FCC Approval Hints at Wireless RockShox Suspension & New AXS Shifters
Hot on the heels of Shimano's Federal Communication Commission request spotted earlier in the week by Cycling Tips, we've also been pointed in the direction of similar requests from SRAM.
Unlike Shimano's request, which seems to have been for wireless transmission, this one is instead related to suspension, shifters and power meters. SRAM, of course, already has its wireless transmission dialed thanks to the AXS system, but it seems like it's not stopping there and is exploring what other uses it can use cable-free technology for in the future. On January 31, it posted six applications for wireless technologies for the following components: front suspension, rear shock, a pedal sensor, a power meter, and left and right shifters.
Anyone who's up to speed with the Shimano story won't be surprised to hear that SRAM have been granted some confidentiality around the application by the FCC. That request includes any pictures of what might actually be approved, but there's still plenty we can gather from what's going on here. Firstly, the confidentiality is set to lift on July 29 this year, a date conveniently just after the proposed finals of the Tokyo Olympic mountain bike event, making us strongly suspect that this is a product range with XC in mind.
Our best guess at this point for the suspension applications would be a remote lockout that doesn't require cable operated triggers or GripShift like SRAM's current offerings. The advantages here are a cleaner cockpit, an easier to operate system and some crucial gram saving. For most riders that may not seem like a huge deal but in the world of marginal gains that is elite XC racing, every advantage counts.
Could SRAM be making a system that allows riders to ditch cable lockouts like these?
Looking at the rest of the components, we've already seen some athletes playing around with SRAM's existing AXS system to make their lives on the bike easier. Most famously, the Scott-SRAM team ditched the AXS paddles for blips on the underside of their grips that meant Kate Courtney and Nino Schurter could change gears without changing their hand position and without interfering with their Twin Loc systems. Could the left and right shifters be an official SRAM version of this with one button for upshifts and the other for downshifts?
Kate Courtney's blips were SRAM branded as they are a modified version of the eTap road gearing.
The final piece of the puzzle seems to be a pedal mounted power meter. Currently, SRAM produces power meters through Quarq and we've seen a Blackbox chainring meter on a number of pros' bikes this offseason. Generally, the greater the distance between the power meter and the source of power, the more power can be lost so pedal power meters are often considered the most accurate. The pedal sensor combined with the power meter in the FCC requests could be an evolution of SRAM's power meter line for a more accurate tool for its riders.
All the wireless applications use AIREA transmissions, which is SRAM's proprietary wireless protocol that has 128-bit encryption. They also use Bluetooth, which will most likely be used for software updates and setting controls, and ANT+for communication between devices. We imagine that all of the products will also be integrated into SRAM's Web Tools to allow riders a greater level of analysis about their rides.
We've reached out to SRAM for further information and will update you if we hear anything more.
Author Info:
Member since Nov 14, 2018
Must Read This Week
Pinkbike: Comments section fights back
SRAM: Yes. It launches its products against their targets in Japan.
Consumer: Why attack Japan? Aren't they our friends now?
Terminator: Because the consumer knows that the Japanese counterattack will eliminate its chances of finishing a ride due to a seized derailleur clutch
Pinkbike: Jesus...
Dude, if you’ve got hydraulic discs = you do!
Also, fully open-to-lockout is only one possible condition and something mechanical cable can handle but I think a really cool possibility with electronics is the ability to setup multiple maps/programs that can also integrate with other components on the bike as @jollyjared mentioned. Also, imagine being able to setup compression and rebound settings for different trail features (fire road pedaling, technical uphill, roots downhill, berms) and being able to choose which map you want with the press of a button.
Most will say, "That's too complicated, I'll never need it", "Set it and forget it", which is fine and that's why there's a Pike Select and Ultimate right? But electronics and batteries aren't something for us to be afraid of especially if the system is well designed, implemented and integrated with the end-user.
Oh yea totally. You 180mm travel bike is going to be nice ad firm when you do that 5 foot tabletop and the 2 foot drop as your friend gets that instagram iphone shot of you with the #freeride tag, but then you push a button and suddenly its super supple when you carefuly navidate down a 10% grade with some rocks and roots. And at the parking lot, all the dads in full face helmets and body armor riding their hardtails will be super impressed by your $15k bike as you explain to them why you NEEDED to buy this expensive setup. Nobody with a modern $10k Yeti or Santa Cruz will even come close to you.
A on the fly lockout pretty much handed Bruni the last race of the season in 2020 and ALMOST did the for the second to last race. This tech is coming to the top level of DH real soon and it will leave everyone who doesn't have this in the dust.
Sure, just because you won't be able to take advantage of it doesn't mean others won't be able to.
LMAO
Thinking that on-the-fly lockout is going to make a difference your riding because Loic Bruni won one race is one of the more delusional things I have heard this year, and its only February.
I shouldn't be too upset though, cause separating idiots from their money is a cornerstone of any succesfull buisness, so I guess SRAM is doing something right.
When you set up a bike for race day you are always making compromises. Do I run less psi in my tires so I get more grip but suffer in the straight aways? Do I run my suspension stiffer for big compressions in the middle of the run and sacrifice small bump compliance? With a remote system you wouldn't have to choose and you could have several setups for different parts of the track.
What this will do for the top guys is huge and brings the sport closer to F1 in a lot of cool ways. Again just because you won't use it doesn't make it bad.
Also, did I say I was going to purchase it? Might want to read what I wrote again. Good luck on the second read through.
I really don't get why people don't understand the absurdity of comparing pro setups to regular riding. Give Bruni the lowest spec Demo, and he will destroy you no matter what bike you ride. And if you get on his bike, you will think its unrideable because all the pros run their suspension very stiff.
For the vast majority of riders out there, even before the regular compression settings start to matter, fitness is the one thing that is holding back their speed. So if you care about speed, until you can do a full 10/10 effort on a run without getting winded or fatigued, none of those gizmos matter.
Even if I granted you that a gizmo to change compression mid track would be at least interesting to mess around with, there is also zero reason to make it electric and expensive. Just like there are zero reasons to make groupsets electric.
You gave me 3 very personal reasons. Its like saying you don't like handlebars/stem/grips separate, so you want an expensive integrated handlebars with all 3. Sure, spend your money on it, but that system doesn't solve any real problem, and is a waste of money.
Also, unless you have arthritis, some PT for your hands should get you shifting with a regular system plenty fine.
Thanks for the interesting perspective. I for one am not a good enough rider to really maximize even the parts I have, nor do I have the $$ to go better. But for those that do, I am sure they can find a use for fancy!
I don’t know. There has to be a certain level of creativity going on...
Head lamp battery
Bar light battery
Shifter batteries
Derailleur battery
Post battery
Fork battery
Shock battery
GPS battery
Shock whiz batteries (sans live valve)
Valve Stem batteries
Phone battery
Bike battery
GoPro batteries
Gimbal battery
Drone battery
Sunglasses battery
Ear buds battery
Wallet battery ????
Obviously that's an extreme example, but I do appreciate that we're very near the point where one can get the same functionality while still having only the brake housing on the bars. I'm not big on "batteries everywhere", but I do like a tidy cockpit. I haven't regretted going with eTap and Di2 on my road bikes. In fact for an amateur bike builder, going wireless saves me several hours of frustration trying to get my cabling perfect (cue the internet bike pros who insist it takes 5 minutes to cable an internally routed bike. Good for you, it takes me hours) which is almost worth the price premium.
I think it'd be pretty slick to put the front shifter back on my bike, with one paddle controlling the seatpost and the other paddle as a shock lockout. The downside, from my perspective, is that you're locked into SRAM's ecosystem. We were (mostly) already there for drivetrain, so that wasn't a huge deal.
youtu.be/Nl0fXOp4oTM?t=99
It really impresses me, the trouble people give to themselfs, finding an alternative, to something so simple as a C A B L E
One more feature, to had another 1000€/$/£ to bike price....meehhhh
i really hope this sht crashes and burns, but i suspect there will be plenty of suckers out there to keep the hype going .????
Is nothing sacred anymore...?