper quiet.

The standard derailleur can accommodate a cassette with a climbing gear up to 28 teeth and a version capable of fitting SRAM’s cassette with a 32-tooth cog will come later in the year.

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
« PREVIOUS
NEXT »

Related Articles

2018 Triathlete Buyer’s Guide: Running Shoes

Gear & Tech By Adam ChaseApr 20, 2018

Eco-Friendly Gear for Earth Day

Gear & Tech By Susan LackeApr 19, 2018

The Absolute Best Tri Gear of 2018

News By Triathlete.comApr 18, 2018

The 2018 Triathlete Buyer’s Guide Is Available Online

News By Triathlete.comApr 17, 2018

  • MOST READ
  • LATEST
  • TRAINING

The Absolute Best Tri Gear of 2018

Triathlete.com News

Unlock Tight Hips in 3 Moves

Erin Taylor Training

Lessons From This Year’s Surprise Boston Marathon Winner

Chris Foster Training

Tim Don Crushes Boston 6 Months After Kona Crash

Triathlete.com News

Tips and Tricks from One of Triathlon’s Fastest Swimmers

Erin Beresini Swim

How to Strength Train for Movement, Not Muscle

Allie Burdick Training

Super Simple Ironman 70.3 Triathlon Training Plan

Triathlete.com Training

The Four Functions Of Your Swim Kick

Gary Hall Sr. Swim

Lacking Swim Progress? Try This Short Technique-Focused Block

Bethany Rutledge Training

8-Week Sprint Triathlon Training Plan For Beginners

Lance Watson Training

10 Ways To Use Protein-Packed Greek Yogurt

Jessica Cerra Nutrition

A Brief Complaint From a Salty Triathlete: Stop Hating on Pros

Kelly O'Mara Lifestyle

4 Yoga Poses Designed to Make You More Aero

Lexie Williamson Training

How This Estee Lauder Exec Fits in Triathlon Training

Sarah Barker Lifestyle

Are You Reaping the Benefits of the Fartlek?

Lance Watson Training

Quick Set: Scale The Pyramid

Sara McLarty Training

Set Your Half Ironman Race Goals

Mike Ricci Race Tips

New Research Is Changing the Game for Female Athletes

A.C. Shilton Lifestyle

A Brief Complaint from a Salty Triathlete: Stop Rolling Starts!

Kelly O'Mara Lifestyle

The One-Hour Swim Test

Sara McLarty Swim

2018 Triathlete Buyer’s Guide: Running Shoes

Apr 20, 2018 Gear & Tech

Lessons From This Year’s Surprise Boston Marathon Winner

Apr 20, 2018 Training

A Brief Complaint From a Salty Triathlete: Stop Hating on Pros

Apr 20, 2018 Lifestyle

Is Intermittent Fasting a Good Idea for Athletes?

Apr 20, 2018 Nutrition

Quick Set: Scale The Pyramid

Apr 20, 2018 Training

On-The-Go Breakfast Options For The Busy Athletes

Apr 19, 2018 Nutrition

Tips and Tricks from One of Triathlon’s Fastest Swimmers

Apr 19, 2018 Swim

Eco-Friendly Gear for Earth Day

Apr 19, 2018 Gear & Tech

Could This Neurostimulation Technique Improve Athletic Performance?

Apr 19, 2018 Training

Unlock Tight Hips in 3 Moves

Apr 18, 2018 Training

VIEW MORE >>

Lessons From This Year’s Surprise Boston Marathon Winner

Training

Quick Set: Scale The Pyramid

Training

Tips and Tricks from One of Triathlon’s Fastest Swimmers

Swim

Could This Neurostimulation Technique Improve Athletic Performance?

Training

Unlock Tight Hips in 3 Moves

Training

One-Hour Workout: Wildflower Windups

Training

Are You Reaping the Benefits of the Fartlek?

Training

Beginner’s Luck: Totally New to Triathlon? Start Here

Training

Improve Your Posture with This One-Minute Exercise

Training

Six Steps To A Better Streamline

Swim

VIEW MORE >>

Photo Galleries

Photos: Triathletes Support Puerto Rico’s Recovery Efforts

Photos By Paul PhillipsMar 26, 2018

Photos: Declan Wilson Has Breakout Race at New Plymouth World Cup

Race Coverage By Triathlete.comMar 26, 2018

The Absolute Best Tri Gear of 2018

News By Triathlete.comApr 18, 2018

Photos: Buckingham, Charles on Top in South Africa

Photos By Triathlete.comApr 16, 2018

Photos: 2,500 Age-Groupers Compete at 70.3 Oceanside

Race Coverage By Triathlete.comApr 12, 2018

Triathlete

SEARCH TRIATHLETE

GET THE MAGAZINE

SUBSCRIBE NOW

CONNECT

  • Follow Us on Twitter
  • Like Us on facebook
  • Follow Us on Instagram
  • View Our Videos on Youtube

© 2018 POCKET OUTDOOR MEDIA, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

  • Gear & Tech
  • Training
  • Nutrition
  • Lifestyle
  • News
  • Subscribe
  • TwitterFacebookInstagram
  • All
  • 2018 Buyer's Guide
  • Swim
  • Bike
  • Run
  • All
  • Swim
  • Bike
  • Run
  • Injury Prevention
  • All
  • Race Day & Training
  • Recipes
  • Weight Loss
  • All
  • Culture
  • Races
  • Travel
  • All
  • Triathlon
  • Gear
  • Ironman