Rotor Bike Components has been busy developing a new hydraulic shifting system it is calling Uno, as well as a dual-sided power meter, built around one of the Spanish company's iconic cranks, called the 2INpower. Today we're sharing our (quite lengthy) initial impressions on the innovative Uno drivetrain and brakes, with our typical technical analysis from the perspective of a cyclocross and gravel rider. Stay tuned for more on the 2INpower system.
Get in (the Paved) Line
While a low maintenance drivetrain sounds like the answer to may cyclocrossers’ dreams, the lightweight nature of the Uno offering has Rotor targeting the road market initially, and the Rotor-sponsored Dimension Data road team is testing the new drivetrain. What does that mean for us cyclocross and gravel racers? There’s no clutch in the rear derailleur and it’s not ready for wide-range cassettes. That’s a bummer for single-ring racers. Keep in mind, however, before SRAM’s CX1 system (now called Force 1 / Rival 1 / Apex 1), those were limitations we all dealt with anyway, and most double chainring cyclocross racers don’t require either the clutch or wide-range cassettes.
The Uno hydraulic shifting front derailleur offers a trim setting in each chainring configuration, but still rubbed in the largest two cogs when we were in the big (Q-ring) chainring. © Cyclocross Magazine
While those single chainring and cyclocross-oriented features may be coming down the line, many cyclocross racers (including the current men’s World Champ, Wout van Aert) and gravel racers rely on two chainring systems. And the Rotor Uno drivetrain is compatible with compact cranksets and chainrings down to a 34 tooth. So don’t let gearing limitations steer you away.
What’s under the rubber hoods? See the next page.
