Arriving just in time for the latter bits of the 2012-13 cyclocross season is the new SRAM XG-1090 CX cassette. Based on the standard Red road version, this latest 10-speed model has been given the Swiss cheese treatment for a more mud-friendly design.
The key feature of the XG-1090 CX is its stunningly cutout construction. It's based on SRAM's standard Powerdome machined steel methodology but with ports between the cogs and on the aluminum backplate for mud and water to squeeze through. It's similar to what the company has already done on its XX and XX1 mountain bike cogsets.
In addition to giving mud and debris somewhere to go, the milled-in ports also shed a lot of material. The actual weight of the lone 12-27T cassette is a paltry 151g including the aluminum lockring – 80g (or 35 percent) lighter than SRAM's current go-to cyclocross cassette, an 11-26T PG-1070.
Not surprisingly, that kind of weight saving will cost you a pretty penny. Retail price is US$335 / €300.
Large cutouts on the aluminum backplate
For more information, see the SRAM website.