Test from the SRAM AXS application

With the widespread use of electronic groups, came the possibility of improving their use by customizing the management of gear changes, but also by precisely monitoring the battery charge level, or by updating the latest developments. In this case, SRAM and its in-house system called AXS (pronounced "access" and not "AXS") aims for personal management of its group via the application that allows you to manage all these parameters. Enough to satisfy all audiences, from beginners to experienced users.

Text: Olivier Dulaurent – ​​Photos: 3bikes.fr, Sram

When SRAM eTap technology came out on the market, it was a pretty radical change compared to competing groups from Shimano and Campagnolo. It must be said that with the total absence of cables and the fact of using only one button on each lever, the American manufacturer had thrown a spanner in the works among equipment manufacturers.

In the face of many advantages (refined aesthetics, weight, ultimately very intuitive side of gear changes), autonomy was a parameter behind the competition with approximately 1000 km for the rear derailleur. So many users were able to get "trapped", without being able to complete their exit with the original rear battery and despite the fact that a red light on the rear derailleur should have alerted them! However, another advantage of SRAM groups electronic comes from the fact that the two batteries are interchangeable. Thus, It is always possible to finish your ride using the battery of the front derailleur, which obviously condemns the use of the latter but allows you to ride using the rear sprockets. Another tip is to ride with another battery in your pocket. Light and space-saving, this emergency solution can also save a ride! In any case, being able to regularly monitor the status of your batteries on a SRAM group electronic was a way to avoid these little inconveniences… what the AXS application offers to do.

Customization step by step

Once the application is free SRAM AXS downloaded to the smartphone, this is where communication with the transmission (handles and derailleurs) begins. The application is intuitive from the beginning, by creating a user profile linked to their own bike. It is even possible to start customization by using a photo of the bike in question, or even by giving it a name.

As a reminder, When the transmission is not modified by the application, the gear changes are carried out in the classic way at SRAM : press the button on the right lever and the chain goes down one sprocket, press the left button and the chain goes up one sprocket, press both buttons simultaneously and the chainring changes. Under these conditions, large chainring - large sprocket type crossovers are always possible and when changing the chainring, the user must decide for himself which sprocket to adopt to maintain a comfortable cadence. Note that with two chainrings and 12 sprockets, or theoretically 24 usable combinations, In the end, there are only about fifteen developments that are significantly different due to the overlapping of developments.. Indeed, with the chainrings (43/30) and the cassette (10-36) of the test bike, a combination of 30×17 is almost identical to that of 43×24, i.e. 3,75 m of development.

With the application open, it is necessary to "wake up" the transmission through the four elements that constitute it in order to be able to communicate with the smartphone.

Once the elements are connected using the dedicated function, it becomes possible to enter the configuration mode. The next step defines the following functions: "configure controls" and "transmission parameters". During this action, the user has access to the precise battery level. By connecting individually to the transmission elements, information about an update is given.

Configure controls

This feature theoretically allows you to customize your gear changes. For example, it would possibly be possible to move the chain up on the cassette with an action of the right lever. However, the intuitive side of the SRAM transmission would then be significantly affected. As it stands, it is probably better to stick to the original operation, as described above and recalled here: press the button on the right lever and the chain goes down one sprocket, press the left button and the chain goes up one sprocket, press both buttons simultaneously and the chainring change is done. Of all and by definition, the SRAM transmission only having two buttons, by definition the possibilities are less numerous here than with Shimano or Campagnolo which must manage four buttons.

Transmission parameters

This is a submenu that appears much more complete than the previous one and offers a operation adapted to one's own preferences.

First, using the function Multishift, it is possible to customize the number of gears changed when long-pressing the controller, both when upshifting and downshifting. Originally (and like a SRAM transmission) electronic eTap without AXS technology), the adjustment is based on All, that is to say that a long press on the controller allows you to scan all (“ All ") the cassette sprockets. As for the application, it offers the possibility to stick to two or three sprockets, at the user's choice. This feature will be especially appreciated by cyclists who are not familiar with SRAM transmission and who would tend to change more sprockets than they would like in a single (prolonged) action.

Secondly, and this is the most technical and interesting aspect of the application: the compensation and sequential modes.

With compensation mode, The interest lies when changing the tray, both on the way up and on the way down. The user can then choose to compensate for automatically by one or two sprockets (to be defined by yourself), the major development modification linked to this change of chainring. This therefore has the effect of reducing or even cancelling the change in cadence which is difficult to manage when changing chainrings without modifying the sprockets at the same time.. Of course, an experienced cyclist can perform these operations himself, but in the heat of the moment or when tired, it is sometimes possible to miss the perfect maneuver.

Sequential mode is, as its name suggests, a way to use all the gears without any voluntary action on the front derailleur. That is to say that the user will move up or down the gears until the transmission itself decides to change chainrings to obtain the desired development. For example, when the big chainring - big sprocket crossing is close (or offers less efficiency) and that the requested action is to have a more flexible development, the transmission then passes the small chainring with the pinion corresponding to the desired cadenceThe same process occurs on the small chainring when the smallest sprockets are progressively used: to avoid crossing the chain, the transmission automatically shifts to the large chainring with the sprocket implicitly chosen by the cyclist. The idea here is to have a progressiveness in the use of the different developments, without breaking the cadence linked to the changes of chainrings and especially without having to ask questions or adjust the correct cadence with the rear derailleur.

For whom and when?

Beyond the well-thought-out aspect of the application (battery level monitoring, transmission customization), The SRAM AXS application also has the merit of not locking the user into an imposed operation. In this, it offers… the cyclist has. It is up to him to activate or not the possibilities offered to him. In fact and for a classic use, the vast majority of experienced cyclists will prefer to keep the original operation to prolong habits linked to tens of thousands of kilometers traveled during which a physical action causes an action of the bike. This user profile will feel disoriented, for example when the usual action which allows to raise only one sprocket will cause a double change of gears (chainring and sprockets at the same time). The impression given is then of losing control over its transmission. However, "taking the temperature" around us, it appears that a performance-oriented use can be linked to the sequential mode: the management of a Time Trial, a smooth effort by definition. Here, the cyclist close to a threshold effort, with his hands on the extensions and less lucidity due to the intensity of the effort, may prefer to have to manage only two actions: harder ou easier.

But it is especially for cyclists who are new to cycling or even with a SRAM drivetrain electronic that the customization of speed changes finds all its interest. Managing developments according to the terrain presented under the wheels becomes easier, which maintains a more constant pedaling cadence, a parameter leading to reduce fatigue and therefore increase pleasure !

And in any case, whatever the cyclist's profile, being able to monitor the battery charge level and easily update the transmission in a few clicks on your smartphone is always appreciated.

Finally, it should be noted that AXS Web Dashboard (https://axs.sram.com), on which the user can perform the analysis of his output with the speed changes, the developments used, etc.

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