In a shocking flip of occasions, a model new SRAM Red AXS groupset has been unearthed at Unbound Gravel, with a 13-speed cassette, simply two weeks after SRAM unveiled the most recent iteration of Red AXS.
Initially spied by Anne-Marije Rook of our sister web site Cycling Weekly, the brand new groupset seems to be a one thing of a lovechild between SRAM’s newest Red groupset and the Eagle Transmission launched final 12 months.
As the race has grown to grow to be the premiere race within the gravel season calendar – dubbed the unofficial world championships by many – Unbound has grow to be a launchpad for brand new tech and a extreme testbed for prototypes. The race garners an enormous quantity of consideration annually, and types comprehend it, in order that they use it to “by accident” leak unreleased merchandise to the world, whereas censoring the small print to allow us to get enthusiastic about what they have within the works, with out giving an excessive amount of away earlier than launch.
Of all the brand new tech we thought we’d spot on the race although, a brand new SRAM Red groupset was on the backside of the listing.
The American model solely launched the most recent model of its top-tier highway groupset on May 15. In that launch, it retained the 12-speed cassette however redesigned the shifters and improved entrance shifting for many who select to run it 2x.
Mullet combine or a completely new groupset?
At Unbound final 12 months, SRAM-sponsored gravel racers had been seen working a ‘mullet’ arrange, mixing the earlier Red AXS XPLR highway shifters with SRAM’s Eagle Transmission mountain bike cassette and derailleur. Eagle Transmission is a 12-speed groupset, wi-fi – as all of SRAM’s high choices are – with a direct mount derailleur hanger often called Universal Derailleur Hanger (UDH). It is effectively revered for its sturdiness, which is undoubtedly helpful in a 200-mile gravel race.
At first look, it could seem that riders had been doing the identical once more this 12 months, however on nearer inspection, it turned clear that SRAM has gone one step additional by creating an all-new derailleur and including a thirteenth cog to the Transmission-style cassette.
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The riders seen utilizing the brand new groupset had been all utilizing the shifters from the recently-launched Red groupset, which confirms they are going to be appropriate. Notably, the brand new derailleur bears the ‘Red’ branding too, so reasonably than being a mullet-style highway/mountain bike mismatch, this seems to be an all-new 13-speed model of SRAM Red, presumably a part of the XPLR gravel-focussed subsection.
On the variations we managed to rise up shut with, the biggest sprocket bore 46 enamel, however it’s not confirmed whether or not that is the one 13-speed cassette possibility that SRAM will make.
Evidently, there are extra huge issues to come back from the American model, and though Unbound Gravel would not have to stick to the UCI rule of commercialising prototypes for public use inside 12 months of use, this new product appears to be like polished sufficient to be an actual factor. We’ll make sure you carry you the small print once we discover out extra.