This is a sequel to Does The Future Have Fewer Gears? which is a short read which I recommend reading first, if you haven’t already.

Or Does It?

I think SRAM AXS belongs in a special category with Shimano DI2, Fox Live Valve, and yes, even mountain-mopeds. I mean, don’t show up to Single Speed AZ2020, or the like, with any of that crap but if you can find a legit place to try it out, it never hurts to have more information when forming an opinion. Then after you do, balance it out by riding some janky trails on a rigid single speed, you know, for that fully rounded knobby-tired experience.

Back to AXS, you won’t find me dropping 700 USD (BATTERY NOT INCLUDED!) on a rear derailleur in this lifetime or the next. But, then I’m also not in the market for a 1000 USD crankset but that doesn’t mean Cane Creek EEWings titanium cranks aren’t freakin’ cool right? So, of course, I was eager to give SRAM’s wireless shifting a go. I was distracted the whole time by how much a replacement derailleur would cost me and I suddenly have a fantastic argument to go back to 142×12 rear spacing. Never mind Super Boost 157, Boost 148 is worryingly wide. But yes, the shifting is excellent.

In this context, the most exciting thing about AXS has nothing to do with how it performs on a bike. Where AXS shines, in this case, is in the access to data because it removes ‘the feels’ from any argument about gearing.

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