Today, SRAM officially announced the release of its single chainring cyclocross groupo “Force CX1”. We hawk-eyed journalist types have been noticing a single chainring CX groupo on SRAM athlete bikes for months now, but we were kept waiting on the hard details.
Here they are… On the heels of the successful XX1 MTB drivetrain, an all but obvious adaptation to CX (cyclocross) is finally here. And since cyclocross blends aspects of both road and mountain riding, joining the XX1 idea with SRAM‘s road technology is a no-brainer.
Many of us have run 1x CX setups for years, but they still required some type of chain-keeper to combat the chain jumping off. SRAM’s X-Sync technology uses an alternating “wide tooth/narrow tooth” machined chainring teeth to better sync with the chain and prevent a jump. A clutched rear derailleur controls chain slap, minimizing chain loss even more.
CX1 is a Force-level groupo to “be relevant to a wider swath of riders” a company spokesperson told us. It will also be 10/11 speed compatible, thus allowing those with older setups to utilize this new technology.
It’s simpler, lighter and thus likely to make you a shade faster. Perhaps Pro cyclocross champion Ryan Trebon says it best: “This is what I’ve been waiting for!”
The Gear: SRAM CX1 single speed Groupo
Price: Approx. $1000 for Cranks, chainring, levers, derailleur, cassette and chain
Available: Summer 2014
Where To Test It: On the nastiest, muddiest, bumpiest CX course you can find.
Who’s It For: CX racers craving a simple, bombproof setup, and anyone tired of “mechanicals” during a race
Boring But Important: A “roller bearing clutch” in the rear derailleur keeps chain slap (and thus chain loss) to a minimum.
Killer! Simplicity and a 205 gr savings over Force 22 groupo. Less moving parts + less weight = more go!
Flaw: Where was this 5 years ago?
First Impressions: We haven’t been able to thoroughly test this yet, but the future looks bright for CX1.
Who Should Buy It: CX racers looking to reduce weight and chances of mechanical troubles during races.
Contact Brand/More Beta: www.SRAM.com
— T.C. Worley is a contributing editor. Our “First Look” column highlights new gear arrivals at GearJunkie.com. © Monopoint Media LLC
