The widespread adoption and popularity of short cranks on the road has been a major technology topic for the past few years. There are many compelling arguments against using shorter cranks, and this change has appealed to the sport’s biggest stars, recreational racers and racers.

The release of new products from SRAM confirms that the brand is fully invested in short cranks. SRAM has released two new SRAM Red AXS lengths and even shorter XPLR carbon fiber cranks in 150mm and 155mm gravel-specific lengths, as well as updated time trial brake levers and several other accessories.

Previously, SRAM’s top road group, the shortest officially available red crank, was 160mm long. However, two-time Tour de France winner Jonas Wingegaard spotted riding a 150mm crank Back in February last year we were obviously experimenting with shorter length cranks in general. The Dutch star has owned at least one Cervelo. S5 race bike with slightly longer cranks (160mm). At last year’s Tour de France.

Not so long ago, road cranks with a diameter of 150 and 155 mm would have been considered extremely rare. Constructed from SRAM’s premium carbon fiber, these huge red cranks will only confirm where you’re headed. This announcement could indicate that more pro riders will be using the 150mm and 155mm red cranks in racing this season, and we’ll be keeping an eye on how this develops. tour of And first weekend especially.

We reached out to SRAM for more information regarding pro rider requests for shorter crank lengths. Jason Fowler, road product manager for SRAM, explained that demand has been increasing since around 2024.

“The creation of the 150 and 155 cranks was made possible by requests from professional racers, and we wanted to give racers a choice.

“Racers like Jonas Vinzigaard started applying in 2024 and started racing prototypes in 2025. Some riders consider these lengths only for time trials, while others consider these lengths for both road racing and time trials.”

The team at Visma-Lease a Bike in Vingegård is clearly fully on board with the idea of ​​a shorter crank. Actually, just like other stars Wout van Aert Not to mention the world champion, the crank also moved to 165mm. Tadej Pogačar Widely recorded use Shimano crank 165 mm..

SRAM claims shorter cranks improve ride performance and comfort. Red cranks are now available in crank lengths from 150mm to 175mm to accommodate SRAM Red power and non-motor sprockets and chainrings. The recommended retail price for a new crank assembly in the new length is $440/£400/€450.

The idea of ​​short connecting rods is not new. Track racers have been using 165mm cranks for decades, and British track and field teams, particularly Team Pursuit, for example, understood the short crank argument over a decade ago. However, lengths such as 150, 160 and 165mm are not as widely used on roads as they are today.

Shortening the cranks not only improves aerodynamics, but also improves the fit on the bike. performance For example, they reduce stress on the rider by widening the hip angle and, in some cases, reducing tension in the hamstrings, a known weakness in cyclists.

New Aero TT brake lever, UDH bolt and USB-C charger.

SRAM has also expanded its brake lineup. With the introduction of the new “Aero Disc Brake” option, these are introduced in the form of three new hydraulic brake lever options for time trial racing.

Previously, when it came to brake levers on time trial bikes, SRAM only offered one hydraulic option: the S-900 Aero Lever. There are also two levers for cable-actuated time braking, which is still common on lower-level amateur and professional TT machines.

SRAM produced TT brake lever and caliper kits in Red, Force and Rival specifications. This looks like it will add more affordable options and a wider range of hydraulic group components for time trial bikes.

The arms are available as kits with calipers and hoses at all three spec points, as well as front and rear brake options. SRAM says there are no changes to the lever assembly, just new trim and graphics, while the existing textured carbon fiber brake lever remains the same.

The red set costs $310/£287/€322 per side. The Force is priced at $250/£245/€27.5, while the Rival has an RRP of $210/$205/$230.

SRAM made a UDH (Universal Derailleur Holder) with a silver bolt and washer as an additional aesthetic option. Silver-colored components are now more common across the board.

Finally, SRAM appears to have adopted the USB-C standard for its wireless chargers. Previously, the charger used a micro USB cable, but SRAM has updated the interface to comply with the USB-C standard. The brand has also “eliminated charging cords from packaging to reduce waste.” This means that when you buy a charger, you’ll likely have to buy a separate cable or use one you have at home.