The new SRAM AXS electronic, wireless derailleur and drivetrain components were fitted to XCO gold medallist Nino Schurter\u2019s Scott Spark RC<\/a>, as well as being seen on other riders\u2019 bikes from the Canyon, Specialized and Trek teams.<\/p>\n We managed to spot the new drivetrain<\/a> components while at the World Championships in Les Gets and got a reasonably close look at the BlackBox kit.<\/p>\n Although it doesn\u2019t look as though SRAM has torn up the rear-derailleur rule book with its latest BlackBox kit, because it still uses a cage with two pulley wheels that connects to the parallelogram-style body with a knuckle, the eagle-eyed will spot some important changes.<\/p>\n Most obviously, the new BlackBox derailleur no longer mounts to a derailleur hanger. Instead, its b-bolt (the term used for the main mounting bolt) appears to attach directly to the frame or axle at the dropout.<\/p>\n The derailleur features \u2018loops\u2019 that attach it to the bike, essentially sandwiching the frame at its mounting point.<\/p>\n Although we we weren\u2019t able to remove the back wheel on any of the bikes we saw with the BlackBox kit, the derailleur appears to only be compatible with bikes using SRAM\u2019s Universal Derailleur Hanger (UDH)<\/a>.<\/p>\n UDH launched in 2019 and was sold as a solution to the many different derailleur hangers on the market, where if one, single system was used spares would be easier to come by and derailleur setup and alignment should be easier and more accurate.<\/p>\n If it\u2019s correct to assume the new derailleur\u2019s body mounts directly to the bike\u2019s frame, and from what we saw at the World Champs this is the case, clearly more was at play when SRAM announced the UDH nearly four years ago.<\/p>\n Continuing that line of thought, it appears the UDH was a mere placeholder for the brand\u2019s new derailleur design, where the derailleur\u2019s b-bolt \u2018loop\u2019 replaces the hanger entirely.<\/p>\n However, if the new derailleur does replace the UDH, it\u2019s good news for owners of bikes that use a UDH, where upgrading to the new system should be possible.<\/p>\n Looking from the rear of the bike, the derailleur\u2019s profile is slimmer than current, hanger-mounted systems, sitting further inboard.<\/p>\n By removing the hanger\u2019s standard derailleur mounting position, everything looks further inboard than before, possibly reducing the chances of damage.<\/p>\n Arguably, the dual-sided \u2018looped\u2019 b-bolt mounting system looks more robust than current hanger-mounted derailleurs.<\/p>\n During the XCO race, gold medal finisher Nino Schurter put the new kit to the test as he crashed onto the bike\u2019s driveside, skidding along the ground on one of the grassy turns that characterise the Les Gets course.<\/p>\n Crush for @nschurter<\/a> ????Redesigning the derailleur<\/h2>\n
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