The Radavist

It’s inundating to keep up with cycling’s technological advancements yet if one development has shifted the paradigm for drivetrains in the past few years, it’s SRAM’s AXS system. While the kit is a dreamy riding experience, the price can be daunting, and that alone is a major reason why many people haven’t had the chance to ride it. Yet, as with all cycling tech, it tends to trickle down like alluvium in the desert.

The new GX Eagle AXS rolled downhill and right into my lap recently, so I decided to put it on the Sklar touring bike because why not? Check out the unveiling below with some initial thoughts on the system and a component breakdown with pricing/availability…

SRAM is hosting four stories by a few of its sponsored athletes including Ayesha McGowan, Renee Hutchens, Lael Wilcox, and Isabeau Courduier over at their website. If you have a few minutes this week, we highly suggest reading one, two, or all of these stories.

There are a lot of Time pedal fans out there and with good reason. Time’s design allows for easy shedding of mud or snow and has one of the most secure engagement designs on the market. Last week, SRAM acquired the entire range of road and mountain pedals, cleats, and all related patents of TIME Sport from Rossignol Group. The two companies completed the transaction on February 18, 2021. For Time loyalists, the good news is this means better distribution under the SRAM umbrella and SRAM will keep the Time name going.

Customers will continue to contact TIME for product service and support during the transition phase through mid-year 2021.

Good news for those loyal to the SRAM Red eTap group but were less than thrilled with the previous range limitations. Today SRAM announced a new Red rear derailleur, compatible with a 10-36t cassette, similar to the previous Force eTap upgrade. There are two models of derailleur now, a 33t-max and a 36t-max.

-SRAM AXS™ enabled for easy personalization
-Orbit™ chain management technology keeps drivetrain quiet and secure
-Compatible with both 1x and 2x drivetrains
-36t-max derailleur is compatible with 10-36, 10-33, and 10-28 cassettes
-33t-max derailleur is compatible with 10-26, 10-28, and 10-33 cassettes
-Improved motor and signal travel for faster shifting
-Larger X-SYNC™ pulleys and ceramic bearings for increased durability and efficiency
-Compatible with existing eTap® batteries

See more at SRAM.

Everyone loves the bling of XX1 Eagle but X01 is the kit of choice for those who race enduro or ride rugged terrain. The new updates to the AXS lineup include a more robust XO1 rear derailleur. This updated mech has a 10mm shorter cage than its mechanical counterpart, to avoid dragging it on rocks, sits further inboard, and provides a tighter chain wrap around the cassette. See more at SRAM.

This week’s Readers’ Rides comes from Michael in Vancouver, BC. His Granville Burtly Road with a beautiful Sunset Fade graces our website this Friday morning. Enjoy!

The Ratio upgrade kit allows you to pair 11-speed mechanical shifters with 12-speed Eagle MTB derailleurs and cassettes. While it includes dissecting your shifter and derailleur, Ratio’s instructions are super clear and enable you to ride a wide-range 1×12 drivetrain on a gravel, road, or touring bike without the expense and hassle of electronics and batteries.

Check out the Upgrade Kit at Ratio. We just bought a kit, so stay tuned for a full-review in the near future.

We often joke that Eagle GX killed the singlespeed MTB and by “we” I mean myself and Bailey Newbrey, someone who knows a lot about SSMTB riding and racing. Using Bailey in this opening sentence is relevant for a number of reasons and yes, it also legitimizes that statement in many ways. While this won’t be a history lesson in SSMTB riding, it does mull over the antithesis of that, SRAM’s Eagle GX drivetrain.

I’ve been riding the new Eagle GX with its massive 52t cassette for a few months now and have finally flogged it enough to be able to write an honest review of this system, so read on below.

Photo by Eric Arce

There’s been a lot of discussions on what “land” means here on this website and today our friend Renee Hutchens shared her thoughts at the RockShox website. The article is a great read and I encourage everyone to give it a read.

“Kinship, or K’é reflects a deep relationship with each other spanning generations upon generations. This is the seed of our resilience. The fact that I am here today speaks to this — it means my family, like every Indigenous family, did whatever they could to survive hundreds of years of violence, forced removal, forced assimilation, genocide, destruction of our cultures, identities, our land, and natural resources. Despite all of this they ensured my existence today. But the violence of colonial thinking never ended. We live in a country that continues to render us invisible. Indigenous erasure is our modern form of racism that continues to inflict trauma on top of historical trauma. Therefore, I’m drawn to go to a place where I am seen and heard, where I can heal, re(connect) with my identity, culture, and traditions.

This place is on the land.”

Read this exceptional piece at RockShox

Never underestimate consumer motivation. While SRAM doesn’t offer a 1×13 mechanical kit, it’s not stopping fans from hacking the AXS-native gear range. Black Water Cyclist‘s latest video shows how they manipulated a mechanical group to hit the entire 1×13 range.

We love a good basket bike over here at the Radavist and Galen‘s Ritchey Breakaway build really exemplifies that! Check out the full build details below, with words by Galen…