The 2019 road racing season may be all but over, but things are still heating up on the tech front. Spotted at the Saitama Criterium in Japan were early samples of SRAM’s revamped 2019 SRAM Red eTap wireless road groupset, and there’s a lot to see:

• New 12-speed cassette
• One-piece machined aluminum double chainring
• Updated lever ergonomics
• Clutched rear derailleur

12 sprockets and downsized chainrings

The biggest news by far is that SRAM is joining Campagnolo on the 12-speed cassette train. But whereas Campagnolo has concentrated on tightening up the gaps between each ratio, SRAM is going for more total range by utilizing a 10T small sprocket. One tooth may not sound like much, but it’s a big deal in terms of percentages. Whereas a current Red 11-28T cassette comprises a 255% range, the new 10-28T boosts that to 280% (which is more than what you get out of an 11-30T).

To accommodate that 10T sprocket, SRAM will finally implement on a wide basis the XDr freehub body that was quietly introduced in 2017. XDr is similar to the XD body that SRAM uses for its 12-speed Eagle mountain bike cassettes, but with a 1.8mm-wider format (Eagle’s huge inner sprockets can be cantilevered out over the drive side spoke flange, which isn’t possible with a road-sized cassette).

Thankfully, the total body width is shared with other modern freehub standards, so hub compatibility shouldn’t be a big issue.

To save you the trouble of counting sprockets or teeth, SRAM has conveniently laser-etched the specs right on the back of the new 12-speed 2019 Red eTap cassette. Photo: Kei Tsuji.

It’s worth mentioning at this point that SRAM has not officially confirmed nor denied that there is an official SRAM Red eTap 12 Speed Groupset on its way. Any of this and all of the above is wholly based on what can be gleaned from available images of sponsored riders’ bikes out in the wild.

The post-2019 SRAM Red eTap goes 12-speed appeared first on CyclingTips.

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SRAM Red eTap HRD Shift/Brake Kit Post Mount WiFli

• Pull Type: top
• Mount: braze-on, clamp adaptor
• Gearing: 2 x 11 – This is the 2×11 speed version.
• Compatibility: Red eTap shift lever, Red eTap rear derailleur, Red 22 crankset, Force 22 crankset, Rival 22 crankset
• Claimed Weight: [with battery] 187g

SRAM Red eTap Front Derailleur Silver/Black Braze-On

• Pull Type: top
• Mount: braze-on, clamp adaptor
• Gearing: 2 x 11
• Compatibility: Red eTap shift lever, Red eTap rear derailleur, Red 22 crankset, Force 22 crankset, Rival 22 crankset
• Claimed Weight: [with battery] 187g

SRAM Red eTap Shifter Black Right

• Material: [brake lever] carbon, [shift lever] plastic
• Type: 2×11-speed
• Crankset Compatibility: SRAM Red 22, SRAM Force 22, SRAM Rival 22
• Compatible Components: SRAM eTap front derailleur, SRAM eTap rear derailleur
• Claimed Weight: [shifter set] 260g

SRAM Red eTap and AXS Battery and Battery Charger (Battery Included)

• Compatibility: SRAM AXS components
• Claimed Weight: 24 g
• Recommended Use: cycling
• Manufacturer Warranty: 2 years

SRAM Red eTap Rear Derailleur One Color Medium Cage

• Material: [cages] carbon fiber, [pulleys] ceramic
• Pull Type: Exact Actuation
• Cage Length: short, medium
• Capacity: [short] 28 t, [medium] 32 t
• Compatibility: SRAM Red eTap, PowerdomeX cassettes, PowerGlide cassettes

SRAM Xg-1190-A2 11-28T Cassette

• Hollow steel Dome makes for the stiffest gear cluster ever at the lightest weight
• Heat-treated, high-grade tool steel provides superlative durability and a beautiful finish
• Stealth ring elastomers and advanced tooth profiles eliminate vibration and noise for a smooth, silent ride
• Aluminum Cog: lighter, stiffer, stronger due to the design, material and production process
• Speeds:11

 

SRAM Red eTap HRD Shift Brake Kit Flat Mount Short Cage

• SRAM
• RED eTap AXS Electronic Groupset
• Kit-In-A-Box Road Group
• Disc Set

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