SRAM's 13-speed XPLR freewheel...for gravel grinders...

[CmdrBiggles]

Sacré bleu!

If you want really low gears...
( far removed from the once-standard touring fare of half-step granny con nonna )

https://www.sram.com/en/sram/models/cs-xg-1391-e1

Roadies will have to linger a little longer (not too much longer by SRAM's standards) for the trickle-down to the SRAM Road gruppos (Rival, Force & Red).

Form an orderly queue...

[g-boaf]

Mind you the road bike side did just get a new SRAM Red AXS as well:

https://www.sram.com/en/sram/road/series/red-axs

I had a look at that a few weeks back on a brand new Trek Madone - for me, the shifter hoods are much improved - way better shape.

[CmdrBiggles]

Mind you the road bike side did just get a new SRAM Red AXS as well:

https://www.sram.com/en/sram/road/series/red-axs

I had a look at that a few weeks back on a brand new Trek Madone - for me, the shifter hoods are much improved - way better shape.

A Trek Madone takes pride of place inside the front door of my LBS near home.
Silver-grey with fluoro orange front/rear tips. ULTEGRA. Shiny.

There is a practical problem with the RED brake levers, for me.
I have small hands, and compared to the Force levers (and their sparkle... ), the REDs are a bit more serious to "look around and grip-up" effectively. I don't deny they are just-so for bigger fellows with bigger paws (of which the 7-ft techie at my LBS is one such intimidating specimen!). Love REDs looks and styling, but the levers just don't work well for me in terms of their size...

I have "bulked" my Force hoods due to the wrapping of the handlebar tape — again, this makes the hoods more rounded and comfortable (reminiscent of what we did as touring cyclists using randonneur bars) for smaller, gloved hands. I'm comfy! YMMV.

[warthog1]

Rode with a sponsored female who has that 13s gravel groupset last week.
Yeah looks good. She didn't have to pay for it though.
I'll pass. Price and 1x. I need my gravel bike for road duties too and that means no 1x thanks

[2wheels_mond]

Rode with a sponsored female who has that 13s gravel groupset last week.
Yeah looks good. She didn't have to pay for it though.
I'll pass. Price and 1x. I need my gravel bike for road duties too and that means no 1x thanks

My interest here is almost the opposite - for me, the range is not enough for gravel (the gravel around here involves a lot of mountain bike tracks... so you want mountain bike gears). However, the range is pretty much bang on for a road bike - the range is the same as a 16 tooth jump at the front and an 11-34 at the back - which is exactly what I'm riding now (12 speed Shimano). Or even more interesting (to me at least), I was previously riding an 11 speed 11-32, and the first 11 cogs of the cassette here are 10-32, so it should feel reasonably similar with either a 46t front (to replicate 50-34) or 48t (for 52-36).

Of course, at the current price, it'll be a while before I give it a go, but I could be tempted to give it a go on a roadie if the chance came up and it trickles down to lower levels.

[warthog1]

Rode with a sponsored female who has that 13s gravel groupset last week.
Yeah looks good. She didn't have to pay for it though.
I'll pass. Price and 1x. I need my gravel bike for road duties too and that means no 1x thanks

My interest here is almost the opposite - for me, the range is not enough for gravel (the gravel around here involves a lot of mountain bike tracks... so you want mountain bike gears). However, the range is pretty much bang on for a road bike - the range is the same as a 16 tooth jump at the front and an 11-34 at the back - which is exactly what I'm riding now (12 speed Shimano). Or even more interesting (to me at least), I was previously riding an 11 speed 11-32, and the first 11 cogs of the cassette here are 10-32, so it should feel reasonably similar with either a 46t front (to replicate 50-34) or 48t (for 52-36).

Of course, at the current price, it'll be a while before I give it a go, but I could be tempted to give it a go on a roadie if the chance came up and it trickles down to lower levels.

Big gaps on the road at road speed would annoy me, primarily when I use it on the road. There is a reason 1x road hasn't become wide stream and that is it imo.

10,11,12,13,15,17,19,21,24,28,32,38,46
Most of the big jumps are in the easier gears but they are pretty big. No thanks.

[brumby33]

Last Month I bought a Trek Marlin 7 MTB with the Sram 12 speed set up and I'm starting to like it but the range is a lot wider spread out as you could imagine.
On the front is a 1 x 30T sprocket and a 12 speed cluster down the back with 11-50T
Now that does seem a huge gap but I'm finding the spread in normal riding pretty good.
The bike has 29ers with 2.40 inch Maxxis knobbly tyres which I'm surprised roll on the bitumen better than I thought and Hydraulic Disc brakes that stop on a 5 cent coin.

Yesterday I just did a wee ride of 20kms but covered a fair space of Albury.
I do intend as funds allow to transform this MTB into a Bikepacking machine for the offroad although I think my Vivente could also do what I would be likely to do just as easily.
I still need to build up my fitness but will use this trek for that over the coming warmer Months ahead.
Got a good deal on it too, bought it just before the EOFY and saved $400 off retail but have since spent $200 on modifications so the bike shop will win eventually.
Still trying to get used to this dropper post thing when i remember i got one.

First time ever I've tried Sram, seems to be a good set-up, hard to compare it yet to the old MTB set ups of the 3 x 8 i had before with the Diamondback.

Haven't found any good gravel roads around here yet and I'm a bit nervous about tackling the Nail can hill MTB trails not far from me, I don't want to get too far out of my depth just yet.

Cheers

brumby33

[blizzard]

For bigger range you can run it mullet style with a mountain bike rear derailleur and cassette.

This is the first SRAM group that interests me, I would consider it for a gravel bike... except for the price, would have to wait for the same features to trickle down to Force / Rival.

[2wheels_mond]

For bigger range you can run it mullet style with a mountain bike rear derailleur and cassette.

No 13-speed (yet) in MTB land though. So for bigger range you have to stick with 12 speed.

[warthog1]

Lachlam Morton's unbound gravel winning setup.

https://velo.outsideonline.com/gallery/ ... nd-gravel/



People can make 1x work. The lass who had that groupo is very good.
I fail to see the point personally. Good range and smaller jumps on 2x. As with road I am staying 2x

[g-boaf]

Didn't realise that was a custom paint job, thought it was just scratched or dirty.

I don't see the point of the 1x setups, but I'm not one for following the latest trends.

All we need is a top rider (and manufacturer) to come up with 4x and then everyone will be rushing to adopt that.

[MichaelB]

Sacré bleu!

If you want really low gears...
( far removed from the once-standard touring fare of half-step granny con nonna )

https://www.sram.com/en/sram/models/cs-xg-1391-e1

Roadies will have to linger a little longer (not too much longer by SRAM's standards) for the trickle-down to the SRAM Road gruppos (Rival, Force & Red).

Form an orderly queue...

USD $1030 for a cassette

You have got to be joking

[bychosis]

Sacré bleu!

If you want really low gears...
( far removed from the once-standard touring fare of half-step granny con nonna )

https://www.sram.com/en/sram/models/cs-xg-1391-e1

Roadies will have to linger a little longer (not too much longer by SRAM's standards) for the trickle-down to the SRAM Road gruppos (Rival, Force & Red).

Form an orderly queue...

USD $1030 for a cassette

You have got to be joking

By the time I've saved up that much for a cassette they'll be up to 15 speed.

[2wheels_mond]

USD $1030 for a cassette

You have got to be joking

$1030 AUD, $600 USD.

Still mind boggling though!

[OnTrackZeD]

Sacré bleu!

If you want really low gears...
( far removed from the once-standard touring fare of half-step granny con nonna )

https://www.sram.com/en/sram/models/cs-xg-1391-e1

Roadies will have to linger a little longer (not too much longer by SRAM's standards) for the trickle-down to the SRAM Road gruppos (Rival, Force & Red).

Form an orderly queue...

USD $1030 for a cassette

You have got to be joking

By the time I've saved up that much for a cassette they'll be up to 15 speed.

Wow that's around $2k here.

[CmdrBiggles]

USD $1030 for a cassette

You have got to be joking

$1030 AUD, $600 USD.

Still mind boggling though!

Yes indeed; just about everything SRAM is of mind boggling cost. Chains, freewheels cranksets...goodness me. Definitely not the stuff you'd want to dip and dunk into @Warthog's prized hotpot of icky wax!

[warthog1]

Yes indeed; just about everything SRAM is of mind boggling cost. Chains, freewheels cranksets...goodness me. Definitely not the stuff you'd want to dip and dunk into @Warthog's prized hotpot of icky wax!

Expense is one of the main reasons you would wax your chain, as the driveline will last significantly longer.

[Duck!]

I don't see the point of the 1x setups.....

1x is for track bikes.

For me, 2x for road, 3x for dirt.

[Jean]

Sacré bleu!

If you want really low gears...
( far removed from the once-standard touring fare of half-step granny con nonna )

https://www.sram.com/en/sram/models/cs-xg-1391-e1

Roadies will have to linger a little longer (not too much longer by SRAM's standards) for the trickle-down to the SRAM Road gruppos (Rival, Force & Red).

Form an orderly queue...

USD $1030 for a cassette

You have got to be joking

As a Campag Record 12-speed user, I am vaguely pleased that someone has to fork out (much) more when their cassette wears out.

[Duck!]

USD $1030 for a cassette

You have got to be joking

That's near enough to A$1600! They can stick that up their back orifice sideways!

[MichaelB]

USD $1030 for a cassette

You have got to be joking

$1030 AUD, $600 USD.

Still mind boggling though!

I stand corrected.

It's ONLY A$1,030 ...

[WyvernRH]

I don't see the point of the 1x setups.....

1x is for track bikes.
For me, 2x for road, 3x for dirt.

Yup definitely +1 on that thought... Tho I would add 3x for Road touring

Also, WIGN do you need 13 sprockets at the back? I really can't see the gain once you get past 10
Maybe if you are a very elite athlete? Otherwise it is just coffee shop one-up stuff....

Richard

[brumby33]

I don't see the point of the 1x setups.....

1x is for track bikes.
For me, 2x for road, 3x for dirt.

Yup definitely +1 on that thought... Tho I would add 3x for Road touring

Also, WIGN do you need 13 sprockets at the back? I really can't see the gain once you get past 10
Maybe if you are a very elite athlete? Otherwise it is just coffee shop one-up stuff....

Richard

I confess.....every gear matters

[CmdrBiggles]

1x is for track bikes.
For me, 2x for road, 3x for dirt.

Yup definitely +1 on that thought... Tho I would add 3x for Road touring

Also, WIGN do you need 13 sprockets at the back? I really can't see the gain once you get past 10
Maybe if you are a very elite athlete? Otherwise it is just coffee shop one-up stuff....

Richard

I confess.....every gear matters

@WyvernRH
They — the pundits gathered, also said, WIGN do you need a triplet chainring and wide-range freewheels!?
The answer: "To get 40kgs of luggage up and over the hills!". They, the pundits, had never ridden a hard-core touring cycle around Australia.

Extra cogs are not a moot point for gravel grinders or road bikes — the 13th can be either a mid-range cruiser or another speed-ring. They'll each and all find a use.

Gears matter. A lot.

[warthog1]

Extra cogs are not a moot point for gravel grinders or road bikes — the 13th can be either a mid-range cruiser or another speed-ring. They'll each and all find a use.

Gears matter. A lot.

Got to agree with that.
Been on 11s with 52/36 front and 11-32 at the back for over 10 years.
Well my legs aren't getting stronger.
Gone 12s and still 52/36 at the front but now 11-34 at the back.
The extra cog has allowed a lower gear but no big jumps in the range. Great stuff
Next change will be smaller chain rings I expect. Not going the expense of swapping groupos but will go 50/34 at the front. Could do it now tbh. I aint running out of gears on a 52/11 top gear. I'm running out of legs instead.