2x10 XX cassette supersized for show. vegas baby. vegas.
Remember when we went from 21 speed to 24 speed to 27 speed? And then how excited we were to have more gears? With 10 speed cassettes we can now have 30 speeds. But seriously, how many will we actually use? SRAM makes a statement with their new 2×10 XX line that doesn’t say less is more, but less is sufficient, less redundant and lighter. The concept is simple – pair a 10 speed cassette with not a triple but double chainring crankset (26-39 or 28-42). If derailleurs can handle a wide range of gears, it makes perfect sense – crisper and less shifting to worry about. The cassette is basically one piece (the inner 8 gears) making it not only strong but without the play you can have in Shimano cassettes. Not only that, the thing is machined out for mud clearance and weight savings (a scant 208 grams for the 11-36T). And that’s steel, not titanium – therefore will wear less quickly. Of course the weight savings of the double chainring is obvious.
