Home > Feature Stories

Race More with Less with New SRAM Force CX1 Cyclocross Group (UPDATED)

37 Comments
Support us! Bikerumor may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More

SRAM CX1 cyclocross xx1 launch adam craig giant20140130_0811

Prototypes and spyshots no more, the SRAM CX1 single-ring cyclocross group is official.

‘Cross is hard enough on bikes, but it is especially hard on drivetrains. From broken derailleurs to dropped chains, CX groups have to work even when they’re encased in a layer of frozen muck. As one of the main weak points of a drivetrain, CX1 gets rid of the front shifter and derailleur entirely thanks to the chain grabbing ability of the X-Sync Chainring. Add in the stability and control of the X-Horizon rear derailleur and you end up with a system that is ready for the toughest conditions – if you’re ready to run a single ring.

Ditch the granny after the break…

UPDATED: Video added to bottom of post.

SRAM CX1 cyclocross xx1 launch adam craig giant20140130_0815

Rather than introducing CX1 at the top level, SRAM instead has chosen to first offer a group at the Force level. The attrition rate of drivetrains is fairly high in cross, so most privateers aren’t running the highest end groups on their race bikes. As such, SRAM Force CX1 should find its way onto more bikes for the coming season thanks to the lower price point.

We’re told there will be both mechanical and hydraulic brakes available with the system, though all we’ve seen to this point are the mechanical versions. The group will include a CX1 specific rear brake lever without shifter internals that is painted to match the rest of the system. Otherwise, the levers are fairly similar to the latest versions.

SRAM CX1 cyclocross xx1 launch adam craig giant20140130_0819

SRAM CX1 cyclocross xx1 launch adam craig giant20140130_0816 SRAM CX1 cyclocross xx1 launch adam craig giant20140130_0818

The medium cage rear derailleur is based off of the same X-horizon design as XX1, but is tuned to work with SRAM’s road shifters. Part of that redesign includes a more traditional cable routing for road/cx frames and a different cable anchor for the cable pull. Features like Cage Lock and the clutch mechanism remain unchanged. A nice design touch is the fact that the derailleur is compatible with both 10 and 11 speed SRAM road shifters, and the derailleur will accommodate up to 32t cassettes.

SRAM CX1 cyclocross xx1 launch adam craig giant20140130_0820

SRAM CX1 cyclocross xx1 launch adam craig giant20140130_0813 SRAM CX1 cyclocross xx1 launch adam craig giant20140130_0812

SRAM CX1 cyclocross xx1 launch adam craig giant20140130_0814

Obviously a big part of the CX1 or XX1 story is the X-Sync chain ring. As the narrow-wide chainring that started it all, the CX1 rings have been further optimized for the best chain retention in the worst mud. Compared to the XX1 rings, the CX1 rings are thicker to maintain their strength in bigger sizes. Starting at 38t, CX1 rings will be available in 40, 42, 44 and 46 tooth counts.

Even though the rings are standard 5 bolt 110 BCD, the crank uses the same removable spider – maybe hinting at one piece rings/spiders in the future.

But with a standard 110 BCD though, the narrow/wide rings should be right at home on any standard road crank. Meaning you can upgrade just the ring and derailleur if you’re already running a SRAM group. Cranksets will be offered in both GXP and BB30/PF30 and in 170, 172.5, and 175mm sizes.

SRAM CX1 cyclocross xx1 launch adam craig giant20140130_0810 copy

There isn’t a specific CX1 cassette or chain, as the system is designed to work with the current Force components. That means no need for an XD driver, but also that the system won’t have quite the wide range as XX1. For racing though, the closer gear ratios will be appreciated, and SRAM says their testers had more than enough gearing with standard road cassettes.

Not everyone is switching to CX1 though – you’ll still see SRAM pros on standard road groups since the 1x drivetrain is not for all riders or courses. But for those that want the benefits of XX1 for their cyclocross bike, CX1 seems like a great option. SRAM Force CX1 will be available in shops starting on July, 1st.

Weights:

  • Shifters: 158 grams right lever, 119 grams left lever, Right $193/ €172/ £147, Left: $113/ €100/ £86
  • Cranks: 42T: 172.5mm): 542 grams (BB30), 710g (GXP), GXP (Chainring and GXP Cups Not Included): $207/ €184/ £157
    BB30 (Chainring and Bearings Not Included): $249/ €221/£189
  • Chainring: 75g (42T), From $126/ €112/ £96 to $152/ €135/ £115
  • Rear Derailleur: 261g, $235/ €209/ £178 Medium Cage 11-Speed
  • PG-1170 Cassette: 247g (11-26), 257g (11-28), 300g (11-32), $107/ €95/ £81 (11-25, 11-26 & 11-28), $118/ €105/ £90 (11-32)
  • PC-1170 Chain: 242g, $54/ €48/ £41
  • In total, a 205g savings over Force22 2x

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

37 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Henrik
Henrik
10 years ago

1xYEAH!!!

mark
mark
10 years ago

is the right shifter the same cable pull as xx1 or is it the same as red/force 22? or are all of these the same pull?

Marc
Marc
10 years ago

Finally! With all this sweet new CX stuff coming out, it’s getting tough to decide on when to pull the trigger on a new build. So far, the wait is paying off!

Keir
Keir
10 years ago

Any details on availability. I’ve been staring down a Red/Force brifter purchase but this sounds like EXACTLY what I need!

hogdog
hogdog
10 years ago

Brilliant! BUT… the fact that there’s no wide range cassette is a deal breaker for me.

badbikemechanic
badbikemechanic
10 years ago

I am sticking with 20 speeds.

Ck
Ck
10 years ago

If the derailleur can handle SRAMs 11-32 cassette, i’m definitely interested.

Cyclocross Magazine
10 years ago

Mark, cable pull is different than XX1. http://www.cxmagazine.com/sram-force-cx1-1x-single-chainring-cyclocross-drivetrain-weight-price-review We had fun on a CX1 bike chasing Zach on his dualie in SoCal!

Larry
Larry
10 years ago

Sram xx1 mtb and x01 mtb rear derialiers are not compatible with the Road 11 speed levers. Thats why they are making this AWESOME Setup!

christian
christian
10 years ago

“The Force CX1 derailleur is available in a mid-cage and long-cage version. The long-cage version is compatible with the larger range cassettes.” Yip EEE! (from another press release)

mateo
mateo
10 years ago

– Its Exact Actuation. Same as SRAM road 10 and 11 speed. NOT the same as XX1.

@Keir – ETA July 1

The 11-32 is the largest it’s designed to handle. It is 10 speed compatible though, so I’m sure someone will try 1×10 with a 11-34 or 11-36 MTB cassette.

Of course, the X01 DH 10 speed derailleur IS designed for the 36T cassette, but is just missing a barrel adjuster for use with road shifters. Nothing an inline adjust couldn’t remedy though.

Matt
Matt
10 years ago

Rad! Now only if they could make a hydro version…………oh wait……..

The Goats
10 years ago

That CX1 name sounds awful familiar : )

http://www.retroshift.com/store/products/shifters
http://www.facebook.com/Retroshift

Still we are happy to see this as we have been big proponents of and supplying 1X for CX for a couple years.

Welcome to the party SRAM!

XOXO

The Goats

Mark @ GRAVELBIKE
10 years ago

“The group will include a CX1 specific rear brake lever without shifter internals that is painted to match the rest of the system.”

Isn’t the front brake lever the one w/o the the clicky bits?

nick_outdoors
nick_outdoors
10 years ago

I was pretty excited until the $152 price tag for a chain ring. CNC blah, blah, blah…

david T
david T
10 years ago

lol – “all we’ve seen to this point are the mechanical versions” i wonder why….

CX Hotdog
CX Hotdog
10 years ago

@ Mark, it was presumptious of them to say that the rear brake is the one on the left, but it’s quite common for cyclocross bikes to be setup that way. Having your rear brake attached to the left lever lets you hang off the left side of the bike and scrub speed before a barrier dismount.

Mark @ GRAVELBIKE
10 years ago

@CX Hotdog — Running the brakes “moto-style” definitely makes sense for ‘cross. I’m assuming that the right lever will still be the one with the shifting mechanism, despite which brake it controls.

mateo
mateo
10 years ago

@ christian – there is no long cage version. Only mid cage and it is 32T compatible

TGO
TGO
10 years ago

I wonder how long it will take Wolftooth to 3D scan the ring and start “innovating”

Mindless
Mindless
10 years ago

Zee derailleur would be nice. Wish the do a compatible shifter.

suede
suede
10 years ago

@campag dude
bazinga

joe
joe
10 years ago

the company that has had terrible front shifting is now pushing the 1x. i’ll stick to campag or shimano. let’s be honest, the first 1,000 customers are going to be beta testers anyway.

django
django
10 years ago

^ bro. they’re going to be master-beta testers. you must not even lift.

mic7
mic7
10 years ago

i wuold like to test it on a road bike.

now i have a bike with 46 single chainring, sram 11-32 cassette and ultegra 11v shifter and rear derailleur.

it goes very well, only a little sound when is used the 32.

until now i don’t have any single chain drop.

the spaces within the cassatte rings is ok, and the most advertible jump is between 19-22.

when will it be dispnible?

Heffe
Heffe
10 years ago

SRAM 11 speed road shifters are not compatible with their 11 speed off-road derailleurs, is that right?

Derek
Derek
10 years ago

@Heffe:

Yes. But 10s MTB and Road are the same. I also hear that an 11s road RD will work with a 10s shifter on a 10s setup which I guess means that only the 11s MTB stuff is different.

TimmS
TimmS
10 years ago

When will it be available?

hogdog
hogdog
10 years ago

Genesis bikes came up with a wide range set up on their Facebook page that seems (for me at least) to make this groupo redundant…

We’ve been experimenting with a SRAM 1×10 setup on a Fugio and have been getting on really well with it, so much so that I wouldn’t be surprised to see a similar setup grace a 2015 model (hint, hint). The Apex shifter and X7 Type2 clutch rear mech use the same pull ratio so are 100% compatible and we’ve matched it with the SRAM BL500 l/h singlespeed brake lever so that hoods are matched and it doesn’t look (or feel) like a bodged setup. We’ve been running a 42T chainring with 11-36T cassette on an adjusted 47.5mm chainline, we’d feared the jumps between gears would be too big but that hasn’t proved to be the case at all.

thesteve4761
thesteve4761
10 years ago

So they added a barrel adjuster, and made the rings in 110, and called it a group set? Similar to @hogdog, I’ve been runnig an X7 clutch mated to a road 10spd shifter with great success.

Cool to see that CX now merits it’s own groupos. Too bad this isn’t one.

Yourface
Yourface
10 years ago

Wolftooth has already been making compatible chainrings, got a 42 myself.

Bill
Bill
10 years ago

Ditto some others, I ran an X9 rear with Rival shifters + a wolftooth chainring all this past cross season. My frame has internal cables so no downtube barrel adjusters meant putting one inline before it entered the frame. Zero problems, zero dropped chains all season. This looks like taking what was a pretty great setup and basically just removing the tinkerer component to it and calling it a day. Mud didn’t seem to bother the wolf tooth at all, so I’m a bit skeptical of the improvements to the front, and as for the rear, while the barrel adjuster is nice, I’ve no experience with this “X-horizon” derailluer style so unsure if that’s a big improvement either. All that said, for people that just want a system that works out of the box, this seems like a pretty good idea. My (and others) piecemeal solution made for the masses.

It does look nice too. Great job on the graphics everywhere EXCEPT that left brake lever. Not matching it to the right one is kind of ugly, IMO.

Sentosa
Sentosa
10 years ago

Same as what Bill said… x9 rear type 2 mech with a rival shifter aka 1×10 = perfecto!

wheel-guy
wheel-guy
10 years ago

This looks perfect for CX, but I’d also like to see a 10-42 cassette option for a super simple gravel grinder / road / ultra-cross setup.

Ajaj
Ajaj
10 years ago

Without wider cassette i d’ont see the update form a mtb 1×10 custom setup. If it had 11-34 and 11-36 options i may buy one straight. That would make also a nice 1x Road group.

DerekSmalls
DerekSmalls
10 years ago

Hmm, wonder if that RD will work with Shimano or Campg shifters?

Dirty D
Dirty D
10 years ago

You guys NEED a 42t rear cog to race cross or gravel? If so, stay home and keep out of people’s way. SO SLOW.

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.