It is wireless, presented as the fastest shifting system on the market and is inspired by the gear systems used in Formula One cars. This is the introduction card for the new Sram RED eTap group, equipped with wireless technology, for which the manufacturer Sram needed five years of development before it saw the light of day. Five years of development? Brian Jordan, Sram's development director, explains why: "We wanted to harness the potential of electronics to do something that hadn't been done before and make the most of it. We looked at every possible scenario, even working with a company that makes fighter jet control levers" (see source). The new Sram RED eTap group eliminates the need to transmit shift commands from the levers to the derailleurs via cable. It uses wireless technology for this. The biggest advantage it provides is that if a gear shift fails, you just have to press the lever again to restore the connection, whereas with a cable system this wouldn't be possible and it would be necessary to manually check the system to find out where the connection is failing.
Wireless, but without Bluetooth or WiFi
Seeing that it is a wireless system, one might think that the Sram RED eTap group uses Bluetooth technology to send data between its different components. This is not the case. Neither Bluetooth, nor WiFi, nor infrared. The Sram RED sTap group uses a new protocol called AIREA. Encryption experts and hackers worked on its design. According to the manufacturer, it uses 128-bit encryption, which is more secure than that of ATMs. In addition, the range is 100 meters. That is, you can remove the shifters from the handlebars, operate them from 100 meters away, and the derailleurs would still work. But you can rest assured that another triathlete's shifters will not operate your bike's gears. Each set of shifters can only be paired with one front derailleur and one rear derailleur.
Interchangeable batteries
Each part of the group has a rechargeable battery and all the pieces communicate with each other through a control unit that Sram calls BlipBox. It is fully configurable and controls the wireless shifting signal. Need it faster? With just the push of a button, you can adjust your bike's shifting speed according to the needs of each stage, training, or race. The batteries of each component can also be swapped between them. This means that, for example, if you run out of battery in the rear derailleur during a ride, you can use the battery from the front derailleur. How long do the batteries last? The Sram RED eTap group integrates an accelerometer in each component, so if it detects that it has been stationary for 30 seconds, the battery activity stops. A simple vibration reactivates them. According to the analysis done at bikerumor.com, it is advisable to remove them if you are taking your bike on a trip, since vibrations during the journey would keep the batteries 'awake' and therefore consuming energy. Sram says the battery life is 60 hours, which is roughly equivalent to 1,000 kilometers, according to the manufacturer's data. Charging time is 45 minutes. The Sram RED eTap group was already tested during the last Tour de France by the AG2R team, although it is not expected to hit the market until 2016.
