SRAM’s upcoming wireless electronic group has made yet another appearance on the race circuit, this time at the Tour Down Under with the Ag2r-La Mondiale teamDave Rome / Immediate Media
SRAM has apparently abandoned its long-running DoubleTap style of shifter operation on the new wireless electronic group in favor of a new one-button-per-side format called ‘eTap’. Tap the left lever to downshift and the right one to move to harder gears. Push both to initiate a front shiftDave Rome / Immediate Media
Sources have confirmed to us that the front and rear derailleurs do, indeed, use rechargeable batteries that are both removable and interchangeableDave Rome / Immediate Media
SRAM apparently still doesn’t want to reveal the name of its new wireless electronic groupDave Rome / Immediate Media
Just as with the Shimano Dura-Ace mechanical and electronic analogues, the new SRAM Red wireless electronic group appears to have slightly slimmer and smaller hoods than the standard RedDave Rome / Immediate Media
Team mechanics don’t seem too leery of getting the new components wetDave Rome / Immediate Media
Team mechanics have clearly been hard at work testing the weatherproofness of the new SRAM wireless electronic componentsDave Rome / Immediate Media
The removable battery juts out from the back of the rear derailleurDave Rome / Immediate Media
If the protrusions on the front and rear derailleurs look similar, that’s because they’re batteries that are fully interchangeable, according to our sourcesDave Rome / Immediate Media
The Ag2r-La Mondiale had the new SRAM wireless electronic components on at least four bikes at the Tour Down UnderDave Rome / Immediate Media
At least by our eyes, it appears that the SRAM electronic wireless levers have slightly longer brake lever blades than the standard Red packageDave Rome / Immediate Media
SRAM apparently wouldn’t allow close access to the new components at the Tour Down Under. Zoom lens it is!Dave Rome / Immediate Media
The electronic components appear to be relatively well protected in a crashDave Rome / Immediate Media
Little appears to have changed since we saw SRAM’s upcoming wireless electronic group on the team bikes of the Bissell Development Team at the USA Pro Cycling Challenge last May, which suggests the bits are in final testing and are soon to be releasedJames Huang / Immediate Media
Each lever sports a single shift paddle, just like with standard DoubleTap but the shift actuation will be a completely different scheme called ‘eTap’. Visible on the backside of each paddle is the function button and a small LED indicatorJames Huang / Immediate Media
The front derailleur looks impressively finished and polished. And with no wires, the group should be a breeze to installJames Huang / Immediate Media
Both derailleurs are independently powered with their own on-board Li-ion rechargeable batteries. Simply flick the lever up top and remove the power pack when it’s time to rechargeJames Huang / Immediate Media