I have been riding with SRAM's Organic/Steel brake pads for 4 years now. They are mostly quiet, as advertised and despite the description indicating that the braking power is not quite as high as other compounds, it is plenty strong for me. I can brake as hard as I would ever want.
Only downside may be the life of the pads. I find that they last about 3000 miles, which is less than a season for me. I haven't tried others, so I cannot compare.
I bought the 11-36 version to use on my 8100 ultegra bike for a sub 1:1 climbing ratio. This is technically out of spec for the ultegra rear mech, but after a small b screw adjustment it is working without any issue. The ultegra cage is shorter, so maybe chain wrap could be an issue, but using the auto shift function prevents any extreme cross gears where chain length might be a concern. This 105 cassette does not have the HG+ teeth profile, but I honestly cannot tell any difference compared to my ultegra cassette while riding.
I bought these 160 mm Shimano crank arms to replace the original 170 mm cranks that came with my bike. These cranks were a simple install. I used Shimano's torque guide to ensure all the screws and bolts were properly tightened.
I bought these for a size 49 frame Trek Domane to better fit the small frame and my smaller size. I get much better power transfer with these shorter cranks, especial during cold starts. I used to climb steep hills in the lowest gear but now I can climb the same hills in 3rd gear. My average RPMs tend to be higher now but that's not a problem. My average speed may have changed a small amount but mostly there is just a very noticeable improvement in the quality of my rides.
Two different cranks size calculators suggested I use 157.5mm cranks but these cranks were the smallest size I could find. I'm really glad I found them. The difference 10 mm makes for me is dramatic.
Switching from mechanical shifting to electronic shifting was a bit daunting. The big worry was range anxiety (like EV owners) of the electronic shifters, front, rear derailleurs and power meter. However, SRAM has eliminated that issue with their SRAM AXS app (awesome software) which shows the charge level of the above SRAM system products, but also add-ons such as the SRAM Blips and Quark (SRAM).
I have a Garmin Edge 1050 head unit and swiping screens to view other screens meant that I had to take my eyes off the road for too long. Enter the Blips. Installing was a blip (less that 2-3 minutes per Blip). I assigned the Blips to the Edge 1050 and paired the Blips to the Edge 1050 in about 3-5 minutes. SRAM has an installation video which is first rate to help guide you. I love the Blips as they have made the Edge 1050 more functional and safer to use.
