CeramicSpeed (Denmark) - Press Release: All Cross-Country, Trail and Enduro mountain bikers, as well as Gravel and Cyclocross riders running 12-speed SRAM Eagle – in both its mechanical and new AXS electronic formats – can now go faster for longer. Our all-new Oversized Pulley Wheel X System, designed specifically to enhance the performance of the new SRAM 12-Speed drivetrain's, is here.

OSPW X for SRAM Eagle – available now – can give off-road riders, from a wide range of disciplines (flat bars, fat bars or drop bars), the same sort of performance benefit as our traditional OSPW Systems for road or gravel rear derailleurs.

As well as the ‘raw’ performance benefits of our highly efficient bearings, durability is a key factor in the development of this product. We know that it has a host of terrain and weather challenges to face and have designed each element to reflect that demand.

Extensively measured in the lab and proved on the dirt (and grit, grass, roots, rocks, boardwalk, pavement… you know how it goes, every surface gets a workout over a season), the new OSPW X System has been put through its paces by our internal test team as well as the UCI French cross-country race team, SUNN Factory Racing.

OSPW X for SRAM Eagle is compatible with SRAM’s new 12-speed systems, being available in two options to fit each system: one for SRAM Eagle XX1, X01, GX, NX Mechanical and another for SRAM Eagle AXS. The system is compatible with the standard 10-50t cassette.

The OSPW X System for SRAM Eagle features 14 teeth on the upper pulley wheel and 18 teeth on the lower. Utilising our unique narrow-wide tooth profile we ensure the best shifting possible without drag. The narrow-wide geometry always helps keep the chain clean, reducing drag and making sure that the performance remains constant regardless of the riding conditions.

Despite the larger size pulley wheels, the cage length is 2mm shorter than a stock cage, running on the same chain length as stock pulleys.

OSPW X for SRAM Eagle has three spring tension settings to customise performance and maximise chain drag reduction, to suit every rider’s style, weight, power output and various racing and riding conditions. The recommended start setting for mounting is M (medium) for the best shifting performance.

How does OSPW X for SRAM Eagle work out on the trail, or to be more precise, the XC race course? We caught up with Ludovic Dubau, Team Manager of SUNN Factory Racing – the first team to use it competitively.

“Like any professional mountain biker, we’re constantly looking for advantages in new technology, ideas and efficiency. For a high-level cross-country team, knowing that the maximum amount of power our riders create is delivered to the rear tyre is vital. For all our riders across a year of racing, the small but significant margins that we get from CeramicSpeed OSPW X System is an important contribution and one that, now we’ve experienced training and racing with it, we wouldn’t be without.”

SUNN Factory Racing is known for competing in XCO, the Olympic format, and most popular of the various cross-country mountain biking formats. The team roster includes Joshua Dubau, the reigning European and French U23 Champion in Olympic Cross-Country Mountain Bike, and ride the latest Sunn Prim model.

How does the OSPW X for SRAM Eagle hold up for the riders?

“Olympic distance cross-country racing is an incredibly competitive event. As well as the rider fitness, technique and race-craft for our men and women riders – that we never want to overlook – we always strive to find and fit the best equipment.

“The whole drivetrain is vital, and regardless of which manufacturer’s system you decide upon, sometimes that’s personal, knowing that you’re working at maximum efficiency whatever the conditions is important.

"Losing power and time to poor efficiency feels like being cheated of the performance you know you can truly deliver. We trust that the CeramicSpeed components we run help us to achieve as close to maximum as possible!"

"Thanks to the various tests carried out in the field, with CeramicSpeed, we have been able to develop the most suitable Oversized Pulley Wheel System for mountain biking. OSPW X for Eagle is a significant upgrade in optimising our MTB setup.”

“We compete all over Europe and train a lot in France so we meet a lot of different conditions, not just topographically but also weather. Rain, mud and grit are well known to negatively affect components’ performance but we’ve been impressed with the durability of the CeramicSpeed OSPW X, and the low maintenance requirements of the bearings sets themselves."

“We have high ambitions going forward across this year, next season and beyond, and ensuring that we are served with the best systems possible is an important part of our team ethos and of course our management plan.”

SUNN Factory Racing’s example is from the world of cross-country but it’s not just XC where SRAM Eagle – and specifically the enhanced performance with CeramicSpeed OSPW X – comes in. Riders can reap the benefits in the more ‘extreme’ MTB disciplines such as trail and enduro, and when you swap back to your drop-bars for gravel grinding and CX, OSPW X is ready to save you watts and give you more “free speed”, but most importantly delivering unparalleled durability.

And with CeramicSpeed Bearings typically lasting three to five times longer than conventional bearings (and the new OSPW X for SRAM Eagle being backed by a 4- or 6-year guarantee) you really can ride Faster For Longer.