SRAM Wireless Group Set In The Wild At Thompson Bucks County Classic

The noticeable lack of cables is a tell tale sign of the wireless shifting. Photo by Scott Kingsley.

Update – Bike World News had a chance to talk to SRAM about the wireless group set, but they are still very tight lipped about it.

“New and innovative product development is a constant at SRAM. We have acknowledged our electronic drivetrain project, and testing protocols will continue with athletes and staff. This project has no assigned timeline and the product technology is still in the development phase with more testing and refinement yet to occur. We understand, respect and appreciate the excitement surrounding new cycling developments but SRAM will continue to reserve comment.”

While shooting the Thompson Bucks County Classic, Bike World News spotted the SRAM wireless shifting group fitted to an Optum p/b Kelly Benefits Strategies Diamond Back.

Not all riders on the team were set up with the wireless group, but team leader Jesse Anthony was. We were able to steal some shots while he was signing in before the race. Sources say the riders that are equipped with it are extremely satisfied so far.

The battery mounted on the back of the motor unit makes a tidy package and looks to keep the weight down. Photo by Scott Kingsley.

All pieces of the group were looking polished and ready for production. Still, the only branding was the SRAM logos. No official timelines have been released for production, but with more of the groups starting to appear on sponsored bikes, I’d guess we should see an announcement in the first half of 2015.

We are still waiting to hear where the battery is located on the shift levers and if it is rechargable. Also, wth the rise of CX1, will there be an option to remove the front derailleur? Unfortunately with how the wireless group shifts, you would still be required to keep both complete shifters on the bars, unstead of running a gutted shifter. This might not be an issue for most riders, but could limit the brand from being an option for riders that need a custom, single sided set up to control shifting and braking.

Check out the pictures for a more detailed look at the new group set that we hope to see soon!

Four cables here... Photo by Scott Kingsley. — Four cables here… Photo by Scott Kingsley.

...Two cables here. Photo by Scott Kingsley. — …Two cables here. Photo by Scott Kingsley.

"eRed 22" looks to keep a similar shape to its mechanical brethren. Photo by Scott Kingsley. — “eRed 22” looks to keep a similar shape to its mechanical brethren. Photo by Scott Kingsley.

Instead of the usual cables, the front and rear derailleurs are both activated through a wireless radio frequency. Photo by Scott Kingsley.

Markings on the metal portion of the rear derailleur bear resemblance to current production models. Photo by Scott Kingsley.

Unlike Shimano Di2 or Campangnolo EPS, the motor is located between the parallelogram and the jockey wheels. Photo by Scott Kingsley.

Scott Kingsley

Based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Scott joined Bike World News as the Cyclocross Editor in 2012 before taking over as Tech Editor in 2016. He has also worked as a photographer for various pro teams and shoot races along the east coast of the US, including the 2012 US MTB National Championships, 2013 UCI Cyclocross World Championships, and 2016 UCI Road World Championships. Scott has a passion for performance and technology, with 35 years of riding and mechanic experience. He also enjoys soccer, running, teaching group fitness classes, and is the founder of Lancaster Beard Company.

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