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SRAM Red Teaser – (Updated!) 6 Different Closeups

2012 SRAM Red rear derailleur aeroglide jockey wheels pulley wheel
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2012 SRAM Red rear derailleur aeroglide jockey wheels pulley wheel

We’ve heard there’s going to be a steady (possibly daily!) leak of images of the new SRAM group. If that holds true through their February 1 launch, we’ll see quite a bit, but this partial shot of the rear derailleur means they could in fact come up with about 40 more.

Shown here are the new AeroGlide jockey wheels. SRAM’s brief -as in one line- description suggests they’ll offer quieter operation. We’re thinking it’s taking their claims of making a more aerodynamic group to extremes, but still super cool to see innovation taken to all corners of a group. More as we get it…but catch the other two posts here and here.

UPDATED! Possible leaked image of their new road rim or disc brake caliper and more!

UPDATED MORE! More info, corrections and speculation added!

2012 SRAM Red disc brake spy shot

If we were betting folk, we’d say this is the front end of a very aero rear brake caliper (I’m thinking this is the new cam mechanism on the new rim brake – Zach). Found via Axel Merckx’s twitter stream by a vigilant reader – Thanks Matt B!

UPDATE: Apparently, Zach’s right and this is the top outer arm of the new brakes, and the AeroLink is the mechanical leverage arm that supposedly increases power without adding weight or too much complexity. We’ve seen this sort of thing on Feather Brakes and others, and it works well. The slot is likely where the AeroLink moves into as the brakes articulate. (But dang if that wouldn’t be one slick looking disc caliper! – Tyler)

All of these photos can now be found on Competitive Cyclist’s Facebook page, which is where the next four were found. Thanks CC!

UPDATE: They’ve been pulled.

2013 SRAM Red Ergo Dynamic shift brake levers

The new hood looks like it will include new texturing to the rubber to improve comfort and grip. Also, the lever paddle reach adjuster looks to have been switched to the other side and now uses an Allen instead of a tiny cam you have to turn with a screwdriver.

2013 SRAM Red Cassette

The new Red crankset has some interesting detail for the inside chainring (some kind of anti-drop plate?) Likely the back of the cassette, good eyes JN.

UPDATE: Bike Europe’s roundup mentions “StealthRing elastomers for a silent ride”. That got us looking closely, and it does indeed appear to have a small black, rubbery looking ring around the inside of cog visible through the machined  backplate. Interesting.

2013-SRAM-Red-Exotech hollow carbon fiber crankset

Exogram seems to be the new moniker for the carbon technology that allowed them to supposedly drop so much weight from the crank.

UPDATE: Word is the cranks have a hollow carbon core.

2013 SRAM Red front derailleur with YAW technology to eliminate trim by keeping the chain inline with the cassette cog being used

Building the Red rear derailleur with limit screws that could be turned with Allen wrenches was one of the best things to ever happen to limit screws. Now, the front derailleur boasts that feature as well. Thank you Sram. What the Yaw refers to is anyone’s guess (though I’m guessing something to do with a new method of lateral adjustment).

UPDATE: While SRAM’s being mum on the subject from an official standpoint, here’s the backstory that supports the “trimless” front derailleur theory floating around: First, the word Yaw gives us a lot to go on. For something like this, we’ll assume the most appropriate definition to be that of “Yaw Bearing”, or keeping components in the optimal heading, in particular by changing orientation as conditions demand. Other than the whole titanium cage being a weak spot on the original Red group*, one big complaint was a lack of trim ability when in the small ring. So, our second point is that in order to eliminate the pain points and give people more reason to upgrade, this would be a major improvement. Third, about a year ago, our inside guy at SRAM sent out full PR on a new front trim upgrade to the Red group. We had info and an embargo date. Then, at the 11th hour, they called to say don’t run it, we’re making some changes.

Put it all together, mash up with other rumors floating around, and you get a front derailleur that either magically trims itself without electronics or, more likely, a system that simply eliminates the need for trim through mechanical design. We don’t see any batteries.

Of course, this is all speculation until we get the final info early next year.

* According to one of the mechanics and shop techs we spoke to, the original Red’s titanium cage flexed enough to eventually deform, leading to poor shifting performance, particularly when coupled with their Return 2 Center aero bar end shifters and a very stiff TT or triathlon frame.

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18 Comments
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yesplease
yesplease
12 years ago

Competitive Cyclist has more pictures than you guys do. Its on their facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.323051751046071.83361.129125333772048&type=1

Steve M
Steve M
12 years ago

I am thinking some AstroGlide will help more with aerodyanmics than some of this fluff.

Brattercakes
Brattercakes
12 years ago

I don’t know what “after the break” means.

Patrick
12 years ago

I am so excited about RED and I am looking for a new bike I think I might make the big jump to SRAM

SRAM guy
SRAM guy
12 years ago

I am fairly certain this is privileged information that was not supposed to be leaked at this point in time. You should be ashamed.

JN
JN
12 years ago

I’m thinking the picture that accompanies your crankarm image above is the back of the cassette. Looks like the back plate and freehub spline piece pressed onto the machined one piece cogs.

Zach Overholt
Admin
12 years ago

@JN, I think you’re right.

SA
SA
12 years ago

Looks like Competitive Cyclist took their photos down. Any chance of us being able to order the hoods only for pre-existing SRAM shifters?

Bogey
Bogey
12 years ago

That’s definitely not a picture of a disc caliper. The slot is too narrow to fit a rotor with any sort of clearance and there is not mount. That’s a picture of the new rim brake caliper.

Benny
Benny
12 years ago

I’d bet a hefty sum that “Yaw” almost certainly refers to the autotrimming effect of the new front derailleur. With non-parallel pivots, it should turn a bit too to avoid chain rub in the outer-outer combo, thus negating the need for trimming.

Pat
Pat
12 years ago

You guys stole that information about the road brake caliper from James Huang’s article on Bike Radar. Until you publish an apology for stealing information from Bike Radar, I will no longer be reading this website.

Zach Overholt
Admin
12 years ago
Reply to  Pat

Sorry Pat, that was my own deduction. I posted that more than 5 hours ago, and according to the time on the BikeRadar article, it was only posted 2 hours ago. James and I are cool, I will not steal from him. Get the facts next time.

Steve M
Steve M
12 years ago

See ya Pat

greg
greg
12 years ago

looks like the largest cog will be steel, unlike XX. the aluminum part that reaches the freehub ends before the cog teeth, with a step to transfer the drive.
i hope XX adopts this, as i know a few folks that wear the 36t before anything else is worn. (i know, they just need to go faster)

Bogey
Bogey
12 years ago

, the largest cog is definitely aluminum like XX. The surface finish and look of the edges give it away. Too bad because the 36T is definitely the weak point of the XX cassette.

Jesus CHrist
Jesus CHrist
12 years ago

The only time you get your information right is when you rip off BikeRadar. I know getting breaking news is important but seriously, a chainring? You thought it was a chainring? You can see the freehub spline in the picture.

Brattercakes
Brattercakes
12 years ago

@Jesus

To err is human.

Will
Will
12 years ago

Sometimes reading these things makes me wish cyclists were nicer people. Happy holidays!

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