SRAM

I have SRAM Force on my Trek Emonda. I decided to upgrade my front derailleur from D1 to E1 (skipping D2) because I was having issues with clearance between the inside of my drive side crankarm and the outside of the derailleur cage while in the big chainring. Setup on the E1 was straightforward with the included alignment tool. As advertised, the cage is narrower. Another noticeable change from D1 is that the bolt for the back of the derailleur cage moved from outboard to inboard. The end result is that there is now AMPLE clearance between the derailleur cage and the crankarm! Quiet and smooth shifting. Only minor gripe is that BTD doesn't mention that a battery is not included (although they disclose that on the Red derailleur). Definitely a pricey upgrade for just a front derailleur, but for me, well worth it!

I like how you can place these shifters where ever its most comfortable/convenient. In my case, I placed them on my aerobars on my road bike. This enabled me to keep my hands on the aerobars while shifting, greatly reducing the number of times I have to reach for the hood shifters. This enables quicker shifting and a smoother ride. It was easy to pair these with my AXS system.

Two things could be improved.

(1) The battery. I'd like to see a replaceable or rechargeable battery. This would extend the like of the blips.

(2) Providing more (or better) options for mounting these securely. My aerobars are round and pretty thin. The mounting stickers and cheap plastic mounting covers don't appear to provide long-term protection from falling off. Time will tell though. The plastic covers don't fit well around thin, round bars. I realize you can try to wrap some bar tape around them to help with this, but they are so small it makes it difficult to get them wrapped without having to cut the bar tape to avoid the blip contact points.

Just picked up the SRAM Eagle PCX01 chain and honestly, it's been great. If you're looking for a 12-speed chain that won't break the bank, but still performs really well, this is it.

Shifting is smooth, installation was easy, and it's been running quiet since day one. I was a bit hesitant to go with this over some of the pricier options, but I'm glad I did. It handles the wide-range cassette without any issues and feels like it'll last.

For the price, you really can't beat it. Why spend twice as much when this does the job perfectly? If you need a reliable chain for your 12-speed setup and don't want to overspend, the PCX01 is definitely the way to go. Best bang for your buck, no question.

?I upgraded to the 165mm SRAM RED E1 DUB arms, and the difference is incredible. These are absurdly light, you can instantly feel the weight savings over the old generation. The carbon stiffness is phenomenal; every watt goes straight to the wheels.

?Switching to 165mm has been a game-changer for my fit, boosting my cadence and reducing hip fatigue on long climbs. Installation was easy thanks to the DUB spindle standard. My only complaint is the price, but if you want the absolute best and lightest crank arms for your build, these are it. A truly premium, five-star upgrade.