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FEATURES: SEA OTTER TECH: FIRST RIDE ON SRAM APEX
Road Bike Action
April 18, 2010
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Ever since SRAM entered the road market four years ago, they have focus on racing groups with their Red, Force and Rival components. For 2011 SRAM branches out from the racing world with the new Apex group designed for everyday riders and those who spend their days climbing. The standout feature of the new Apex group is its compact crankset combined with an optional 11-32 cassette that is mated to a new mid-cage derailleur. SRAM terms the new wide range gearing WiFLi® (Wider, Faster and Lighter) The new group is finished in gloss black that gives a similar appearance to SRAM’s Rival group.
Carrying over from SRAM’s higher-end groups, The Apex shifters use SRAM’s DoubleTap® shifting along with adjustable reach levers. The internals are borrowed from SRAM’s Rival shifters, but to keep price down SRAM uses aluminum brake levers compared to the carbon versions found on Rival. The Apex’s ergonomic shift lever shape is designed to improve comfort and control. All Apex parts are compatible with Red, Force and Rival groups. This allows riders on SRAM’s higher groups to take advantage of Apex’s mid-cage rear derailleur and wide range cassette. Weight: 344-grams
The Apex crankset is constructed using 6061 T6 aluminum alloy crankarms mated to 7075 –T6 hard-anodized chainrings with alloy chainring bolts. The Apex is available in 53/39, 52/38, 52/36, 50/36, 50/34 and 46/38 chainring combinations. Because the Apex crankset is a double setup versus a triple it has a lower Q-factor –147-millimeter compared to 154.5-millimeter. The Apex crankset is available in 165- 180-millimeter lengths. Weight: 890-grams with GXP bottom bracket.
The Apex mid-cage rear derailleur is key to allowing the use of the large 32-tooth cog. A short cage derailleur will also be available and can be handle up to a 28-tooth cassette. The Apex rear derailleur is constructed with an aluminum body, alloy outer cage and steel inner cage for lightweight and precise shifting. The derailleur uses SRAM’s Exact Actuation® and WiFLi® technologies. Weight: 210-grams.
The new PG 1050 cassette is key to the new Apex group. The PG-1050 is a available in 11-32, 11-28, 11-26 and 11-23 combinations. The cassette uses SRAM’s PowerGlide® and WiFLi® technologies. It feature gears that are both lower and higher than existing triple gear ratios. Weight: 299-grams (11-32).
The front derailleur can be set up for both standard and compact chainrings and like the rear derailleur features SRAM’s WiFLi® technology. Apex again uses technology from other SRAM groups and uses their Zeroloss® trim technology. The front derailleur features an aluminum body and steel cage. Weight: 103-grams.
The Apex brakes use forged alloy calipers and a dual pivot, skeletonized design. SRAM includes high-end features such as external centering adjustment, SwissStop pads and are compatible with 28c tires. Weight: 306-grams.
The Ride
As the focus of Apex is on everyday riding, the top end speed might be down, but versatility and range of gearing is up. With this focus in mind SRAM set us up on a mid-level Specialized Secteur complete with Zipp stem, handlebars, Prologo saddle and SRAM S30 AL wheels.
 On the road, shifting performance was quick and reliable. From the saddle it was impossible to tell the difference ergonomically from SRAM’s higher-level groups. Neither derailleur ever missed a shift and the light action shifters felt solid without any extra slop that plagues other lower-end groups. Overall the shifting is precise with a quality feel. At a price of only $799.99 the fit and finish of the Apex is impressive.
SRAM did their homework when it came to gear ratios on the Apex. Many compact cassettes suffer from gaps in the rear gearing spacing. Despite the wide range of 11-32 SRAM has done a good job setting up equally spaced ratios to create even jumps in the gearing. This makes it easy to find the right gear and keep ones pedaling cadence at an optimum speed. The equally spaced gearing also allows for maintaining a good cadence on the flats, however pushing hard the wide range cassette starts to show its limitations. With an average of a two-tooth gap between gears it becomes difficult to find the sweet spot when your legs are right on the limit.
SRAM made it clear that the Apex is designed to be a triple killer and to prove their point sent us on a route that featured several steep climbs, including a 16-percent grade at the rides conclusion. Climbing steep grades on the Apex is a rare treat and is a direct result of the rear cassette and mid-cage rear derailleur. On super steep grades, one has to get out of the mind frame of grinding and switch to spinning. Riding on feel, when you reach the point that you think you are the top of the cassette you have another three or even four cogs left. Unlike a single bail out gear on some wide range cassettes the Apex provides several low gears that allow you to spin and still maintain a reasonable speed.
The cranks were stiff and delivered solid power from the pedals to the rear wheel without a hint of flex. The gloss black finish and subtle graphics give the crankset a clean and understated look.
The front shifting is fast and required minimal lever throw. With some compact cranksets, up shifting is slow due to the larger size gap between the small and large rings. This doesn’t seem to be the case with the Apex, however down shifting to the little ring felt a bit harsh. With our limited time on the bike it was difficult to narrow this sensation to the crankset or the difference in pedal pressure caused by such a large drop in gearing.
The Apex brakes offer good modulation and plenty of power and the SwissStop pads are a welcome upgrade. There is likely a difference in power between Apex and SRAM’s higher end brakes, but we imagine that it would be hard to find anyone that can tell the difference while riding.
The SRAM Apex is a new direction for a company that has based their reputation on winning races. Apex is a new market sector for SRAM, but they have wisely taken the best of their race groups and combined it with technology and gearing for the everyday rider. The Apex is a unique and welcome addition to the market.
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