SRAM Launches 2011 Component Line

2x10 For All

ASHLAND, Oreg.—Oregon is becoming known as a mountain bike mecca filled with lush, moisture infused singletrack goodness, which is exactly why Sram chose Ashland to launch the new 2011 XO 2x10 product.

Running in conjunction with the up and coming Ashland 12-mile Super D race, the press camp allowed us to ride the new 2x10 group on our personal bikes. Providing for a much more indepth and noticeable sampling of Sram’s 2011 product offerings.

2x10 drivetrains are not a new phenomenon, with the introduction of XX last year; the setup has become one of the most sought after systems on the market. But because of XX’s strive for perfection, not everyone was able to afford luxury of the smooth positive workings of 2x10. That is, until now. For 2011 Sram will be offering the 2x10 drivetrain option in XO, X9, and X7 levels, opening up the 2x10 option to even the most budget-oriented rider.

After a few shuttles up and down Mount Ashland, I must say the new 2x products are yet again another homerun for Sram. Starting out on the XO drivetrain I was very surprised at how similarly it functioned to its big brother XX. But Sram has designed the XO to be a little more of an all around group than the XX. Boasting a little heavier rear derailleur and crankset, XO proves to be a great choice for someone looking to have the simplicity of 2x10 but the durability of the lower end lines. XO also offers a bit of a different shift feel than XX, providing the smooth “chunka-chunka” (in case you’re wondering – that’s a good thing) feel that XO has been known for in years past.

Sram headquarters for the week stationed, in the parking lot of the United Bicycle Institute just outside of downtown Ashland, OR. UBI offers a wide assortment of bicycle mechanic courses for the entry level mechanic to the aspiring frame builder.	Shuttling the bikes to the top of the Ashland Super D course was a daily affair at the camp. Thanks to Ashland Mountain Bike Adventures to getting us to the top of the mountain each day. We found that the weather differed greatly from our lodging to the top of Mount Ashland.	Day one of riding included some wet winter weather. The new Sram products performed well even in snowy, muddy conditions. Shifting was still smooth and the brakes did a great job of providing excellent stopping power for the 12-mile descent.

Down the product line X9 and X7, offer technology and function from the higher priced lines but at a much more affordable price tag and with a little extra weight. All lines will feature X-Glide front shifting technology and exact actuation rear derailleurs thus offering the smooth quick shifting of XX at a variety of pricepoints.

With so many new 2x10 options we are very excited to dive in to some testing with the three new drivetrains. All three drivetrains will offer a similar level Avid brake, the XO will wear the XO logo while the lower end brakes will still be Elixir branded.

Another new addition to come along with the launch of 2x10 is Sram hubs. Offered in both X9 and X7, the hubs will allow for bicycle manufactures to spec a full line of products with a matching finish. Giving the products a “family” look throughout all components.

Another new addition for 2011, Sram introduced both X9 and X7 hubsets to help tie in a full groupset for OEM purposes. They will also be available as aftermarket options.	The new X0 brakes offer similar aspects to past Elixir brakes with a new forged aluminum caliper and lever body. Another update is the seen in the detented contact point adjustment, meaning that the pad contact adjustment has clicks rather than the free turning adjustment seen on current Elixir brakes	2x10 derailleurs in color.

Sram has definitely made another leap forward for 2011 with the introduction of all their 2x10 and 3x10 drivetrains. With Sram’s ownership of Avid, RockShox, and Truvativ, they are able to bring together a full line of products within specific pricepoints, allowing consumers to easily choose the best upgrade option for their specific needs.

With so many benefits to be had from the new 2x10 setup, these products should be on everyone’s wish list for next season. We will continue to put some miles on the XO and X7 setups throughout the next few months so watch for updates. –J. Carr

Ron Ritzler, Sram Product Manager, explains the new X9 crankset. Sram now offers a family of products for each level, X0, X9, and X7 will all offer full drivetrains. With X-glide shifting technology and hollow forged alloy crank arms, X9 is making a huge step up from past generations.	The X9 2x10 group fully functional on one of the Sram demo bikes. Offering a new color match system X0 and X9 come in a variety of colors to help match any dream bike project.	XG-1080 cassette brings 10-speed shift quality to a lower pricepoint, rather than using the expensive one piece cassette from XX, the 1080 is made up of lightweight stamped steel cogs held together using high strength steel pins.
Mount Ashand offered a great venue to try the new 2x10 goods with a combination of fast open fire roads and pacific northwest singletrack.	Carbon X0 cranks offer both 2x10 and 3x10 options with an assortment of ring options depending on the specific application. These cranks offer a lightweight option that is still strong enough for everyday trail riding.

Check out Taylor Sage's Video from race day at the Ashland Super D: