Review on Force22 11 Speed Doubletap Brake Shift by Dave Lopez

This group program is fantastic. If you're a SRAM fan and love the way they shift, you can't go wrong with the Force 22. I swapped out my entire SRAM Rival groupset for the Force 22 and the difference is significant. The shifters require significantly less effort than the Rival groupset and shifting is precise and precise. On my Rival I had to be careful when shifting reverse (low to high) or I jumped up and down a few gears quite easily. This was mainly due to the amount of pressure required to switch. I no longer have the problem these switches have because they require less pressure to switch. If you want, however, you can still squeeze the shifter hard and change multiple gears in one shift. Derailleur shifting is also improved, and there's no trimming (see derailleur review) as the chain guide yaws when shifting from small to large. Sprockets (same system as SRAM Red). Shifting up front is also much easier with the Force 22. Initially I would pinch the shifter when upshifting (smaller to larger ring), but a light push to the click point is enough. Yaw in the derailleur works great and I experience no chain rubbing even with the chain fully crossed. The hoods are very comfortable and roll back easily and fully when tying the handlebars with tape. Reach adjustment is no longer a matter of turning a little hidden knob. On the Force 22, the reach is adjusted with a hex wrench. The range setting range is large. According to my calculations at least 15-20 mm. Reach adjustment is also independent for shifters and brake levers. The shifters come with a thin 1.1mm black shift cable already attached. This black coated wire is tough and very slippery when sheathed. It cuts well (at least with the Park cord cutter) and doesn't wear out that easily. Brake cables are standard 1.5mm thick and are also included. The kit also includes nice integrated cable tensioners, sleeving, grommets and end caps (same signature look as SRAM cable set). For reference, I ran my road bikes with Shimano 105, Shimano Ultegra, and SRAM Rival Grouppos. I road bike about 300-400 miles a month. Comparing Force to Ultegra is purely a matter of taste. The Ultegra is silky smooth and shifts very easily, but not as precisely, and I often miss gears or shift too many gears when upshifting. The power is comparatively more difficult to shift and is "ratsch". Shifting is similar to "shifting" a gear, but very precise. One of the main differences is how you shift with these levers. The Ultegra uses a brake lever for upshifts and a shifter for downshifts (like many other shifters). The SRAM Double-Tap system uses only the shifter. A push inwards will shift down a gear (top to bottom), just like Shimano. Keep pressing to the first click and you'll shift up a gear. Push even harder and you'll shift up a few gears. I personally find the shifting very crisp and crisp, on the mountain it works best for me when the chain is under tension. If you're considering one or the other, I highly recommend testing both before making your decision. . If your Rival groupware has worn out, this is a fantastic upgrade. Grouppo basically has the same features as SRAM Red but is slightly heavier. Compared to Ultegra, this is a lighter group. Setting up this group is more difficult than Ultegra. It's pretty finicky and 1/4-1/2 turn tension can mean the difference between getting the front chain perfectly adjusted and the chain popping off the big ring. The rear is just as picky: 1/4-1/2 turns is the difference between a noisy cassette and perfect shifting. However, once adjusted it stays on track and shifting is excellent. Often I don't even hear the shifting that smooth (front and rear). Note that this groupset doesn't work well with a 10-speed transmission, so you'll also need to disengage the rear derailleur, chain, and cassette. You can get a 10 speed cassette to work but it won't index properly and you have to lock the limits or risk dropping the chain. The 10 speed front chainrings seem to work fine but I replaced mine with 10/11 ones which are a bit thinner and the shifting is there.