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EB17: 3T Strada Bailout & Overdrive 9-32 cassettes shift the approach to 1x road

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If you’re on the fence over the 1x road argument like we’ve seen on 3T’s own aero Strada road bike, most likely gearing & gear spacing has been one of your sticking points. 3T has known that getting proper road gearing was key to having a good single chainring road experience so they’ve been developing their own unique cassette. Now ready for the big reveal, the Strada Bailout & Overdrive cassettes deliver the same wide range we’ve seen take hold off-road with a middle cog set that keeps the close gear ratio steps to maintain optimal pedalling cadence.

3T Strada Bailout Overdrive cassette alternative 1x single chainring wide range road cassettes Overdrive 9-32

The key to the two cassettes is that they offer the same gearing range from a tiny 9 tooth cog up to a 32 tooth that pretty much any modern mid cage road derailleur can handle, with two different approaches at either end.

Bailout

Both cassettes get gear spacing for roughly 10% steps through out all but two shifts. The Bailout cassette keeps the gears close from 9 up to 22 and then makes two big 20% jumps to 26 & 32. Ride fast & smooth through the bulk of your shifts then the last two shifts will save you as you struggle to get over a big climb. (9-10-11-12-13-15-17-19-22-26-32)

Overdrive

The Overdrive on the other hand keeps the smooth 10% transitions through the middle, but with a big 20% step on either end. Pick this cassette if you want to climb a little more smoothly and when you still need that fast gear & bigger step to catch up with your riding buddies on the downhills. (9-11-12-13-15-17-19-22-25-28-32)

3T Strada Bailout Overdrive cassette alternative 1x single chainring wide range road cassettes Overdrive 9-32

Tech details

Each cassette offers the same 356% range. It’s not quite the same as you’d find on SRAM off-road offerings, but essentially matches a compact road double without the need for a front derailleur.

3T says paired with a 36T ring it matches the gearing of a gravel friendly 48/34 by 12-30, with a 40T the gearing of a compact 50/34 by 11-27 or with a 44T a flat road standard 54/39 by 11-28. It does all that while keeping cadence friendly steps for 9 out of 11 of the shifts.

3T Strada Bailout Overdrive cassette alternative 1x single chainring wide range road cassettes Overdrive 9-32 rapid prototype3T developed the 9-32 Bailout & Overdrive cassettes to make their 1x aero bike feasible, but they are also selling it on its own for $290. The steel cassettes are machined from a single piece, and then they get an alloy back plate. This Bailout will come in a long wearing hard black anodized coating, while the Overdrive will be a gray/silver hard ano to make them easier to differentiate.

Both versions work on a standard SRAM XDR driver, so can be fit to a huge range off wheels bringing wide range gearing possibilities and tight spacing to a ton of cross & gravel bikes floating out in the market, using what looks like it is the future-proof standard for however many extra cogs get added on in the near future. Availability will be first on 3T’s own Strada which look like they are heading out the door at the start of September 2017 (as in next week.) 3T says they don’t have plans to set themselves up as a cassette company, but they will make the Bailout & Overdrive available separately. There was even talk that another gearing option with the same range and a 10T smallest cog could also be in the works.

3Tcycling.com

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Dude
Dude
7 years ago

9-36 with a 38T chaining would about match what I ride for gravel/winter, and with a 42T match road gears. But with the 32 I’m struggling with tradeoffs in range on one end or the other, and with a 36 the jumps just don’t seem good for road. Gravel maybe.

Boom
Boom
7 years ago

Looks like you’re missing a few words there…”The steel cassettes are machined from a , and then they get an alloy back plate.”

Will the OD work with eTap?

Mechanic
Mechanic
7 years ago

Now SRAM can follow suit with a few road versions that go to 34-36. Nothing more.

Terrie
Terrie
7 years ago

Finally been running 1x on my road bike for years and wondering when someone would take advantage of xd freehub without the off-road 10-42

Dude
Dude
7 years ago

Yeah, a 32 big cog seems a tad too low for widespread adoption. You can almost get me with the 44×11-32 argument, but I cringe at the last couple jumps and a 27t equivalent low gear is not that low against modern standards. It’s close though. They really seem to need a 36 on the low end of that thing. A 9-36 with 38T matches my current gravel/winter gearing, and with a 42T matches my road spread. That’s about what it would take for 1x road to be a legit contender for my garage. However, then the jump between gears gets pretty ridiculous… so if a current 11-32 has the max acceptable jumps, then it’ll take 14 speed cassettes before both the range and the jumps are in line with a standard double. So really, what was wrong with a double on the road, again?

Galen Kehler
Galen Kehler
7 years ago

9 is not very round, giving a useless chunky gear that only looks good on paper. And without a 16t cog, what’s the point.

Veganpotter
Veganpotter
7 years ago
Reply to  Galen Kehler

I thought the 8t on my e*thirteen was going to not feel smooth but it’s actually pretty nice.

Veganpotter
Veganpotter
7 years ago
Reply to  Veganpotter

9*…

gerardvroomen
7 years ago
Reply to  Galen Kehler

A 16t cog may be important to you with a traditional set of rings, but all the ratios are different when you start with a 9t. Say you run a 53/39 today and the 16 is important to you. Well, then you will run a 44 chainring with this cassette, so that your top gear (44×9) is the same as the 53×11 you have today (actually 44×9 is even a bit bigger). And then the 53×16 is the same as 44×13, so this cassette offers that. Same story with if you run a 50/36 or similar.

As for the roundness of the 9t, no cog is round. The effect is slightly smaller with the 9t, but you also have to take into account that the rpm is usually quite high in the biggest gear (if not then people are either in the wrong gear or it’s a short-duration situation). This makes it unnoticeable in a blind test as we’ve discovered.

Jack in Chattanooga TN
Jack in Chattanooga TN
7 years ago
Reply to  gerardvroomen

I thought like this sounded like a well considered response. Then I saw who posted it.

Great innovation Gerard!!! This bike is pure art!

People throw around the term “pushing boundaries” like it is an inherently good thing. In many cases it is just pushing for pushing’s sake. But your work really is worthwhile. The cycling industry is lucky to have you.

Ps I am very curious about what the next S5 will be like. Its ready for a new model. 🙂

Robert Lattanzi
Robert Lattanzi
7 years ago
Reply to  gerardvroomen

This is headed straight for my UP, just what I’ve been looking for. Brilliant move.

Greg
Greg
7 years ago

Will either work with eTap?

gerardvroomen
7 years ago
Reply to  Greg

Certainly with the Wifli eTap rear derailleur.

fred
fred
7 years ago

whats the consensus on 9t cogs? skipping, wear, etc? seems like it would be precarious to sprint in a gear so small.

Lars Danner
Lars Danner
7 years ago
Reply to  fred

I have a 9T on my e13 cassette. I find it useful for down hills and long, fast flat sections. I haven’t noticed any excess wear or skipping or strange feel.

Seraph
Seraph
7 years ago
Reply to  Lars Danner

I also have an E.13 on my road bike and the 9 is surprisingly smooth with an Apex1 derailleur. 38t up front, 9-44 in the back, with an Eagle chain.

things to ponder...
things to ponder...
7 years ago
Reply to  Seraph

You don’t notice it on a mtb because you’re bouncing all over the place, but on a road bike the smallness of the 9t will be noticeable. For anyone who has an e thirteen cassette, try backpedaling reasonably fast in the 9t and watch closely what the chain does. The chain basically can’t form adequately around the cog given the length of each link. I’m completely unsure of if this ends up mattering at all, I haven’t really noticed it too much while pedaling hard, but while spinning (especially on the road) I do feel it.

SRAM went with a 10t….

I have the cassette, for reference.

David
David
7 years ago

Shimano long cage with 11-40 XT cassette is the way to go. Don’t worry about dropping a chain. Wt road link, x1 chain force cx1 crank. I don’t need this nonsense

Dude
Dude
7 years ago
Reply to  David

Thumbs up to that.

therealgreenplease
7 years ago

The 9T will be like a Q-Ring for your rear cassette lol.

Birdman
Birdman
7 years ago

Great idea with the Overdrive!

Smoke And Sweat
Smoke And Sweat
7 years ago

Interesting. I was hoping Sram would introduce Eagle 12 speed for road at Euro bike, with closer ratio options than the 10-50.

detroitguy1
7 years ago

10-36 with 12 speeds would be pretty great.

gerardvroomen
7 years ago

I was hoping that too! Well, I wasn’t really hoping since I knew they wouldn’t, but still. Hoping for the future.

uzurpator
uzurpator
7 years ago

11T cogs wear excessively fast and even with 12T next to it it is an excessive jump. 9T or 10T will wear even faster and jumps are even more pronounced.

9-11 is 20% jump That is useless for road.

1x road needs to have at least 13 speeds to match both range and fine gear choice.

Marin
Marin
7 years ago

Can’t you run Sram 1 and any 10-42 or 11-4X cassette for much less money?

David
David
7 years ago
Reply to  Marin

That’s what I’m thinking… 1x with a 10-42. When comparing a wide range cassette, why would you compare it to a 50/34 by 11-27? If someone wanted range on a gravel bike (like I do) I’m running 50/34 on a 11-36. At a minimum, it should be compared to 50/34 by 11-32.

gerardvroomen
7 years ago
Reply to  David

If somebody wanted range on a gravel bike, you’re absolutely right they would likely run a 10-42 or 11-46 or 9-44 or 9-46. But this is a road cassette for a road bike, hence the comparison with pretty standard road gearing and the reason they are both called STRADA. GHIAIA cassettes already exist from 3 manufacturers, so no point to make them.

js
js
7 years ago

Why would anyone really consider making gearing compromises (either limiting range or creating bigger jumps) to achieve the aero benefits of a 1x crank. The air around the crank is so dirty to start with, I’d be surprised if that ‘benefit’ were present in more than theory – and outright shocked if the amount of savings while pedalling were actually measurable in a wind tunnel.

I live in a very flat area, so 1x is awesome on my TT bike, but I travel with my road bike enough that I’d never consider dropping from double on that one – the gaps would drive me crazy in everyday training.

CXisFun
CXisFun
7 years ago
Reply to  js

This. This design takes the worst of the gaps in a typical 11-27 cassette and doubles how bad those jumps are.

ascarlarkinyar
ascarlarkinyar
7 years ago

Why would you limit your riding to only flat? Essentially you would not be climbing our beautiful steep mountains or pedaling down anything with this backwards idea.

Tyni Tyres
Tyni Tyres
7 years ago

How about ‘bailout’ and ‘overdrive’ in one cassette with a 14t.

Joseph Conroy
Joseph Conroy
7 years ago
Reply to  Tyni Tyres

There we go. I agree. As the owner of two 1x drop bar situations, I find it limiting even as I seek more and more range. If I need the climbing gears (and I do. . .google Bogus Basin Road if you need to), then I’m likely gonna be coasting down the back side at whatever speed I can stomach. 44/14 before just letting go is probly all I actually need, nerdy leanings aside.

NDE
NDE
7 years ago

I have an XD body on my DT240s. Would I have to change my driver to XDR to make this fit? Does it use the extra 1.8mm of space or will it also fit on the original XD?

Taber Newton
7 years ago

Still comes standard with horrible chainline!

tyler
7 years ago

3T wont even publish dimensions for their road bar bends. Theyre not a customer-centric company, much like many italian brands. go elsewhere.

satanas
satanas
7 years ago

Close ratios?!? Compared to 2 speed auto gearboxes maybe. And IME 9T cogs feel distinctly un-round, with 10T a bit better, but still slightly weird; 12T and bigger feel okay. SRAM seem to be pushing 1x as their USP, but unless you live somewhere dead flat or don’t care about maintaining a relatively even cadence there just aren’t enough gears. 2x for the win!

Josh Baltazar
7 years ago

This doesn’t really make much sense, all you’re getting is the range allready available with pre- existing cassettes but in a more inefficient package as you’re running smaller chainrings and cogs for the equivalent gear, which promotes quicker chain, cassette and chainring wear. Range has never been the problem with 1x on the road, it’s the large, cadence destroying gaps in that range that are problematic, which this very expensive cassette still doesn’t properly address.
When 12 speed inevitably happens on the road it will make more sense, but for the time being I reckon a 10-30 cassette paired with 42 tooth ring would have been a much better compromise less range but much smoother. that gives a gear range equivalent to a compact with a 12-25 which for general road riding is fine.

alvis
alvis
7 years ago

So did they come up with the bike and have to do this to make it work or did they start with cassettes and have to invent the bike to justify them?

htm
htm
7 years ago

I’m currently running an 11-32 with compact cranks but want a bit more ability to spin up brutal climbs without giving up the top end gear when it’s time to bomb down. Am I crazy for thinking the Overdrive with one of the super compact FSA 46/30 cranksets would be pretty sweet? Small jumps through most of the range and the 46-9 is actually higher than 50-11. And I’m not worried about the massive jump from 11 down to 9 as I’d only rarely get in that gear on fast descents.

jonas l
7 years ago

After been calculating on gearing for my new S-Works Diverge this cassette is like a dream. Thought of getting a 46t front chainring but then I was needed a 11-36 cassette and not sure how the Etap derailleur would handle it, and Sram 1170 11-36 is pretty heavy.

This 9-32 Overdrive with a smaller chainring in front would be perfect both in gearing and should be a bit lighter too 😀 Any info about weight? And when DT starts to make XDR freehubs for my Roval CLX32 wheel? 🙂

Harry PATSOS
Harry PATSOS
7 years ago

think that a 9,10,11,12,13,14,16,19,23,28,34 is best: when the delta jumps to 2, then each successve delta should be 1 tooth larger than the previous one. So you have small jumps when you are in the small cogs, and more logical ones in the larger ones

Harry PATSOS
Harry PATSOS
7 years ago

And if XDR can support 12 cogs, then the largest could be a 41. Or make it tighter in the middle: 9,10,11,12,13,14,15,17,20,24,29,35 (or 36).

GEORGE DOWNIN
GEORGE DOWNIN
7 years ago

I have been riding rival 1x on the road for 2 years 46-11×36 run out off top in some times that cassette wiil solve my problem. sure hope 1x etap comes out soon.

Claes
Claes
6 years ago

Anyone know when the casettes be for sale? And will they work with Tune Kong hund with XD driver?

NDE
NDE
6 years ago

When the heck is this coming out!!!!!! Still waiting.

arthur pessoa passos
arthur pessoa passos
5 years ago

does it work with the sram apex derailleur?

Old niner
Old niner
6 months ago

9 teeth:
I’ve been running a 9 tooth Shimano Capreo 9 speed cassette for 20 years on a 20″ wheel Bike Friday Pocket Rocket and never noticed any weirdness with the 9 tooth. It gets used a lot going downhill or downwind, but overall, much less than the other cogs, so it has never worn out on me. I’ve worn out 2 or 3 cassettes, but it was the other cogs that wore out first. It spins just as smoothly as the other cogs. I don’t have much need to stand up or sprint on it. If I was doing much of that, i guess I’d have to get a bigger chainring.

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