SRAM red cassette

I use a SRAM Rival 11-26 and it is like a typical cassette with splines through out the whole cassette. It is cheaper and a little heavier, but the weight difference will not matter much to most of us. There is also a SRAM Rival 11-28 10-speed that I am considering getting for a couple of organized rides coming up that have pretty steep climbs. I can do most hills with the 26, but I would like to spin at a little higher cadence on some of the climbs lasting over an hour.

Felt_Rider said:

I use a SRAM Rival 11-26 and it is like a typical cassette with splines through out the whole cassette. It is cheaper and a little heavier, but the weight difference will not matter much to most of us. There is also a SRAM Rival 11-28 10-speed that I am considering getting for a couple of organized rides coming up that have pretty steep climbs. I can do most hills with the 26, but I would like to spin at a little higher cadence on some of the climbs lasting over an hour.

SRAM's Red and Rival cassettes are apples and oranges. Different design and construction. Rival's is a more traditional design with groupings of cogs on a spline while Red's is a unique one-piece machined assembly. I believe the OP's concern was how Red cassettes will stand up to wear and tear with minimal contact points on the freehub. Either way, I've never used Red and don't know.

sharetheroad said:

Anyone heard/had any experience with them? I thought at first it would be a surefire way to do damage to your freehub splines having all the torque concentrated in one place at all times, so I steered clear.

I only ask because my LBS has them right now for cheaper than DA, and I would love an 11-26

Only seen 2 so far but if you have an aluminum freehub body that gets torn up with a conventional cogset, like DA/Ultegras, expect the Red to gouge the low end of the freehub by the (biggest) cogs. I don't see the point of the high $ for high end cassettes, like Red, DA or Record. Weight savings is small but $ is high. I think the least expensive compatible cogset and chain is the way to go with 'consumables' like these.

Peter@vecchios said:

Weight savings is small but $ is high. I think the least expensive compatible cogset and chain is the way to go with 'consumables' like these.

yeah, I agree, especially when the weight saving seems to be coming from removing teeth . . .