The rise of the single chainring in cycling: from mountain to road
The use of bicycles with single chainring transmission has become popular in the cycling world, especially in mountain bikes, where this system offers greater mechanical simplicity, lower weight, and better adaptation to demanding terrain. However, in road bikes, it remains an uncommon option... until now.
The professional team Aqua Blue Sport, which made its debut this season in its first grand tour by competing in the Vuelta Ciclista a España, has presented the bike that its riders will use in 2018. The big news is that it is a road bike with a single chainring transmission, a configuration that until now was exclusive to mountain biking.
Can the single chainring replace the double chainring in professional cycling?
In professional road cycling, it is common to use double chainring transmissions, which allow for a wider range of gears to adapt to the different stage profiles, from climbs and descents to rolling hills or flat sections. However, the 3T Strada from Aqua Blue Sport introduces a true revolution with the use of a SRAM Force 1 single chainring system, optimized with an 11-speed cassette that includes a larger and a smaller cog than usual in the peloton. In addition, the team is already working on incorporating a 12-speed cassette for 2019, with the goal of improving cadence and offering greater versatility.
But the single chainring transmission is not the only innovation of the 3T Strada. The bike also features wheels with 28 mm tires, while the most common in the international peloton is the use of 25 mm tires. In addition, it abandons the classic rim brake system to incorporate hydraulic disc brakes, known for providing more efficient braking. However, their use in professional cycling continues to generate debate due to the possible danger of their sharp edges in case of crashes.
Is the single chainring the future of road cycling?
With these changes, the Aqua Blue Sport team is betting on a technological evolution that, until now, was only seen on mountain bikes, but that could mark a turning point in road bikes within the professional peloton.
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The goal of the Aqua Blue Sport team is to secure a spot to compete in the Tour de France and establish itself as another protagonist in the elite of world cycling. For now, they have already managed to attract attention with the 3T Strada bike they have just presented. Will the single chainring be the next big revolution in road cycling or will the team be forced to use a two-chainring transmission?