[buckwam]

Looking into gravel bikes with the sram 1x drive train. Is Force 1x any different than Rival 1x besides the carbon crank. Is the shifting and braking the same or is there a subtle improvement for the extra money and less weight? Both bikes come with the same cassette and chain, so only the shifter, brakes and crank are different.

 

[Mk3Rider]

I run a Rival 1 set on my All City Nature Cross and a 9-39t cassette. Works wonderfully.

It might be worth doing some google searches on this subject.

SRAM Rival vs Force: Which Groupset is Better? - Bike Test Reviews

The SRAM Rival and Force groupsets sit above the entry-level Apex models and below the top of the range Red groupset. The Rival and Force groupsets are

biketestreviews.com

1 for the road. SRAM Rival 1 and Force 1 groupsets

We check out SRAM's new single chainring road groupsets to find out how they roll.

www.bikeroar.com

 

[p0is0n0ak]

As far as the brakes go, it seems that the Rival and Force are pretty much the same thing. As for the derailleurs, I'd equate the difference between Rival and Force with the difference between GX and XO.

 

[buckwam]

Thanks for the replies. If the functionality is identical, is $250 extra for the force 1x crank, deraileur, shifter, and brakes over rival 1x a good deal? I'm not sure how the market prices are skewed these days.

 

[p0is0n0ak]

I'd go with the Force option. I'm a fan of the carbon cranks especially on gravel bikes. My Diverge came with some Aluminum Apex cranks and they were flexy. I added the Force cranks and love them.

 

[buckwam]

Are rival cranks hollow like shimano? Sram states they are forged, but no mention of construction.

 

[LanceWeaklegs]

Go Force if moneys not an issue. The cool factor is enormous

 

[TazMini]

3 months ago you bought whichever was available. Unless you are building a weight weenie rig, Rival is solid stuff.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[buckwam]

I ended up buying a bike with Rival 1 and a second Force 1 crank with different size chainring. One for road and one for gravel.

 

[Mk3Rider]

Side note.

40t on my force 1 with the 9-39 cassette gets me 40 mph at ~100 rpm on the cranks.

The 39t still allows me to grind up 6-10% grades.

Next chainring will be a 38t.