First Look: SRAM CX1 Production Photos – Possible Stainless Steel or Titanium Components?

This SRAM CX1 component is supposedly a production unit. © Cyclocross Magazine

Update: See our real first look and first ride on SRAM’s Force CX1 single chainring cyclocross drivetrain and component group. 

Cyclocross Magazine got our grubby hands on some exclusive set photos of early production SRAM CX1 product photos, and it appears the release date is very near for this much-anticipated single ring cyclocross group by SRAM. The quality of these photos is pretty low, so it’s not completely clear what you’re looking at, but hints of some stainless steel and black composite components are seen in the photos.

We also saw a photo of a scale with this early production CX1 assembly on it, and it showed 975 grams. Will that save weight over traditional double chainring drivetrains? It depends what that 975g includes of course. Many racers turn to single chainrings for simplicity and fewer dropped chains, not weight savings, but weight weenies also are attracted by the possibility of losing a shifter, front derailleur, and cable housing.

Stay tuned as we try to make sense of this. We expect official details of CX1 to be released at any moment.

This detail photo hints at SRAM CX1’s black composite components. © Cyclocross Magazine

Brushed stainless steel? Titanium? Doesn’t look like aluminum to us. © Cyclocross Magazine

Brushed steel or titanium? Doesn’t look like aluminum to us on this SRAM CX1 close-up photo. © Cyclocross Magazine