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SRAM introduces electronic road group – SRAM RED eTap

  • Ron 

SRAM has been teasing the bicycle tech press with their wireless electronic road group for some time. Our man Scott Kingsley first spotted the group in the wild nearly a year ago at the Thompson Bucks County Classic on the bike of Optum Pro Cycling’s Jesse Anthony.

SRAM RED eTap ShifterToday, after years of exhaustive testing on the road and in the lab, the group was formally released to the public at the opening of the Eurobike trade show. Called SRAM RED® eTap®, the group represents a leap forward in bicycle technology as well as a new paradigm in shifting logic (more about that later).

For the average road rider,  SRAM RED eTap will consist of just three basic components: eTap Shift Levers, the eTap Front Derailleur and the eTap rear derailler. No battery box, no transmitter – everything is self contained in the individual components.

SRAM RED eTap FDFor those of you worried about your competitors being able to ‘hack’ your shifting, fear not. The system uses a proprietary wireless protocol that SRAM calls AIREA. AIREA uses 128 bit encryption to transmit signals and only ‘paired’ components can talk to one another.

As I mentioned earlier, eTap also introduces a new methodology to shifting gears. Since the system does away with cables altogether, the shift levers can now perform their functions in a new way. Flicking the right lever makes it harder, flicking the left lever makes it easier and both levers shift the front derailleur. Simple, unmistakable, and intuitive.

SRAM RED eTap RDIn case you were wondering, the system doesn’t leave triathletes or TT riders behind. RED eTap also offers what they are calling ‘Blips’ – satellite shifters for aero bars. While the blips will require a wired connection to a small ‘blip box’, they will enable riders to put remote shifters wherever they like on their handlebars.

Blips can also be paired with the eTap levers to give road riders additional shift positions. Available in 4 sizes, the blips can be placed under the bar tape, keeping lines clean while giving more shift options.

A complete drivetrain kit consisting of shifters, derailleurs, brakes, crank, bottom bracket, cassette, chain and chargers is expected to retail for $2758, a premium of just under $200 less than a standard RED 22 groupset. For those who have an existing SRAM 22 group, the shifters and derailleurs can be purchased separately for around $1600.

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