ALTERNATIVE DRIVETRAINS

There’s more on the market than just Shimano and SRAM

MicroSHIFT’s Advent X drivetrain offers excellent value, at around £125 for the shifter, cassette and rear mech (no chain). Combined, these weigh around 868g. Compatible

Prime 9 is offered at three price points – Box One, Two and Three – all claimed to offer durability and precise shifting across a nine-speed cassette with a comparable gear range to 12-speed rivals. A Box One P9 drivetrain with more durable Box Two cassette costs around £425

Designed to rival Shimano XTR and SRAM XX1 Eagle as a high-end (mechanical) option, TRP’s EVO12 is a 12-speed drivetrain with a 10-52t range. You can buy with Shimano HG freehubs, the 10-speed cassette has an 11-48t range with evenly spaced gear steps. The rear mech includes a ratchetand-pawl clutch, and is compatible with standard 10-speed chains. Up front, the shifter mirrors Shimano’s functionality, with sealed cartridge bearings for smoother gear changes and a silicone thumb pad for enhanced grip. It isn’t compatible with SRAM MatchMaker or Shimano I-Spec mounts, though, and the (two-piece) bar clamp takes up a tad more room on the bar than an integrated shifter/brake lever combination. (parts bought individually). The mech is built from a robust blend of materials and features a clutch to adjust chain tension, while the shifter – available in multi- and single-shift versions – has an aluminium top shell and cable-pull lever, a hinged bar clamp, and works with both I-Spec II and MatchMaker adapters. Again, the Prime 9 cassette is HG-compatible. The Box One and Two cassettes provide an 11-50t range, while at Box Three level there’s an 11-46t option, too. A complete Box Three set-up will set you back £219.99. E-bike versions of Box One and Two are also available, with 12-50t cassettes. individual components or a complete drivetrain, including cranks (from £994). The rear mech incorporates a silent clutch and TRP’s innovative Hall Lock, designed to stabilise things and minimise noise. At the other end, the shifter is notable for its angleadjustable downshift lever, complemented by a button allowing you to opt for a single shift or five consecutive downshifts. The wide-range cassette uses the latest Shimano Micro Spline standard, so won’t fit on older wheels.

While only Shimano, SRAM, MicroSHIFT, Box and TRP offer complete drivetrains, plenty of brands sell aftermarket cassettes, chains and chainrings, including e*thirteen, Hope, SunRace and many more, each catering to different tastes and price points. Just check that all your chosen components are compatible, to ensure seamless shifting.