Originally leaked last week from the Taipei Cycle Show, this MRP-SRAM chain guide might hint at things to come from the surprise pair. At first glance, the Truvativ and XO branded chain guide looks to be an MRP G2 SL chain guide in disguise.
While there isn’t a whole lot of information on the collaboration, we reached out to SRAM and MRP for comment. While MRP couldn’t say much about the current or future products, SRAM’s press liaison Morgan Meredith says “it’s the beginning of a more robust relationship in the future.”
Bicycle Retailer had a little more on the matter as they spoke with the Vice President of sales and marketing for MRP.
See what Bicycle Retailer had to say after the break!
From Bicycle Retailer:
Paul Aieta had the right product at the right time to help SRAM boost the shifting performance of its X-Glide 2×10 crankset. And Aieta, vice president of sales and marketing for MRP, is leaving the Taipei show and returning to Grand Junction, Colorado, all smiles. His company will supply a co-branded chain guide that can be spec’d with SRAM’s Truvativ X0 cranks. SRAM will deliver the MRP chain guide and skid plate in May for both aftermarket sales and OEM installation.
“It’s becoming more understood that chain guide management is critical to performance. It’s no longer an application just for downhill bikes,” Aieta said.
Tom Zurawski, SRAM’s brand communication manager for Truvativ, said MRP is a leader in chain guide technology. Mountain bikers today are pushing the limits of their drivetrains as they seek increasingly more difficult terrain and reach ever-higher speeds. “So we want the chain to stay where it’s supposed to stay,” Zurawski said. Eko Sport, a small company that also makes White Brothers suspension forks, Kreitler rollers, Power Grips and Tamer suspenion seatposts, owns MRP, short for Mountain racing Products. Aieta, formerly with DT Swiss, has been at MRP for six years. MRP manufactures products in-house in Grand Junction as well as in Taiwan. And producing parts in Taiwan is key to its relationship with SrAM, where the company delivers parts to manufacturers on a 30-day timeline. The X-Glide system lets riders shift instantly under load and without any crosschain issues on its 11-36 or 12-36 rear cassettes. Adding the MRP chain guide further enhances the system’s performance, Zurawski said.
MRP holds a variety of patents for chainguide technology, Aieta said. “SRAM recognizes our intellectual property,” he added, “and that was certainly a factor.” —Marc Sani
