3T is once again betting on the single chainring on the road with the new SRAM Red AXS XPLR

When no one was considering using a single chainring on the road, the Italian brand 3T was ahead of its time by launching its Strada model equipped with the newly released SRAM Force1, the first SRAM single chainring group for the road, an evolution of its Force CX1 for cyclocross. The bet didn't go well, but now, that approach makes sense thanks to the 13 gears of the latest SRAM group.

The 3T Strada now makes sense thanks to the 13 speeds of the latest SRAM group

SRAM's bet back then was tremendously risky. A bike without support for the derailleur, designed to use only a single chainring and with aerodynamics studied exclusively to be used with this configuration. It even was supplied to a road team, the now-defunct Aqua Blue.

However, complaints from cyclists soon began as this configuration left them without optimal developments in many stages, either too high or too low, and forced them to make a big jump between gears. Remember that, at that time, the groups were 11-speed, which gave little room to cover the extreme developments necessary without affecting the gear jump.

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Then, 3T was forced to backtrack and had to launch a double chainring version of what was an excellent road bike in terms of behavior, weight, and stiffness. A bike that, except for the fully internal wiring that current models have, would not be out of place among current aerolight models, and this is a bike from over 7 years ago.

Now, the latest evolution of this 3T Strada, which receives the Italy surname as an identifier of bikes manufactured 100% in the brand's own headquarters on the outskirts of Bergamo, makes more sense than ever by incorporating the UDH derailleur hanger and the new SRAM Red AXS XPLR group, initially designed for gravel but perfect for this bike thanks to its 13 gears. In any case, 3T has not made the mistake of its first Strada, and this new bike has a removable mount to equip a derailleur.

In addition to the assembly with SRAM Red AXS XPLR, the new 3T Strada Italia has a more refined aerodynamics that stands out for the widening in its diagonal tube that we had already seen in its gravel bikes, complemented by a tremendously deep head tube that is complemented by a curved seat tube at the bottom to streamline the rear wheel and profiled with a generous profile in the upper area. Also, the fusion between the seat tube, bottom bracket, and diagonal tube is combined into a more aerodynamic single block, a common solution in time trial bikes and increasingly applied in new aerodynamic models.

Obviously, in the assembly options offered by 3T, the models equipped with the new SRAM Red AXS XPLR stand out, with 2 available options that vary in price depending on the chosen wheels: Zipp 353 NSW or the 3T Discus 45|32 LTD, both with the spectacular cranks of the 3T Torno brand. Meanwhile, the top of the range opts for a complete SRAM Red assembly with the group's cranks equipped with a power meter, in a double chainring version.

Additionally, there is a model in Shimano Dura-Ace Di2, another in SRAM Force AXS, and the most economical one with Shimano Ultegra Di2 and Zipp 303 Firecrest wheels. All assemblies in a range that goes from €15,075 to €10,612, with the possibility of purchasing the frame kit separately for €5,951.