00:00 Today, SRAM has launched its fourth tier wireless groupset.
00:04 Named SRAM Apex AXS, it follows in the footsteps
00:07 of three well-established electronic product lines
00:11 from the American brand.
00:13 Since SRAM has been so active
00:15 in the wireless groupset space for some time now,
00:18 the Apex AXS groupset is the recipient
00:21 of plenty of trickle-down tech.
00:23 So what is this new groupset,
00:25 and what can we expect from it?
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00:30 For starters, it's not just one groupset
00:38 that has been launched,
00:39 but instead an entire range of components
00:42 that sit underneath the Apex name.
00:45 There will be both electronic and mechanical parts available
00:48 but we'll start with the former.
00:50 What we have is a one-by, 12-speed electronic groupset
00:54 with hydraulic disc brakes.
00:56 The shape of the hoods imitate those
00:58 of the rival and force group sets.
01:00 Likewise, the placement of the shifting buttons
01:03 is also exactly the same.
01:05 The batteries used to power the system
01:07 are the same as SRAM's other setups,
01:10 that being a removable rechargeable battery on the derailleur
01:13 and the shifters are powered
01:15 using coin cell CR2032 batteries.
01:19 On the flip side, a mechanical version of the groupset
01:21 is also being made.
01:23 And the only real difference here
01:24 is that the electronic gubbins have been removed.
01:27 Everything else is basically the same.
01:30 One touch that I do quite like
01:32 is the wide range of cassettes that can be used with Apex.
01:36 Thanks to the two different derailleurs
01:38 that have been made available,
01:40 you can run a cassette all the way up to a 52 tooth in size.
01:44 Now, that's not to say that many will,
01:47 but you could if you really wanted to.
01:50 So who is Apex AXS really for?
01:54 Since this certainly isn't an out and out road bike groupset.
01:57 Well, gravel riders mainly
02:00 and those who want a one by electronic trivet train,
02:03 but at an even more affordable price point.
02:06 It's almost a given that bike brands
02:08 will be snapping this groupset up
02:09 to deck out their gravel offerings.
02:12 Any brand that chooses to spec the Apex AXS on its bikes
02:17 will be able to create a build
02:18 which delivers electronic shifting on a gravel bike
02:21 for less money than ever before.
02:24 Now, this release has certainly left Shimano
02:27 on the back foot as currently,
02:29 it doesn't have anything in its range
02:31 which rivals this latest release from SRAM.
02:33 However, Shimano have never been one
02:35 to be dictated to by the Americans.
02:38 So I'm sure in time, we will see that little Di2 logo
02:42 make its way down the GRX line of components
02:45 in the same way it has for 105 Di2.
02:48 Just a couple of weeks ago at Unbound Gravel,
02:51 Ben Delaney spotted what could be
02:53 a 12-speed mechanical GRX groupset
02:56 with what looks to be a 10-42-2 cassette.
03:00 So there is some big change on the gravel scene right now.
03:03 The electronic features don't just stop at the shifting.
03:07 No, SRAM has created a single-sided power meter upgrade kit.
03:11 So you can swap out the left-hand crank arm
03:14 for one which has a spindle-mounted power meter
03:16 which neatly sits inside the frame.
03:19 It must be said, the new components
03:21 have taken a big step forwards in their appearance.
03:24 It looks far more attractive than its predecessor.
03:27 Personally, I think the chainset and the shifters
03:30 have taken the biggest step forwards
03:31 and now mean that at a first glance,
03:34 you wouldn't instantly know
03:36 you're looking at a fourth-tier offering.
03:38 Currently, Apex AXS kind of sits alone in the market
03:42 with no real competitors.
03:44 SRAM is the only brand to have brought out
03:47 electronic shifting this far down in its range
03:50 and especially for a 1X groupset.
03:53 Once again, SRAM is ahead of the curve
03:55 and has come out with something
03:57 which I believe will be incredibly popular.
04:00 Prices for a 1X Apex AXS Explore groupset
04:04 come in at $1,195,
04:07 £1,262,
04:10 or 1,411 euros,
04:13 while a mechanical 1X Explore groupset
04:16 will come in at $987,
04:18 £1,060,
04:20 or 1,176 euros,
04:23 and the price of the Power Meter Upgrade Kit
04:26 is $220,
04:28 or £205,
04:30 or 230 euros.
04:32 When we look at the weights of the groupsets,
04:34 the Apex Explore AXS drivetrain weighs in at 2,890 grammes,
04:39 with the mechanical Explore drivetrain
04:42 coming in at a claimed 2,872 grammes,
04:46 only an 18 gramme difference.
04:49 There are flat bar and eagle versions of Apex too,
04:52 each with their own pricing and weights,
04:54 but I believe both the Explore versions of the groupset
04:57 will be the most popular.
04:59 As a bonus piece of news,
05:03 just yesterday, Zwift launched its next piece of hardware,
05:06 named Zwift Play.
05:08 What it's essentially created
05:10 is a handlebar mountable controller.
05:14 Now, the unit comes in two pieces,
05:16 with each part mounting underneath your shifters.
05:18 You get buttons to be able to control everything in the game
05:21 from giving ride-ons, changing worlds, and using power-ups.
05:26 You now no longer need to reach over to your laptop
05:28 or your phone to interact with the game.
05:31 Instead, you just have to use your thumbs.
05:34 The other cool feature is that there are two paddles
05:36 on the front of the units,
05:38 which allow you to brake when you push them both in,
05:40 or you can steer when you pull either one to the outside.
05:45 Both parts are USB rechargeable
05:47 and can be charged in tandem with the Y-shaped USB-C cable.
05:52 You can even have them plugged in and charging
05:54 while you use them.
05:56 We're also told that extensive testing has been done
05:59 to ensure that they are sweat-proof.
06:01 In principle, I'm a big fan of what this new tech would do
06:05 to the experience of riding indoors.
06:08 I feel like it would be less faffy,
06:10 and you can focus more on just doing
06:12 what you actually want to do.
06:14 I also believe that this is the best implementation
06:16 of indoor steering yet.
06:18 Now, at launch, pricing will be £99, dollars, or euros,
06:23 with the price going up to £149, dollars, or euros
06:27 after the initial launch phase.
06:30 Let me know down below,
06:31 what do you think of the new SRAM Apex AXS components?
06:35 And of the new hardware from Zwift?
06:38 If you enjoyed the video, then please do drop it a like,
06:40 subscribe to the channel for more content,
06:42 and I will see you again very soon.
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