SRAM

I made the switch from Campy Ekar GT to Force XPLR 1x. After swapping driver to XDR and dropouts to UDH on my bike wheels/bike (Fairlight Secan) the group installed easily. I chose to save a few $$ by using a Wolf Tooth chainring. Works great, looks better IMO than OEM. After around 100 miles of local gravel and tarmac to shake things down--group performed flawlessly--I took it to D2R2, the legendary 100 mile gravel event in New England. Again, flawless performance. After many hours in the saddle, one finger braking and the ability to shift gears with a gentle tap from any finger is very welcome. I love the seamless integration with my Hammerhead Karoo head unit (and never needing to look at the cassette to see which gear I'm in!). I have to say it's also a relief not to be hostage to the Campagnolo ecosystem.

I've tried this as well as the Force level cassette. They both shift the same, and equally quiet. For a little added weight and a lot less dollars, Rival makes sense to me especially for cassettes that wear and need eventual replacements. One side benefit - I appreciate that the largest cog is aluminum, as it's less likely to mar the free hub body. Another side benefit - on gravel I spend a lot of time on the largest cogs, and the Rival is all steel except for the largest one, which means it may even last longer than the more expensive tiers. At the same time, the large cogs don't nearly wear as fast, so if weight is a priority, then the Force may be the sweet spot.

This was part of the upgrade from a force cassette. Front and rear derailleur were upgraded too red also. With the road bike frame so light it made a difference. The force components seemed to be noisy and needed to be adjusted more for quieter shifting. I have the force on My gravel bike and think that an upgrade isn't worth it.

One of the great things about SRAM eTAP / AXS shifting (as opposed to Shimano Di2) is that you can carry a backup battery with you in case you forget to keep the batteries charged. I had been meaning to get one and was happy to find a sale at Bike Tires Direct. I've ordered other things from biketiresdirect and am always pleased with the whole experience.