Sram Rival AXS

[maquisard]

I built a Cervelo R5 VWD in 2012 with mechanical Dura-ace and some nice Mavic Cosmic clincher wheels. The bike cost around 4500 euro. Now that is less that price of 'budget' Aethos model with only Rival! Inflation has run out of control in cycling industry.

Now I have to get the bike store to make fake invoices so my wife thinks bikes are less expensive. I would not be allowed such expensive things!

[DaveS]

The atheos comp is NOT the same frame as the $3300 atheos-pro, according to the review I read, so once again comparing apples to oranges. Specialized isn't showing a comp level frame, but it is heavier. It's just like trek does with the emonda frame. The heavier version is a lot cheaper. You always have to decide what you're willing to pay for. I haven't bought a prebuilt bike since the early 90's. Too many parts I don't want.

I'm thrilled with my two identical Cinelli superstar disc frames that I got for just over $1000 each. Thess frames are lighter than an Emonda SL (990 grams). With force axs, buying every part would run about $4300 each, with fulcrum racing 3 wheels and michelin tubeless tires. No sram cranks for me.

[Global]

Aethos comp and pro are the same frame. I have two my wife’s 49 and my 54.

[5DII]

I built a Cervelo R5 VWD in 2012 with mechanical Dura-ace and some nice Mavic Cosmic clincher wheels. The bike cost around 4500 euro. Now that is less that price of 'budget' Aethos model with only Rival! Inflation has run out of control in cycling industry.

Now I have to get the bike store to make fake invoices so my wife thinks bikes are less expensive. I would not be allowed such expensive things!

what about the credit card statement? or do you pay cash?

[Indyx]

I'm converting my CX bike to AXS.

I think my build will be:
Rival Shifter/Calipers
Force Rear Derauiler
Sram Force Cx1 Crank
Sram Red Cassette (10-33)

I like it!

[kervelo]

The Rival AXS components seem to be sold out in many places.

[Kjetil]

Ah, covid on top of everything else there. I'm sure SRAM has a success with Rival AXS. I know people who think (Ultegra) Di2 is the holy grail, but now they can soon buy a wireless bike for less! Stars in their eyes.

[petromyzon]

Looks like all the Aethos frames are the same apart from the S-Works one.
I don't mind the increase in cost at the super high end but I'm frustrated that the brands have closed the "loophole" where they offered second tier framesets as frameset only.
I prefer to build bikes up myself so I get EXACTLY the spec I want with no wasted components. However I haven't got the money to waste on FACT 12r vs 10r. So getting the Rival build would be the next best option.
People seem a little bit obsessed with the weight of the Aethos but what if we viewed it as a performance road bike with less irritating hydraulic hose routing? Multiple reviewers have stated that it is one of the best feeling bikes they have ever ridden. That isn't going to change because it has a heavy crank on it.

[card0s]

I'll be updating my Ultegra mechanical Supersix with:
- Rival Shifter/Calipers
- Rival Front and Rear Derauilers
- Red Crankset with power meter
- Red chain
- Red Cassette

For my use case, it is perfect. In the future, if I want to go lighter within these components and I don't have anything better to spend the money I can update the Rival parts to Red, but I doubt I'll do that anytime soon.

I made the order last week and the shifters now have availability to November
I am waiting for the store to confirm the availability, otherwise, I may have to upgrade the Rival parts to Force or just cancel the order altogether. I can live with mechanical Ultegra for a few more months and then decide what to do.

[Ypuh]

All I can come up with is a $4~5K USD ~20lbs "yet another" N+1 crit bike that can run disc and shifts nicely. When I think through all the possible build-options like upgrading Crank/Cassettes to Red, or cheap-ing out drastically on finishing kit to save on cost... the "final" builds I can imagine simply do not make sense.

This is also my run of thoughts. I've been eyeing to buy an Emonda/Caledonia-like frame to tip my toes in the disc area. The only excuse in my stable would be a climbers bike (next to my aero, do-it-all and mountain bike). A Caledonia-5 or Emonda SLR frameset only will already set you back €4.000. If you take a step down to the regular Emonda/Caledonia and slap a Rival AXS groupset on it, you might be able to stay under €5.000 for a complete bike, but it will weigh around 9 kilo's. That's a full 2kg heavier than my aero bike with deep section wheels and will obliterate the idea of a climbers bike.

A disc equipped <8kg bike is easy to achieve, but will double the cost (4k frameset, 3k groupset, 2k wheels, 1k finishing kit).

I don't mind the increase in cost at the super high end but I'm frustrated that the brands have closed the "loophole" where they offered second tier framesets as frameset only.

And this is my next annoyance indeed. You can only get the top end SLR/-5/S-Works/01 models as a frameset only at a €2k premium. Not the 'regular' frames (which leave out internal cabling).

Until a couple years ago you had loads of choice in carbon framesets between €1-2.5k. Now you can buy a RoadMachine 01 on discount for €3k. Nothing really changed, except for pricing.

[petromyzon]

Yeah. It's good business sense, but still annoying. Now that wireless groupsets mean you don't need a specific cable drilling, return to threaded BBs makes maintenance easier, and some high-end options have been released with round 27.2 posts, carbon framesets are looking like a better long-term buy. I guess manufacturers recognise this and want to protect their IP investment.

[stevesbike]

Yeah. It's good business sense, but still annoying. Now that wireless groupsets mean you don't need a specific cable drilling, return to threaded BBs makes maintenance easier, and some high-end options have been released with round 27.2 posts, carbon framesets are looking like a better long-term buy. I guess manufacturers recognise this and want to protect their IP investment.

This is definitely the appeal of wireless although many 'mechanical' only frames are compatible with di2 without the requirement of any drilling. Di2 wire will fit through standard derailleur holes - the connectors won't but its easy to cut and splice the wires and most bikes have access from seat tube to bottom bracket area for battery in seatpost.

[DaveS]

My disc bikes weigh 8kg, with force axs, inexpensive 1660g fulcrum racing 3 wheels, heavy smp saddle, heavy wheels manufacturing thread together BB, ec-90 bars, fsa k-force post, and 300 grams of pedals, bottle cages and computer. Frames are 990g. Full price would be about $5300, but half price frames brought mine down to $4300. To get substantially lower weight, expensive frame, groupset or wheels are needed. Take your pick.

A full rival group would add 0.2kg.

[stevesbike]

My disc bikes weigh 8kg, with force axs, inexpensive 1660g fulcrum racing 3 wheels, heavy smp saddle, heavy wheels manufacturing thread together BB, ec-90 bars, fsa k-force post, and 300 grams of pedals, bottle cages and computer. Frames are 990g. Full price would be about $5300, but half price frames brought mine down to $4300. To get substantially lower weight, expensive frame, groupset or wheels are needed. Take your pick.

A full rival group would add 0.2kg.

Sort of makes the point of whether lower end electronic groups are worth it - my gravel bike weighs 7.2 kg with 35mm gravel tires and Red/Force mechanical.

[JMeinholdt]

Outside of pure hill climb races, 200 grams isn't going to be the deciding factor. As much as I hate to say it, weight doesn't matter near as much as everyone used to think.