CyclistNew Zipp 303 XPLR gravel wheels combine mountain bike width with road depthIn conjunction with SRAMs new Red XPLR AXS groupset, Zipp has launched 303 XPLR gravel wheels. They are hookless, and combine a 32mm internal rim width with a 54mm rim depth.Zipp says their design creates a smooth rim-tyre transition with tyres in the 40-60mm range, for better aerodynamics, while providing the casing support for lower pressures, for better grip and comfort and lower rolling resistance.There are two versions of the wheelset: the 303 XPLR SW, with a claimed weight of 1,496g and price of 1,600 / 1,800 / $2,200; and the 303 XPLR S, with a claimed weight of 1,610g and a price of 1,100 / 1,200 / $1,400.Zipp has also released two tyres in partnership with Goodyear, specifically designed for the 303 XPLR wheels. The XPLR Inter and XPLR Slick are available in a 700C x 45mm guise only, and retail for 80 / 90 / $80 each.Need for speedKenza Barton SchleeAs gravel moves from niche to mainstream its getting more competitive and average speeds are increasing.Take Unbound for example, says David Morse, Zipps wheel category manager. The winning speeds have been around 32kmh in recent years. We started work on these wheels in 2021 and our rationale has only been more confidently supported since.Morse explains that speed is increasing to such an extent that aerodynamics now have a crucial role in performance, but most gravel wheels, being generally no wider than 25mm internally, dont have the width to create a smooth transition when paired with gravel tyres.The rim-tyre pairing looks more like a lightbulb than an aerofoil, which undermines any aerodynamic advantage the rim may otherwise provide, he says. Related Posts Best gravel bike upgrades for every budget Zipps 858 NSW and 808 Firecrest wheels are the brands latest to get faster but not more aero The best gravel bikes 2024 reviewed Road and gravel bike rim width: Whats best and why? SRAMSo Zipp saw the opportunity to widen the rim drastically, pushing it out to 32mm internally and 40mm externally. This means the rim is a similar width to the tyre, creating a smooth transition and maximising the laminar airflow across the rim-tyre system responsible for lowering drag.3T was the pioneer of this rationale for gravel, releasing its Discus LTD 45 | 40 wheels (29mm internal, 40mm external) several years ago, and Reserve has recently jumped into the category too with its 40/44 GR wheels (27.4/27mm internal, 36/34.4mm external), but Zipp has been the brand to take it further than anyone else so far. The new 303 XPLR wheels dwarf even the brands own 1Zero Hitop mountain bike wheels.We took the wheel to the wind-tunnel five times and are confident that the rim shape saves two watts at 32kmh in pure aero terms alone, versus the nearest competitor, but thats before we even get onto the other ways in which the 303 XPLR makes the rider faster, says Morse.Many facets of going fastJust as the brand did when it overhauled its road wheelsets, Zipp says it focused on what it dubs Total System Efficiency, where it optimises across a range of barriers to speed, rather than just a single attribute such as aerodynamics or weight.SRAMGravel surfaces can generate up to 100 watts in vibrational losses as the tyre, being overinflated, bumps up and over ridges rather than deforming around them, says Morse. The width of the 303 XPLR rim lets the rider lower tyre pressures dramatically because the tyre sidewalls, being spaced so far apart, have adequate support. This can save the rider up to 14 watts at 32kmh while preserving bike handling characteristics.Zipp has expanded its tyre pressure calculator to include the 303 XPLR wheels so riders can easily work out their new optimal pressures.The Zipp 303 XPLR SW wheels dwarf even the 303 Firecrest road wheels (25mm internal) with the 32mm internal width and 3.9mm wide sidewallsJake RytlewskiThe 303 XPLR wheels also look to guard against pinch flats with 3.9mm wide sidewalls.Aero wheels arent that fast if they are liable to puncture tyres, says Morse. The wide sidewalls distribute acute pressure caused by rock strikes better, protecting the tyre.The new wheels sound like a have cake and eat it too proposition, but theres a small catch to do with tyre compatibility. Zipps recommended width (40-60) falls outside the ISO recommendations for 32mm internal width rims, which is 54-80mm. As such, only tyres that have been validated by both Zipp and the tyre manufacturer are clear to use on the Zipp 303 XPLR wheels.The current list of approved tyres stands at: Zipps Tangente G40, all Schwalbes G-One models in 40mm+ widths, as well as the new 45mm XPLR Slick and XPLR Inter, which have been made for Zipp by Goodyear.These have been made specifically for the 303 XPLR wheels and ensure best performance, says Morse. The width of the tread cap, position of the nobs and width of the tyre on the 303 XPLR wheels has all been considered.Zipp XPLR rangeZipp wheel and tyreThere a several new components from Zipp to complement the new SRAM Red XPLR AXS groupset. The 1,496g Zipp 303 XPLR SW is the lighter of the two wheels in the range, with the 1,610g 303 XPLR S trading in a smidge over 100g to save around 500 / 600 / $800.The XPLR Inter (for mixed conditions) and XPLR Slick (for dry conditions) tyres are available in a 700c x 45mm guise only, and retail for 80 / 90 / $80 each.Zipp has also released some SL 70 XPLR bars designed to pair with the new SRAM Red XPLR AXS groupset, which costs 320 / 320 / $360.For more information on the new Zipp 303 XPLR wheels, visit sram.com Related Posts Best gravel bike upgrades for every budget Zipps 858 NSW and 808 Firecrest wheels are the brands latest to get faster but not more aero The best gravel bikes 2024 reviewed Road and gravel bike rim width: Whats best and why? The post New Zipp 303 XPLR gravel wheels combine mountain bike width with road depth appeared first on Cyclist.

Across almost all sports, the French have been performing above themselves so far at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, fired on by the vociferous and passionate support of a home crowd. Heading into the men's road race, all eyes will be on the darling of French cycling, Julian Alaphilippe."My preparatio...

According to Stooge Cycles in the UK, their new Tracker 85 Bar offers the perfect blend of comfort and control, and it's made from 4130 Chromoly steel tubing with an 85mm rise and a 23-degree backsweep. Check out the Stooge Tracker 85 Bar here...The post The Stooge Tracker 85 Bar is for Dirt Touring appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

The UDH-compatible gravel bike is now 102g lighter, but that's because of the new SRAM Red XPLR AXS groupset

CyclistNew SRAM Red XPLR AXS is 13-speed and uses an Eagle Transmission-esque full-mount rear derailleurAfter branching out from road with original XPLR in 2021, the new SRAM Red XPLR AXS groupset now fully diverges from its roots, becoming an entirely different proposition specific to gravel.It uses a 10-46t, 13-speed cassette paired with 1x chainset that uses Thread Mount chainrings, which screw on to the crankset spider.The rear derailleur, although not exactly the same in design as those in SRAMs Eagle Transmission series, borrows many features from that line, including a hangerless/full-mount interface and replaceable subcomponents.The Red XPLR AXS rear derailleur requires framesets to have the UDH fitment standard, which is becoming more widespread in gravel and now even road.Despite the bulkier derailleur, SRAM claims the Red XPLR AXS groupset sheds over 200g in weight compared to its predecessor, with the main savings coming in the cassette, crankset and controls.SRAM Red XPLR AXS is available immediately as OE on bikes from over 20 brands and available aftermarket too. Prices for full groupsets start from 3,530 / 3,960 / $3,529.In conjunction with new Red XPLR AXS, Zipp has launched new 303 XPLR gravel wheels, tyres and handlebar, which we have covered with their own news story.A decade in the makingWith its then cyclocross-focussed Force 1 arriving in 2013, SRAM has been offering groupsets for rigid bikes to use off-road for more than a decade, but it wasnt until 2019 when the brand rolled out its AXS concept that truly capable solutions for modern gravel became available.AXS allowed riders to pair road components, such as Red shifters and chainsets, with MTB ones, such as Eagle rear derailleurs and cassettes, to create wide range gearing that was capable on gravel terrain.We recognised there was a niche that even those mullet setups couldnt fulfil though, says Jason Fowler, SRAMs drop bar drivetrain product manager. Something 1x, with wider range than road but closer gear steps than our 10-52 Eagle cassettes.Hence XPLR was introduced in 2021. There were 2x options, but really this road-offshoot drivetrain product was about 1x gearing and its 10-44t, 12-speed cassette.While there are riders better served by the mullet setup at the adventure end of the gravel spectrum or 2x at the all-road end, this type of drivetrain serves most gravel riders best, says Fowler. Based on our research, this middle segment of the gravel market is the biggest, with around 60% of riders using it. However, we wanted new Red XPLR AXS to offer more to riders at the extremes, so weve introduced more range in a 10-46 cassette, but with similarly close gear steps, as it is now 13-speed.With the launch of Red XPLR AXS, SRAM ostensibly moves into a product category unchallenged, because neither Shimano nor Campagnolo offer a 13-speed, 1x electronic groupset. Related Posts Shimano gives GRX 212 the Di2 treatment, but 1x is left on 11 SRAM Red AXS groupset review 2024 Gravel groupsets reviewed: Shimano vs SRAM vs Campagnolo Complete guide to SRAM road and gravel groupsets Business up front, party out backSRAMThe Red XPLR AXS controls, callipers and rotors are carried over unchanged from the new Red AXS road family, and there have been some updates at the chainset that are covered below, but the main talking point is the new rear derailleur and cassette.Using the UDH interface that SRAM introduced to MTB in 2019, which is now common on gravel bikes and is making its way into road as well (no prizes for guessing what happens to next-gen Red AXSs rear derailleur), SRAM has introduced a full-mount rear derailleur to XPLR.The design is similar in concept to SRAMs Eagle Transmission, in that rather than attaching to a hanger that acts as an intermediary between frame and derailleur, the derailleur fixes to the frame directly, sandwiching the dropout where it accepts the rear wheel axle.The derailleur itself is what the rear thru axle fixes into, meaning the derailleurs position relative to the cassette becomes a known quantity, rather than a variable depending on particular hanger dimensions. As such, full-mount means there is no need for limit or B-tension adjustment.Once installed, shifting is perfect from the get-go, says Fowler. Full mount is also inherently incredibly strong, so theres no longer any risk of mis-shifts due to hangers being bent in transit or under impact.SRAMAlong with the general concept, Red AXS XPLRs full-mount rear derailleur shares Eagle Transmissions Magic lower pulley (the centre of the pulley is essentially a large bushing and the toothed outer ring floats on it, so if a stick gets stuck in the pulleys center the wheel can still operate), as well as its replaceable subcomponents idea (parts of the rear can be replaced if damaged). However, the design isnt exactly the same.XPLRs full-mount derailleur prioritises shift speed over shifting under load, says Fowler. Meaning it shifts faster, because gravel riding requires less high-load shifting than MTB.Similarly, the clutch is a toned-down version of Eagles, to save weight and ensure no drivetrain efficiency losses. Notably, XPLR no longer uses SRAMs Orbit fluid damper for chain management, which is found on the brands premium road rear derailleurs.In the gravel application, the Eagle-inspired spring clutch provides better chain management, says Fowler.Golden ratioSRAMThe radical rear derailleur is paired to an equally interesting cassette. The 10-46 block, as it is 13-speed, has one-tooth jumps between the four smallest sprockets despite providing 460% range.The sprocket progression allows fine cadence control at higher speeds but meaningful jumps when easier gears are needed, says Fowler.Due to a heavily machined-out construction and the largest 3 sprockets being made from aluminium, SRAM says it weighs only 288g as well, which is nearly 100g lighter than the previous generations 10-44t design, despite offering an extra gear and more range. In fact, weight loss is a theme throughout the new design, with SRAM saying in comparable setups new Red XPLR AXS is 218 lighter than before (2,706g versus 2,488g). SRAM says this makes the groupset the lightest gravel offering on the market.In a win for cross-compatibility, the new cassette fits within existing XDr freehub body dimensions, meaning SRAMs existing Flattop 12-speed road chain can be used with the groupset.The full mount interface frees up a little space on the outboard side of the cassette, and the 46t sprocket is dished out over towards the rear wheels spokes a touch, so weve been able to fit 13-sprockets in with the spacing of 12-speed, says Fowler.All sewn upSRAMAt the front of the drivetrain, while XPLR uses identical cranks to the new Red AXS road groupset, this new gravel version again follows Eagles lead with Thread Mount chainrings. The chainrings attach to the crankset spider via a threaded interface, meaning they can be easily swapped.As XPLR is offered with a spider-mounted power meter (accurate to +/-1.5%), the Thread Mount design lets the user replace chainrings without unnecessarily replacing the power meter along with them, which has been a criticism of the brands road crankset since the one-piece design was introduced in 2019. Chainrings are available in sizes from 38t-46t.Elsewhere, new Red XPLR AXS is business as usual as per the latest road-going Red AXS design, being designed to work with Hammerheads new Karoo head unit and AXS inter-compatibility.For more information on the new SRAM Red XPLR AXS, visit sram.comSRAM Red AXS XPLR weights and pricingNew SRAM Red AXS XPLR is available in several guises. It is offered on stock builds from the following manufacturers:SRAMThe groupset can be bought aftermarket too. Base price is 3,530 / 3,960 / $3,529, but that doesnt include a Hammerhead Karoo 3 computer or power meter. Price for the power equipped version is 3,980 / 4,465 / $3,979. Hammerhead Karoo is priced at 450.Claimed weights for individual components of the groupset in both PM and non-PM equipped guises, versus previous generation Red eTap AXS XPLR and Force XPLR AXS, are as follows:SRAM Related Posts Shimano gives GRX 212 the Di2 treatment, but 1x is left on 11 SRAM Red AXS groupset review 2024 Gravel groupsets reviewed: Shimano vs SRAM vs Campagnolo Complete guide to SRAM road and gravel groupsets The post New SRAM Red XPLR AXS is 13-speed and uses an Eagle Transmission-esque full-mount rear derailleur appeared first on Cyclist.

After a stage that ended in Boticas yesterday, where we saw an excellent day's cycling, today the peloton faced a 160.4 km stage linking Felgueiras to Paredes at the 2024 Volta a Portugal. In the end, victory went to Francisco Penuela.The 7th stage of the Volta a Portugal got off to a flying start a...

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Zipp claims their new Zipp 303 XPLR SW is their fastest gravel wheelset yet, featuring a massive 32mm wide and super deep rim that integrates seamlessly with the simultaneously-launched Goodyear 45mm gravel tire. Find details on both hereThe post Zipp Goes Ultra-wide with the 303 XPLR SW Gravel Wheels and Integrated Goodyear XPLR Tires appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Although Tadej Pogacar managed to successfully reclaim the Maillot Jaune at the 2024 Tour de France with a stunning performance, the three weeks in France weren't completely without incident for UAE Team Emirates, with Juan Ayuso seemingly at odds with his teammates at times during the race.Abandon...