1x drivetrains are hot, but for road bikes? Earlier in 2018, the 3T Strada raised the eyebrows of the European professional peloton when Irish-registered professional team, Aqua Blue Sport, announced they’d be riding the uber aerodynamic 3T road bike during the 2018 season.
It has disc brakes, nothing new there, we’ve already seen sporadic use of this technology in the pro peloton.
But, the 3T Strada eschews 2x / two chainrings for a 1x / single chainring – huh? Isn’t this supposed to be a road bike?
3T have made some interesting claims with the Strada. Sure, a lot of work has gone into the aerodynamics of the bike, you’re either going to love or hate how it looks. Credit the Strada’s stealthy lines to Gerard Vroomen, co-founder and former co-owner of Cervelo.
There’s a generous amount of room for tyre clearance, namely 30mm front and rear.
However, the claim of dropping about 400 grams to ditch one chainring, a front derailleur and a further improvement in aerodynamics is a bit questionable in my opinion.
Thus, with a healthy dose of skepticism in mind, I took delivery of the 3T Strada (size medium) early in 2018. You can check out my unboxing video here (so many people love unboxing videos!… or not) and the build video here.
Much of the time I ride gravel and cyclocross bikes on the funnest roads of all, but I still ride on the road when necessary. I despise doing solo intervals, but with the help of some of my mates in Gainesville, Florida, I knock about on the odd roadie group ride, hoping to maintain and gather some higher end fitness.
The 3T Strada has served as my primary road bike for over eight months for group rides and solo jaunts.
Rather than continuing to ramble on about the 3T Strada in written form, please check out my comprehensive, long-term review of the bike in the video below. Gearing, group rides, rides in the Georgia mountains, all of it is covered.
For your viewing delight, a few more photos:
Final Thoughts
Don’t like the idea of 1x on a road bike? 3T released the Due a little while ago, the 2x / double chainring version of the Strada. I would like a 3T Due please… and a 3T Exploro with 2x whilst you’re at it.
Priced at about $US 3,300 for the 3T Strada Team Red/White frame module as seen in this review, or $US 5,900 for the complete Strada Team Force bike, all are available now at 3T’s website. 3T also offers a slighter heavier, Strada Pro model if you don’t to spend quite as much.
Article and video by Gravel Cyclist. Jayson O’Mahoney is the Gravel Cyclist: A website about the Gravel Cycling Experience.
