Saxo Switches To SRAM RED

April 9, 2009

A reader sent me this today. I look forward to seeing how the SRAM marketing guys deal with this…

I guess if there’s a CYCLING TIP that goes along with this picture, it’s gotta be the golden rule: Never use new and untested gear on raceday!

{ 21 comments }

Leigh April 9, 2009 at 12:33 pm: Their new webpage is http://www.willyoubreakthechain.com
Lama April 9, 2009 at 12:54 pm: Haha, top post. I replied on Twitter before clicking your link.
Much lols at Leigh’s comment too.
Tommy P April 9, 2009 at 12:58 pm: Well, well, well, hipsters always give Shimano a hard time, but if it’s gotta work:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2009/tech/probikes/index.php?id=/photos/2009/tech/probikes/fabian_cancellara_saxo_bank_specialized_s-works09/Cancellara_TarmacSL2_chain2
shawn April 9, 2009 at 4:56 pm: Wasn’t it last year or the year before that we saw a Garmin rider throwing his DuraAce equipped rig over the barrier in disgust over his broken chain in the final meters….and it was FLAT road!!
cyclingtips April 9, 2009 at 4:59 pm: Ricco throwing his SRAM equipped bike

http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/photos/races08/amstel08/preview2-ricco.jpg
SM April 9, 2009 at 5:13 pm: Nope, that was definitely David Millar with ShimaNO

http://velojello.wordpress.com/2008/05/15/david-millar-throws-his-bike/
shawn April 9, 2009 at 5:22 pm: Naw that wasn’t it my friend, it was a Garmin rider and he threw his bike about 3 meters over the left barrier the one I’m talking about, the helo was right above them the whole thing was captured by the TV cameras
shawn April 9, 2009 at 5:26 pm: It was Slipstream back then, sorry
shawn April 9, 2009 at 5:29 pm: Here you go! It was David Miller, I do believe, from 2008
shawn April 9, 2009 at 5:30 pm: http://www.slipstreamsports.com/2008/05/14/my-chain-reaction
shawn April 9, 2009 at 5:32 pm: yup

http://www.slipstreamsports.com/2008/05/14/my-chain-reaction
shawn April 9, 2009 at 5:37 pm: here’s the video! so it looks like both companies have chains that will break

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIW1MAvyPD4
hugh April 9, 2009 at 8:13 pm: SRAM is rubbish. period.
Tom April 9, 2009 at 11:08 pm: Ricco was on the juice. He would have thrown anything, or anyone, over the barriers that day.
Mike J April 10, 2009 at 2:06 am: I’ve had that look of disgust before but not with SRAM
Lee April 10, 2009 at 2:05 pm: The moral of the story is ride CAMPAGNOLO! SHimano should stick to fishing rods.
the clinger April 11, 2009 at 5:20 pm: We are talking about a man who has been known to make smoke come out of wind trainers. He could break any chain, no matter the brand!
Will T April 12, 2009 at 6:31 am: Lee the brand in question is SRAM?? They replaced their chains after the weekend with the ever reliable Shimano chains…

How did you possibly come up with that as the moral of this story?
Leigh April 23, 2009 at 5:08 pm: Lee, If I am not mistaken I think you broke a chain on your wonderful Campagnolo equipped bike today. Am I wrong?
Sam Jeffrey April 23, 2009 at 5:36 pm: Yes that’s right Hampton Leigh, our campag loving friend nearly wound up in the Alfred having his ball re attached, from snapping a…CAMPAG CHAIN…CAN’T BE!!!!

Ah, the irony.
DT April 27, 2009 at 1:00 pm: Wow, a lot of silly insults here about Shimano or SRAM, without addressing the fact that chains (especially 10spd ones) are under a lot of stress when it comes to the torque a professional athlete can dish out.

I just switched from an Ultegra 9spd drivetrain to a SRAM Red drivetrain. Know what? They’re both good. My Ultegra gear has survived six solid seasons and 10,000 miles and is now on my secondary bike. The Red group shifts slightly differently than I’m used to, but is very precise, and so far I’m very impressed. Considering that both Astana and Saxo Bank are racing with it (and they are two of the top-rated Pro Tour teams), I think calling SRAM gear crap is silly. If it was crap, pro riders would rebel against using it in the first place.