SRAM 22

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The UCI, whilst they have allowed disc brakes in cyclocross, have so far been non-committal about letting them into road racing. Cyclocross is a growing market but pales into insignificance against the sheer size and huge profit to be found in the road market. SRAM’s development of these hydraulic disc brakes must hinge, economically, on the road market adopting them sometime soon. The only issue there is that everyone in road cycling takes their lead from the pros; if the UCI don’t allow the pros to ride discs, then SRAM’s gamble doesn’t look so good…

So as if by way of some insurance, SRAM have also produced hydraulic rim brakes. Various companies have already offered hydraulic brakes – Magura springs to mind – but roadies haven’t jumped on the technology in any great numbers. The battle the likes of Magura faced, despite teaming up with Cervelo most recently, is one of acceptance into the road market. To do that you need to be used by the pros and that means sponsoring a team which in turn means big investment – a real gamble for what many view, perhaps unfairly, as an aftermarket mountain bike product manufacturer.

SRAM Red 22 – still mechanical but with cable, hydraulic rim or disc brakes

SRAM have a major advantage here. In 2013 they sponsor three of the biggest World Tour cycling teams – SaxoBank-Tinkoff, Omega-QuickStep and Cannondale – and a few other notable pro teams, including Milan San Remo winners MTN Qhubeka for example.

SRAM therefore has the power to get pros riding hydraulics immediately, and once those teams are using hydraulic rim brakes, every roadie is going to be at least interested.

It may even end up being a slightly lighter system than with standard cable brakes. Good news for weight weenies who want to use the new SRAM Red 22, which maintains SRAM’s position as producer of the lightest full groupset, still significantly lighter than either Dura Ace or Super Record, to build their lightweight dream bike.

So whatever your preference, be it a light weight bike using the lightest full groupset there is, or maybe improved rim brake power and modulation, or even full blown road discs on your training bike prior to the UCI saying yes to race bike discs, then it would appear that SRAM already have you covered.

The new SRAM Red 22 is completely redesigned throughout with a new lighter 11-speed Yaw front derailleur, even with chainspotter taken into account, and its yaw feature allows the full use of all 22 gears, something you can’t say of other groupsets.

SRAM have also been clever and brought Force 22 out, albeit with no hydraulics, as well as hydraulic brakes to go with your 10-speed groupset should you not wish to trade in all of your wheels just yet…

SRAM Force 22 looks good in the promo shots though no hydraulics for now

SRAM S-700 hydraulic kit is 10-speed compatible only – a really clever move that allows owners of SRAM 10-speed groupsets to upgrade their brakes to rim hydraulic, or should the UCI allow discs in races and a suitable frame can be found, to hydraulic disc brakes

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