At Eurobike 2015, SRAM unveiled its long-awaited electronic wireless drivetrain, named SRAM RED eTAP. At Interbike 2015, Cyclocross Magazine had one of the first rides on the new drivetrain. While the first test was on a Focus road bike equipped with road tires, you can be sure of one thing: I was evaluating the SRAM RED eTAP componentry on their cyclocross and gravel-worthiness. Maybe you've read a few words already about the group on road-oriented websites, but we sought to bring a cyclocross and gravel-dirtied lens to view the new electronic and wireless group.
The SRAM RED eTAP electronic / wireless drivetrain shares the same type of battery with the front derailleur, and controls all the pairing. Short cage only, max 28t for now. © Cyclocross Magazine
SRAM has its cyclocross-oriented Force 1 (formerly CX1) component group, and nearly all of its sponsored cyclocross athletes will remain on Force 1 this season, with a few notable exceptions, such as Wout van Aert riding with SRAM RED 22 mechanical at CrossVegas. But you can be sure that enthusiasts building their dream cyclocross or gravel bike, and racers looking to try the latest and greatest, will be anxious to test the new electronic group in the harsh elements of cyclocross and gravel riding. As CXM's resident senior bike geek, I certainly fall into that group.
On paper, SRAM's accomplishments are impressive, and there are a few attributes that separate it from Di2 and Campagnolo. The SRAM RED eTAP wireless system makes installation easy, quick and clean, eliminating battery or wiring placement concerns. Also, in typical SRAM fashion, the system also gives a nod to weight weenies, with a negligible weight gain over its already lightest-in-class RED 22 mechanical groupset (when you consider the weight of cables and housing with the mechanical system). It's also more than half a pound lighter than Di2 for a full component group. See the table in our slideshow for full SRAM RED eTAP component weights.
SRAM RED eTAP Concerns for Cyclocross and Gravel Racers
- Front and rear shifts need to be in sequence and can’t be simultaneous. Cyclocross racers may miss the ability to shift both at the same time when faced with the constant terrain changes of a hilly course when racing a double ring.
- Potential confusion between mechanical and electronic SRAM bikes if you’re riding both in a race, although it seemed incredibly intuitive to me after just a few shifts.
- No hydraulic or single ring options yet, but we’re sure that will change soon.
- Restrictive gear limitations, as initial group will only feature a short cage rear derailleur, accepting a maximum of a 28t cog. Paired with a cyclocross double crankset, this should be sufficient for cyclocross racing, but perhaps still restrictive for longer hilly gravel rides, and limiting for 1x drivetrains.
- Although you no longer can accidentally upshift the rear derailleur when you’re already in the easiest gear, you could theoretically upshift into the big chainring if you didn’t realize you were already in the little ring. You’d probably have to be really seeing blurry at the end of a race or interval to make this mistake, and it’s simple to look down before a shift to verify what ring you’re in. But if you’re a cyclocross racer who likes the old-school favorite chainring combination of a 38/42 or something close like that, it’s possible for this possibility to impact you (we aren’t sure the front derailleur will even work well with two rings so close in size, and if so, the resulting gear change would be pretty minor)
- Because the front derailleur doesn’t trim, just like mechanical yaw, there is little less room for mud clearance in the front derailleur cage when cross chained.
The SRAM RED eTAP electronic / wireless drivetrain relies on a YAW-based front derailleur that doesn’t need to trim. © Cyclocross Magazine
See a full table of weights and prices on the next page.
