SRAM has refreshed its top-tier gravel elements, with an replace of the digital Purple XPLR AXS groupset, incorporating new applied sciences and going 13-speed. Additionally launched are Zipp 303 XPLR SW & S wheelsets with further extensive, deep rims, and Zipp SL 70 XPLR carbon handlebars.
However why now? There’s no query, gravel using has exploded in the previous few years and continues to realize momentum. Gravel occasions and races are popping up all over the place (suppose The Gralloch, Soiled Reiver, Unbound Gravel and the Migration Gravel Race) and, because of this, the fields are getting massively aggressive. All of the main manufacturers are releasing gravel-specific elements, with Shimano GRX, SRAM XPLR and Campagnolo Ekar of their ranges.
Aerodynamics has been a precedence in efficiency street biking for years, however watt-saving, drag-reducing gear is now making its approach into gravel. Gravel framesets have gotten extra aero, so alongside the standard extensive tyre clearances and quite a few mounting factors, we’re seeing extra aggressive geometries and aerodynamic tubing, reminiscent of within the BMC Kaius. On the wheel facet of issues, Parcours has launched their FKTs with a deeper rim that’s optimised round a selected tyre — all within the title of velocity. However if you get extra aero there’s often a weight penalty. Is the penalty price it for some aero features? That most likely is dependent upon the rider and the race.
We have had the prospect to get fingers on with the brand new groupset, you possibly can learn North American editor Anne-Marije Rook’s first impressions of SRAM’s 13-speed Purple XPLR AXS groupset right here.
13-speed SRAM Purple XPLR AXS
SRAM’s Purple XPLR AXS groupset is designed particularly for quick gravel using and racing
(Picture credit score: SRAM)
Noticed at Unbound Gravel in Kansas earlier within the yr, SRAM has now launched its up to date SRAM Purple XPLR AXS groupset. It’s a part of the triplet of flagship efficiency fashions, the others being SRAM Purple AXS (street) and SRAM XX1 Eagle AXS (mountain bike).
The SRAM XPLR vary was designed particularly for gravel using, that’s, to hit the gearing candy spot and to ship easy shifting. These Purple XPLR elements have lots in widespread with the Eagle Transmission MTB sequence: Full Mount, flattop chain, X-SYNC rings, but additionally borrow from the most recent SRAM Purple AXS groupset. They’re geared toward riders who need to go quick on combined terrain. SRAM Purple XPLR AXS brings collectively the resilience of the Eagle Transmission with the decrease weight, and the larger, however tighter gear vary required for ripping it up on gravel tracks.
A number of of the person elements are shared with these within the SRAM Purple AXS street groupset, which had an overhaul earlier this yr, however others have been up to date particularly for the XPLR vary, and the complete groupset is 218 grams lighter than its predecessor, at 2,488 grams.
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There are a number of compatibility concerns with the brand new drivetrain: a minimal chainstay size of 415mm, a UDH dropout and a large crank spindle with 47.5mm chainline.
13-speed cassette for extra vary and tighter ratios
Gravel racing will be relentless, and a 13-speed, 10-46T cassette supplies an even bigger vary of gears with smaller gaps — you’ll be prepared for each the massive climbs and punchy sprints — and it weighs simply 288 grams. The one actual downside, which can postpone some, is that that is the one cassette dimension accessible or suitable with the rear derailleur.
UDH Full Mount know-how
SRAM’s Common Derailleur Hanger (UDH) know-how — first launched by SRAM in 2019 and quick adopted by mountain bike manufacturers — goals to ease the stress of trying to find a alternative mech hanger by creating one thing common that bike producers can incorporate into their body design.
There’s a potential destructive. UDH does require a motorbike body with a UDH interface, so in case your bike shouldn’t be suitable you’ll must rethink. Though SRAM states that many of the predominant gravel bike producers provide UDH, it’s undoubtedly a limiting issue.
Setup of the rear mech is easy: there’s not a necessity for adjustment screws and the alignment needs to be good with any drivetrain.
SRAM XPLR goes 13-speed and strikes to UDH know-how within the rear derailleur
(Picture credit score: SRAM)
Compatibility apart, the system is extraordinarily strong. Shifting is exact, the clutch gentle and environment friendly, and a Magic Wheel retains the chain shifting even when particles enters the decrease pulley. Crash safety is inbuilt, and the Full Mount hanger rotates again on frontal influence, shifting it out of hurt’s approach.
It’s price noting, SRAM wasn’t simply desirous about doubtlessly muddy or debris-covered trails when creating Full Mount, but additionally about travelling together with your bike, the thought being that it will survive knocks and bumps in transit unscathed — although we have but to check this.
Gentle, stiff cranks and Thread Mount chainrings
Hole carbon arms prioritise low weight and stiffness
(Picture credit score: SRAM)
These becoming out top-end gravel bikes are searching for velocity and efficiency, with the overwhelming majority choosing a 1x system to drop the burden and simplify shifting.
The Purple XPLR crankset makes use of hole carbon arms and is out there in a variety of lengths, from 160mm to 175mm, which means riders with shorter legs (or these searching for improved aerodynamics) are properly served.
Thread Mount chainrings scale back weight and maximise stiffness, whereas nonetheless permitting the rings to be swapped out with ease. X-SYNC know-how, discovered on all SRAM 1x methods, helps clear mud and maximises chain retention.
Observe your watts
Not only for the roadies, energy meters are actually fashionable in different disciplines too. The SRAM Purple XPLR AXS spider-based energy meter supplies dual-sided energy measurement and guarantees accuracy to inside +/-1.5%.
Shift-brake levers, flattop chain and calipers are shared with SRAM Purple AXS
The brake levers carry over from the just lately launched Purple AXS street groupset, and these have been successful at Biking Weekly.
SRAM says that it is optimised the lever and hood form for simpler braking, one thing that will likely be properly obtained by riders with smaller fingers, who needs to be extra capable of wrap their fingers round extra of the lever even when on the hoods.
SRAM states there’s now an 80% lighter brake really feel than SRAM Purple eTAP AXS, which ought to make for dramatically extra snug braking on lengthy, quick or unfastened descents. Each attain and speak to factors are adjustable, and a textured end is designed to assist grip and management.
The SRAM Purple brake levers are textured for grip, and create a lighter braking really feel
(Picture credit score: SRAM)
One thing that’s solely discovered on RED groupsets, a Bonus Button on every of the hoods permits you to shift up or down from only a gentle contact of the very accessible button. Utilizing the AXS app, this function is customisable, and may even seamlessly talk with a head unit so you possibly can flick via screens or pause the unit.
The flattop chain is SRAM’s most superior, with the model stating that cutouts within the outer plates shave 13 grams over its predecessor. The brake calipers are actually lighter and stiffer, and there’s extra pad clearance to scale back any performance-limiting rubbing.
Zipp 303 XPLR SW & S wheelsets
Zipp 303 XPLR SW wheels and Goodyear XPLR tyres
(Picture credit score: Zipp)
Zipp has gone further extensive with its newest gravel wheels, and so they’re all about velocity.
Complete System Effectivity (TSE™) is the model’s design philosophy, the purpose being to think about the system as a complete. Utilizing this idea, Zipp discovered what it thought-about the proper gravel tyre, after which constructed this wheel round it. The speculation is that present gravel wheels with exterior rim widths of round 28–30mm, paired with extensive (38–50mm) tyres, don’t optimise aerodynamics. As a substitute, the wheel and tyre combo creates a ballooning impact and, though operating low tyre pressures is vital to hurry, the rim doesn’t present sufficient help for lateral cornering masses at these pressures, inflicting the tyre to break down and subsequently negating the benefit.
The Zipp 303 XPLR SW wheel is primed to vary all this with an enormous carbon 32mm inside width. This will increase tyre stance and prevents ‘squirm’ and reduces the potential danger of you washing out on a nook. The rim edge has additionally been elevated for optimum safety from pinch flats.
Moreover, these new wheels have a rim depth of 54mm, which is fairly deep for a gravel tyre and extra in step with a set of quick street racing wheels. Zipp says that its aerodynamic testing confirmed that this depth was preferrred run with a 40mm tyre.
They’re hookless and tubeless, and are greatest used with tyre pressures under 30psi (2.1 bars).
What does all this actually imply although? Are the typical speeds it is advisable acquire a giant aerodynamic profit actually reached by the typical gravel rider or racer? And is aerodynamics actually even a factor in gravel racing? There will likely be loads of opinions on the market, however gravel racing is certainly getting quicker, with common speeds of over 35kph typically reached by the highest riders. So for the intense racer in search of each potential benefit, these wheels are price a glance, however for us mere mortals, is it actually price it? These are questions we’ll think about after we come to a long term overview.
Zipp 303 XPLR S — a extra reasonably priced wheel
Zipp’s 303 XPLR S wheels are undoubtedly extra pockets pleasant, and it can save you £500 over the SW wheels. They nonetheless have a carbon 54mm deep rim that’s 32mm extensive, and thicker to forestall pinch flats, however there’s a 146 grams weight penalty and as an alternative of the Zipp ZR1 hubs, you get the 76/176 hubs, with a less complicated however reliable design.
In case your curiosity in both of those wheels is piqued, consider the European Tire and Rim Technical Group requirements for inside rim widths, and matching requirements between a tyre and rim. These wheels do fall exterior of the requirements, and it’ll even be vital to match the wheels with a beneficial tyre (extra info under).
Goodyear tyres optimised for the Zipp 303 XPLR SW & S
The tyres of alternative are Goodyear XPLR Slick and Goodyear XPLR Inter, which have been particularly designed and optimised for this wheelset. In the event you’re going to spend money on the wheels, you then’ll must buy-in to the entire system. The XPLR Slicks are the quickest of the 2, and greatest for the driest days and smoother surfaces. Gentle and supple, the journey high quality is great and M:Wall reinforcement means you will get the pressures as little as potential, and scale back puncture danger.
The XPLR Inters are designed for dry and combined situations, with facet blocks for grip and assured cornering. They’ve the identical M:Wall reinforcement because the Slick mannequin and a light-weight, supple casing. They’re preferrred if racing situations could also be extra unpredictable so that you’re subsequently in search of a extra versatile tyre for the 303 XPLR SW or S wheels, and don’t thoughts just a little further weight (525 grams, 70 grams greater than the Slick). Do not forget that solely authorized tyres can be utilized with the XPLR wheels.
Full your setup with the Zipp SL 70 XPLR carbon handlebar
This can be a premium handlebar, constructed from carbon, with a purpose of optimising a arrange for ergonomics and luxury. The design features a brake hose cowl on the hood, which consequently creates a ‘shelf’, and help to your fingers when on the hoods. There are large calls for positioned on the physique throughout combined terrain rides and races, and this shallow, extensive bar aids velocity via elevated consolation and management. There are even outlined places on the drops and bar high to simply add SRAM Wi-fi Blips.
The small print
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Part
Weight
Worth
Options
Zipp 303 XPLR SW wheelset
1496g
Entrance – £750 / $1,000; Rear – £850 / $1,100
700c / carbon hookless rim / ZR1 hub / 32mm inside rim width / most tyre stress 50psi
Zipp 303 XPLR S wheelset
1610g
Entrance – £500 / $650; Rear – £600 / $750
700c / carbon hookless rim / 76/176 hubs / 32mm inside rim width / most tyre stress 50psi
Goodyear XPLR Inter tyre
525g
£80 / $80
700×45 / tubeless full / folding bead
Goodyear XPLR Slick tyre
455g
£80 / $80
700×45 / tubeless full / folding bead
SL 70 XPLR handlebar
240g (44cm)
£320 / $320
Carbon / 31.8mm clamp diameter / 70mm attain / 115mm drop / accessible in 40, 42, 44, 46, 48mm widths
