FIJIGabe wrote:I don't see what the issue is with them releasing Hydro now, and their electric components later. SRAM suffered a very public black eye by releasing their Hydro offering before it was ready. They have to remedy that for the hundreds (maybe thousands) of consumers who dropped money on the equipment, and haven't had the ability to use it (or had to settle for "inferior" mechanical brakes, while waiting for their new parts to arrive). On the otherhand, SRAM isn't ready to release their electrical group yet. They're testing it (but notice how it's going on a development squad's bikes - if it messes up, who cares, they're just kids racing in an adult's sport), but it doesn't appear ready for prime time.
SRAM's electrical offerings are at least six months off. So the question becomes: do they hold off their Hydro brakes for six months, unnecessarily, and keep the spectre of their very public failure in the press until then, or release it for those who bought MECHANICAL SRAM Red with Hydro brakes, and then offer a Hydro version of their electric group in 6 months, when they're finally ready to take their product to market? I think they're doing the right thing: correct their previous mistake, before offering new components.
I guess I don't really sympathize with manufacturers, not at all. I'm just being honest as a consumer and could care less about their predicament,or that of the early adopters who got hosed. I work hard for the cash and buy stuff if it's good, period. So when I see this sort of stopgap situation whilst considering a new group set, I would avoid something like this and wait for the ideal. Either that or I'd buy another brand's group.