SRAM have launched their all-new DUB chainsets, hailing future and past proofing, as well as extended bearing life more stiffness and less weight.
After rolling out Eagle, and hollow crank arms down to OE level groupsets, SRAM have worked on combining their GXP and BB30 cranks into one, while making BBs to fit everything (bar Cannondale’s system)as well as claiming they will last a whole lot longer.
But what does it all mean Basil?
You could be excused if you thought that all that’s happened here is that SRAM have adopted one spindle size that will fit all existing bottom bracket standards that simply need a different BB for different shells.
There is, it would seem, far more than meets the eye.
RaceFace arguably started the trend of future-proofing designs with their Cinch system, where the axles are replaceable. A system where the BB would need to be changed too. Certainly a good idea, but SRAM have taken the compatibility a step further.
A redesign based on what SRAM feel is the best compromise between bearing wear and axle stiffness, sees the GXP and BB30 axles replaced by the new DUB axle. All BBs now take this one axle size, with the bottom bracket changing in its outer diameter to fit whatever BB shell your frame has.
While the groupset names stay the same, the XX1 crank is now the lightest in its class, trumping even the RaceFace Next SL crank, which, for a long time was the king when it came to weight. This new system isn’t just confined to top-tier groupsets though, with the technology filtering immediately down to the Stylo range.
With the opportunity to redesign the existing chainset, SRAM have taken their existing BB designs and gone about making the bearings as good as they can be. Bearing life is said to be considerably better with the new DUB system.
