Necessity for SRAM AXS road flattop chains. Stock up on a bunch especially if you need to take your chain on/off frequently (like for waxing). Not 100% sure on the one-time use aspect, but better to be safe than to risk damaging your drivetrain.
Really make sure to line up the notches and make sure it's securely locked. I've had times where I line up the notch on the front, but the notch looked "OK" in the back. Nope! That resulted in a snapped power lock
Pairs right up and works without a hitch so far, hasn't dropped connection and does everything I'd want it to. One time before a ride I had to de-pair and pair again after it wouldn't connect, but that was just a weird one-off thing seemingly.
The reason I took off a star is because the unit I received was very obviously a used and returned open box with a bunch of grease everywhere, but I figured as long as it worked it was no harm no foul even though it was supposed to be new.
I like how you can place these shifters where ever its most comfortable/convenient. In my case, I placed them on my aerobars on my road bike. This enabled me to keep my hands on the aerobars while shifting, greatly reducing the number of times I have to reach for the hood shifters. This enables quicker shifting and a smoother ride. It was easy to pair these with my AXS system.
Two things could be improved.
(1) The battery. I'd like to see a replaceable or rechargeable battery. This would extend the like of the blips.
(2) Providing more (or better) options for mounting these securely. My aerobars are round and pretty thin. The mounting stickers and cheap plastic mounting covers don't appear to provide long-term protection from falling off. Time will tell though. The plastic covers don't fit well around thin, round bars. I realize you can try to wrap some bar tape around them to help with this, but they are so small it makes it difficult to get them wrapped without having to cut the bar tape to avoid the blip contact points.
?I upgraded to the 165mm SRAM RED E1 DUB arms, and the difference is incredible. These are absurdly light, you can instantly feel the weight savings over the old generation. The carbon stiffness is phenomenal; every watt goes straight to the wheels.
?Switching to 165mm has been a game-changer for my fit, boosting my cadence and reducing hip fatigue on long climbs. Installation was easy thanks to the DUB spindle standard. My only complaint is the price, but if you want the absolute best and lightest crank arms for your build, these are it. A truly premium, five-star upgrade.
