2019 Pinkbike Awards: Innovation of the Year Winner
The modern mountain bike has evolved dramatically over the last decade, thanks to innovations like dropper posts, 1x drivetrains, and improved geometry. The evolution doesn't show any signs of slowing down either - there's still plenty of room for improvement and refinement.
This year's nominees for Innovation of the Year included a clever coil spring rate adjuster, a futuristic XC race bike, compliant carbon wheels, and a wireless electronic drivetrain. All of those products have the potential to advance the sport in their own way, but it was SRAM's AXS component group that takes the win.
2019 INNOVATION OF THE YEAR
SRAM's AXS Components
The future is wireless.
SRAM's AXS Components
The future is wireless.
The concept of an electronic drivetrain isn't entirely new - early attempts took place from several manufacturers back in the 1990s, but it wasn't until the introduction of Shimano's Di2 drivetrain in 2014 that there was a viable option for mountain bikers. There was one issue, though; Di2 still had a wire running from the shifter to the derailleur. That meant that setup wasn't any easier (and it often actually took longer) than installing a drivetrain with 'regular' cable and housing.
In 2016 SRAM launched their wireless road gruppo, SRAM Red eTap, and it wasn't long before speculation began about when that technology would make it over to the mountain bike world. The rumor mill kicked into high gear when prototypes popped up in late 2018 on the bikes of various athletes, and then the group was finally launched to the public in early 2019.
As it turns out, it was worth the wait. The shifting is instant and impeccable, and the same goes for the action of the wireless dropper post - there's no delay between when the lever is pushed and the derailleur moves or the dropper can be lowered. As for setup, that's just about instant as well. There's no need to fuss with cables and housing; just bolt on the derailleur and shifter, install the battery, push a couple buttons and you're ready to go.
With AXS, dropper post installation takes a matter of seconds.
There was a lot riding on the launch of AXS - a glitchy interface or poor performance could have stalled it at the starting line, but after nine months of near-constant use our original test parts are still going strong. Yes, the shape of the shifter paddle could stand a little more refinement, and the price is still situated up in the stratosphere, at least for now, but as far as overall execution goes, SRAM nailed it the first time around. The future is wireless, and the launch of AXS has put SRAM right at the front of the pack.
The 2019 Pinkbike Award for Innovation of the Year goes to SRAM's AXS components.
Author Info:
Must Read This Week
Sign Up for the Pinkbike Newsletter - All the Biggest, Most Interesting Stories in your Inbox
PB Newsletter Signup
The question is not whether the old situation was a problem. The question is whether it is better with this solution. Pinkbike seems to think that it is.
Wireless sounds cool but it's substituting a problem with another one. Not really a solution for me.
A firmware update isn't going to prevent you from riding any more or less than setting the correct pressures for your tires is...
I can't know for sure, but I really don't think there was a large population of cyclists in the early 70's that were annoyed by the fact there were no bikes available that allowed you to safely and comfortably ride down steep hiking trails at speed. So in my opinion, the mountain bike is also a solution to a problem that wasn't really a problem. Doesn't make it less fun.
Oh, and people don't need shifting. There is a large community of single speed enthousiasts that could easily get a bike with gears. It's a lot easier to get up the mountain if you have gears, that's for sure. But you don't need them.
I still have this video of a desperate roadie trying to shift a wireless sram derailleur and shouting: Fuuuuk Sram!!! Fuuuuuk Sram!!!
Come on Pinkbike... at least before you could put it on RC who is a gear fetishist.
I'll take part of that back now that I think about it. The Marzocchi Bomber CR (Fox VAN RC) is a solid design and an amazing performer when custom tuned.
massive YES to all that!
We are commenting on this silly thing winning what is possible the most prominent journalist award in MTB world for bike products. And they even have a bloody nerve to mention Reverb! Oh now they got it right! It’s abused wife/child syndrome.
For the rest I was only corroborating the slight lack neutrality of the media at times, maybe as they get spoiled by the industry.
However, that was Di2. It’s not fair to say that AXS will be plagued with the same issues. Maybe it will being electronic, but I think we have to let time tell before we can make that judgement.
This is innovation of the year, not keep doing the same thing award.
Not every idea is good. They didn't make it to the list.
@fabwizard: that is not a fair comparison. Problem with AXS is not the way it works, that is beyond fanatabulous. If they had a nuclear reactor and antenna capable of contacting Voyager 1, it would still be flawed. It is the fact that a virtually disposable product costs so much. This is not road racing where derailleurs are unlikely to get damaged and where one could make an argument that shifting quality can mean a successful sprint out of the peloton or not. SRAM could simply sell the whole thing at package price only, and then charge 100$ for replacement of each rear mech. I'd buy that argument. So far, it is the rear mech that is the most expensive element of the package.
Since the category is for innovation i think this is a fair winner.
BTW you may have something there. Nuclear reactors for EBikes????????? Patent it quick.
By most peoples logic on here, did we really need anything that costs more for our bike when the original does the job? Perhaps not, but you have a choice, just like you have a choice for most things in the world.
quit preaching the false doctrine, priest!
IMO 'progress the sport' would be pulling their heads out of their arses and working on the next logical step.... now that we've murdered the front derailleur let's murder the rear... GEARBOXES!
The gearbox journey has been a gradual one and the path to enlightenment is paved with perils and pitfalls. I'd love to see a gearbox with less range (sorry i don't need 500%) so fewer gears and lighter.
But in the meantime i'm cool if AXS tech trickles down so non-surgeons can get a piece of the action one day.
What about electric shifting in mtb?
You still have to push a lever with your thumb to move the chain to the next cog, zero innovation there.
It brings only the benefit of more precise shifting (they say) at the big expenses of having to remember to charge batteries and eliminating any chance of repairing it yourself or hack it in the trail if something goes wrong.
And I haven't talked about price, cause even if some day thry're equally priced to mechanical counterparts, I'd pick mecanical.
But given the hate for everything "roadie" on Pinkbike, i'm not surprised that they are totally blind to these facts.
I’ve had red, di2, and axs equipped bikes. Axs by far has the best features and shift quality - as well it should, since it’s the newest.
There’s more force from the motor.
The chain is different and AXS specific, so you’re wrong.
The geometry is different in a variety of ways. More chain wrap, for one. Shorter, stiffer cage. By saying there’s no difference between the mechanical and AXS components you show you have no clue what you’re talking about.
Indexing is perfect every time, again due to the electronics.
If the shift speed is too high, the motor slows down the shift so it doesn’t crunch into place and have a bad shift. Every shift is indexed perfectly, which you can’t do with your thumbs every time.
@highfivenwhiteguy
I’m tagging you so you can learn a thing or two as well.
The overload clutch moves the derailleur away from impact. Any derailleur could benefit from that.
The complete arrogance with which you assume that your nonsensical arguments will "teach" myself or anyone else anything is astounding.
On the other hand from what I gathered above you need AXS because you are incapable of shifting correctly without electronic assistance. If you are special needs please say so and I will back off out of respect. I think it is really cool that people with disabilities can still get out and ride, and if the point of your post was to state that AXS is a lifesaver for you then my apologies.
Saying that someone “killed me” presumes they were correct, which he was not.
I can guarantee I’ve run and worked on more mechanical systems than you ever will.
You can learn the facts about the system and why it has advantages and disadvantages over mechanical - and perhaps how to read and interpret facts correctly as well.
"The overload clutch moves the derailleur away from impact. Any derailleur could benefit from that."
lolololol
Every-single-derialleur-ever has done that by desing.
Since the first derialleurs. Ever. Even that crappy SIS from the 80's. You push them, they move in, then go back to the original position with a spring, the same spring that takes the chain to the lower cogs when cable is released.
Only Sram could sell that as a feature XD
Like the price or not, you can’t argue that it’s a legitimate feature - but of course that’s what you’re doing.
P.S. I still run 11s XX1 because it's lighter, no ifs ands or buts.
Don’t think I’ve expressed any actual opinions here thus far. All I’ve been saying is that AXS has better quality shifting than the similar mechanical group when people claim it’s identical who clearly have no idea what they’re talking about. And if you want to get into the e-peen swinging of you being a “20 something mechanic”, go right ahead, but speak for yourself, not me.
The rest is bang on, and it's honestly a giant step forward in drivetrains. I'm going to keep rocking cables until it comes down to a better pricepoint, and I'm not totally sold on the ergonomics of the shifter, but holy f*ck it is absolutely sublime in action.
Also shoutout to everyone going for personal attacks on Parkour for sharing. Y'all f*ckin' suck. Come up with a point or don't hit submit.
Di2 doesn’t count as high end in the road bike world, and that’s not me being privileged or something - which I’d certainly say I’m not.
Telling someone that they know nothing about a subject when they clearly don’t isn’t e-peen swinging, it’s not even arrogant. Just because people get triggered when people tell them they’re wrong doesn’t make me uptight.
I made a point of not referencing specific bikes I’ve owned, and certainly try to keep the details on exactly what I did in the industry to a minimum to not look like a total tryhard/arrogant e-peen swinging “know it all 20 something mechanic”
However to sum up both of those earlier points, I used my full time job in the industry during undergrad and a year after to pay it off. There’s some of the uprights super privileged e-peen you wanted.
@sherbet
I believe I said something about the chain being different, not the cassette - IIRC, it was my j&b rep marketed the AXS chains as being different from the normal eagle ones in design as well as just being labeled as the AXS line. Admittedly, probably shouldn’t have thrown that in without double checking. I know the cassettes are exactly the same.
Thanks for the shoutout, and a legitimate correction. I have no problems with tossing a few comments out into the fray of people who hero worship the mid tier bike and are blind to everything else, I’m well aware it gets a lot of personal hate.
Double checked, you’re right.
Rep was probably feeding the guys some lines about the wear benefits of the ti-nitride XX1 vs the chain that comes with x01 AXS.
And a further qualification on what I said about di2, Ultegra di2 bikes are pretty solidly midrange in the grand scheme of road bikes, especially with the new force and red out.
Shimano brought out the XTR electronic shifting years ago, there's no difference.
Some of us go out riding to get away from all that stuff and don't want to have to think about charging our derailleurs. But that's a personal thing. I can imagine a lot of people don't care and are happy to charge another device or two.
Does diarrhea always come out of your mouth?
oh and LOLZ at my comment getting down voted.... the mind boggles!
You can't unplug this thing, because it runs on batteries.
Or am I being petty here?
Somehow the only place I can visualize an electronic derailleur from 2019 in 2026 is in the dumpster.
I mean, where are your 2012 items now? If there’s anything lying around, how many of them are battery operated?
Call me a Luddite now
Oh, you again!
I’ve had plenty of customers with OG di2 with external batteries that they like enough to run. Ultegra from the same year has worn out shifter and derailleur bushings in my experience. DA is slightly better and obviously more internals are available to replace.
Tons of r&d in the bike industry is pretty wasteful. It’s boutique, it’s niche, etc. However, weighing the environmental impact of making the couple of (old) red etap batteries going into AXS, is it anywhere close to common consumables like laptops, cheap usb banks that break after a year, etc? Doubtful.
Nice of you to admit there’s a shifting performance difference though - instead of suggests anyone who likes the product is disabled.
Nice work, ever proof-read your posts? Or is that too much work, like learning how to use a trigger shifter?
Sorry my sweet triggered little baby, it’s down to autocorrect on my phone, on a train. I don’t feel the need to proofread for spelling errors when I’m texting a response on a bike forum.
Instead of pointing out one typo that’s not worth anyone’s time, how about a substantive response to any points I’ve brought up across any of these threads?
With that in mind I am in absolutely no rush to go electronic/wireless on my MTB's for what I can see is no real discernible benefit, but a massive cost deficit.
The cable part of shifters/derailers has been _extremely_ reliable for a while now. When they fail, it tends to be from an impact to the derailer bending or breaking something.Given that cable actuated shifting is not only reliable but also cheap, electronic/wireless shifting is not obviously preferable over mechanical shifting.
Then in 2040 human powered bikes will win the innovation contest and the author will write about how this idea was tried 20 years ago and so on.
The rear derailleur of this groupset alone costs what an entire XT drivetrain costs. Sure, it's new, cutting edge and spendier-but will the price of wireless shifting come down? Will there be a GX AXS groupset at $600, complete? If not, SRAM's reliance on electronics (vs Shimano's superior chain and sprocket design) will be nothing more than reading fodder for most mountain bikers.
So....is AXS innovative? Sure. Will it matter? Only if the design and benefits become more affordable.
No: regression of the year.
Strictly useless, overpriced and unreliable, so strictly dispensable.
No thanks; I`ll stay a cable lover
Di2 on the other hand...
Does the reverb work when it is cold, unlike past generations?
WHERE IS TREK SOFTAIL
I know it's not enduro but the suspension is very very innovative