Drivetrain
Cranksets, crank arms, chainrings, cassettes, derailleur parts and pedals, sold part by part. Three standards tell you what goes together: the bottom bracket spindle, the chainring interface and the chain.
Cranksets, crank arms, chainrings, cassettes, derailleur parts and pedals, sold part by part. Three standards tell you what goes together: the bottom bracket spindle, the chainring interface and the chain.
A drivetrain can be built across brands if three measurements match. The spindle first: it follows the frame's bottom bracket, 29 mm for SRAM DUB, 24 mm for Shimano, and is checked against the inner diameter of the bearings. The interface next: 110 × 4, Easton Cinch, SRAM 8-bolt or direct mount, it tells you which chainring goes on which crank. The chain last: chainrings with an AXS profile need a SRAM Flattop chain. Complete cranksets settle these questions in advance; crank arms on their own leave you free to choose what goes on the front.
A double chainring keeps tight gaps between gears: Cybrei chainrings come in pairs 16 teeth apart, from 50/34 to 56/40. A single chainring removes the front derailleur and lets the tooth profile hold the chain, with alternating wide and narrow teeth. Choose it for the steepest climb: with a 40-tooth chainring, a 700 × 45 tyre and the 52 cog, one pedal revolution covers 1.72 m, a little over 7 km/h at 70 rpm.
Garbaruk cassettes go up to 52 teeth, on SRAM XPLR 13-speed groupsets for gravel and Eagle Transmission 12-speed for MTB. On a Red XPLR derailleur, that range calls for the Garbaruk cage: the cages and pulleys fit your own derailleur, for range or for colour.
For pedals, the cleat decides before the pedal: the Hope Union pedals need the Hope cleats supplied with them, and the SRM X-Power Direct a shoe drilled for its fitting.
Yes, if the spindle matches the frame's bottom bracket, the chainring matches the crank's interface and the chain matches the tooth profile. Each product's specifications give these three points.
A single chainring is simpler, with no front derailleur, and a 10-52 cassette gives it a 520% range, enough to climb and ride fast with one chainring. A double keeps tighter gaps between gears, appreciated on the road and in a group.
A worn chain wears the cassette and chainrings along with it. Check it regularly with a chain wear checker and replace it in time: the cassette then lasts through several chains, whereas a new cassette on a worn chain often skips under load.