Putting to bed one of the worst-kept secrets in cycling, SRAM has finally come clean on its new Red eTap 11-speed electronic drivetrain.
There are two primary differences from competing electric systems from Shimano and Campagnolo. One, shifting is done wirelessly via a proprietary protocol called Airea. And two, the method of shifting is new: the left lever upshifts the rear derailleur, the right lever downshifts the rear derailleur and pressing both levers causes the system to shift the front derailleur to the opposite position.
The system also includes satellite shifters, called Blips, which are wired either to the shifters or to a Blipbox junction that transmits the wireless signal to the derailleurs. These coin-sized Blip shifters can be placed anywhere, and have already been seen in use on pros’ time trial and triathlon bikessuch as Kristin Armstrong’s machine.
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SRAM has debuted the eTap system in its top-end Red form only, although Force eTap and eTap with hydraulic brakes seem likely in the future. For now, SRAM said Red eTap will appear in stores and on complete bikes this coming spring.
At 260g a pair, the eTap levers are lighter than mechanical Red 22 at 280g. The derailleurs, however, are heavier; the front weighs 239g and the rear 187g, to Red 22’s 145g and 69g mechanical options.
The eTap system does not need cabling and housing, of course, which saves 115g. So that gives you 686g for eTap vs 609g for Red 22, taking into account levers, derailleurs and (for the mechanical groupset) cables/housing.
- Nokia’s ‘tumble tester’, the industry standard for mobile phones
- Vibration testing to automotive standards, simulating a decade of vibration from road use
- Battery-retention security – tested mechanically, meaning that in the event of a crash you won’t lose your battery or reinstall it incorrectly
- Dust and water ingress, incorporating some of the electronics industry’s most stringent trials, and pressure-washing components from every conceivable angle for 30 minutes at a time
- A thermal endurance test within a climate chamber purpose-built to recreate extreme temperatures and humidity, with the system running weeks at a time with constant shifting
- Static discharge testing to check the protection of the electronic parts
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