The OB1: Component Spec

WHY WE CHOSE IT

From road to gravel to travel, our OB1 frameset is ready for every road. Its sleek road-bike design hides clearance for wide dirt tires and discreet mounting points for bags, fenders, racks, extra bottles, and everything else the ride demands. From reinforcement at every hole and boss, to anti-corrosive fiberglass where carbon meets metal, to bolt-secured aluminum cable guides, we've invested in the details to deliver you performance without compromise.

WHY WE CHOSE IT

We created SteerSafe to ensure your carbon steerer is fully supported against stem clamping forces. SteerSafe is an aluminum tube with built-in starnut that gets bonded into our carbon steerers at the factory. To shorten a SteerSafe equipped steerer, simply cut through the carbon and aluminum layers using a guide and a carbon-specific blade as you would a normal carbon steerer, then use ultra-fine sandpaper to create a smooth, slightly rounded edge. Finish by torquing the lubricated stem bolts to 5 Nm.

WHY WE CHOSE IT

Each thru-axle is machined from a single billet of ultra-premium 7075 aluminum. With a built-in washer for smooth installation, our bolt-on thru-axles offer stiffness, security, and easy wheel removal without the extra ~100g of weight of levered designs and uses a 6mm hex wrench.

WHY WE CHOSE IT

OB1's seat clamp achieves its integrated look while utilizing a traditional clamping interface that, unlike many proprietary integrated designs, evenly distributes clamping forces. This helps prevent damage to frame or post, post slippage, or post binding (dropper post). We finish it off with a lubricated nut and bolt for a lifetime of trouble-free use. Be sure to coat your seat post with grip paste before installing.

WHY WE CHOSE IT

Selected for durability, OB1's extra large 1-1/2” angular contact lower cartridge bearing distributes the extreme loads this component experiences over more and larger balls. The sealed top cap provides an extra barrier to water penetration and its replaceable aluminum split crown race protects the carbon steerer crown from wear while being less prone to creaking than non-split races. While it adds a handful of grams relative to smaller diameter options, we don't believe in shedding weight at the expense of durability.

WHY WE CHOSE IT

Flexy derailleur hangers compromise shifting and are quick to fail. OB1's is stiff and strong to withstand the greater loads placed on it by today's long-cage derailleurs and wide range cassettes, but will still sacrifice itself to protect the derailleur and frame in the event of a major impact. And don't worry - we include an extra just in case.

WHY WE CHOSE IT

Aero on the tops, control and comfort in the drops. With a short reach, shallow drop, and subtle 10° of flare, our handlebar keeps you narrow when motoring on the hoods while offering greater leverage when cornering, descending, or shredding dirt in the drops, all while reducing back and wrist strain. Its wide central clamping area allows you to attach a bell, GPS, bar bag, aero clip-ons, or all 4 at once if that's what your adventure requires.

WHY WE CHOSE IT

A top-of-the-line stem equivalent to others retailing at $100 or more, our 7050-series aluminum stem is strong and stiff yet lighter than others' $250+ carbon stems.

WHY WE CHOSE IT

Wide, short, cut-out saddles like this one first gained popularity among triathletes and time-trialists looking for improved comfort over long stints in extremely aggressive positions. Eventually roadies and mountain bikers discovered their benefits and brought them into their disciplines as well. With a bit more cushion for mixed terrain riding and hollow Cr-Mo rails for outstanding strength, this is a saddle meant for long days on rough roads.

We spec our Endurance 148 saddle across our entire line of bikes. Our riders love it so much that many have outfitted their entire stable with them.

WHY WE CHOSE IT

Extreme loads and environmental stresses make rear hubs notoriously prone to failure. That's why we invested in DT Swiss's rightfully venerated DT350 rear hub. It features the famously strong and durable Star Ratchet engagement system, large 6902 sealed cartridge bearings, tool-less serviceability and convertibility to other axle or freehub standards, and a centerlock interface for easy rotor installation and removal.

This hub is twice as strong and 3-5x more expensive than the traditional pawl-based models some brands employ to reduce cost, and weighs only a few grams more than the under-built models often employed to achieve attention grabbing weights at the expense of durability. We went with the 36T ratchet because it offers 2x the engagement speed of the stock 18T without the durability issues and noise of the 54T.

We've reviewed the testing data, talked to mechanics, and have been abusing DT Star Ratchet hubs ourselves for over 15 years. Whether you're ripping it up on singletrack, touring through some remote wilderness, or simply putting in long miles year after year, these are the hubs you'll want to trust to keep you going.

You can learn more about DT's Star Ratchet engagement system here.

WHY WE CHOSE IT

DT350 front hubs are famously durable, serviceable, and adaptable. They also achieve their light weight without resorting to durability-compromising tricks. What do we mean? Just as there are brands that will use failure-prone aluminum nipples to shave grams, there are others who may spec a hub with tiny bearings and a narrow hub shell to achieve an eye-catching weight. However, those small bearings wear out fast, and that narrow shell may not withstand the torsional loads associated with disc brakes.

WHY WE CHOSE IT

Why invest so much on so many fancy bladed spokes? Because the same cold-forging process that turns a length of round straight-gauge wire into a light and aero bladed spoke also improves strength-to-weight and elastication by realigning the grain flow of the metal and reducing its cross-sectional area. The result is a spoke that can be run at high tension while experiencing less change in tension and thus fatigue with each wheel rotation or impact. Furthermore, unlike cheaper round "butted" spokes that are in fact cold-forged in a similar process, bladed spokes can easily be built into a wheel and later trued without inducing spoke wind-up, further extending the life of the wheel. To cap it off, we went with a single length of J-Bend spoke to make it easier to find should one fail, and avoided low spoke counts to make it unlikely one ever will.

WHY WE CHOSE IT

Why do mechanics love externally adjustable brass nipples? Aluminum nipples are a trick used by some brands achieve attention-grabbing weights at the expense of durability and serviceability. Aluminum oxidizes and is much softer than brass, making aluminum nipples notoriously prone to seizure, splitting, and failure. The result is that a simple wheel true can turn into a costly rebuild with new nipples and spokes. Weight savings? Less than 18 grams per wheel.

As for the hidden nipples used by some uber expensive brands, no one envies having to remove your tires, sealant, rim tape, and valve stems just to perform necessary maintenance. Aerodynamic advantage? Zero. Zilch. Nada.

WHY WE CHOSE IT

Strong, durable wheels require more than the best components. That's why we invested having our wheels professionally hand-built and machine checked. With a professional touch-up at 1200 miles and regular check-ups for tension and true, our wheels will continue to perform year after year.

WHY WE CHOSE IT

Machined from a single plate of long wearing 7075-series aluminum to eliminate every unnecessary gram, our chainrings feature contoured narrow-wide teeth for smooth, drop-free operation and direct-mount interfaces for a stiffer and lighter overall system.

WHY WE CHOSE IT

Lightweight, slick-shifting, and durable, we've been rocking 1x11 drivetrains using these premium SunRace cassettes for years to great effect. With proper chain maintenance, you'll get thousands of miles of trouble-free use before needing a replacement.

WHY WE CHOSE IT

Functionally identical to Force 1 except for its aluminum vs. carbon front cage plate (~8g), SRAM's Rival 1 long cage rear derailleur features worthwhile upgrades over Apex 1 that include more durable cartridge bearing pulleys and a 50g+ lighter weight. It's clutched main pivot prevents chain slap and drops when charging through rough terrain, and its clever cage-lock feature makes swapping between wheelsets a breeze.

WHY WE CHOSE IT

SRAM uses the same internals across all its road lines to achieve identical pro-level shifting and braking performance. With the only relevant differences being weight and finishes, we skipped Force's carbon levers (42g difference) and invested in high-end carbon wheels, lightweight cockpit components and other performance. durability, and serviceability upgrades while saving vastly more weight. While Rival and Apex are identical except for finishes, we went with the former due to its availability with a front shifter to allow easy addition of a dropper post or front derailleur.

WHY WE CHOSE IT

Strong, Stiff, Light: Pick 3. How do you create a crank that achieves extraordinary stiffness-to-weight in an easily serviceable package that isn't afraid of a rock strike? Take two billets of ultra premium 7075 aluminum. Smash each under 600 tones of force to form two hollow, box-section arms. Then take another billet of that same alloy and machine it into a large diameter BB386 spindle to push the bottom bracket's oversized bearings as far apart as possible for even more stiffness and durability. Sandblast rather than polish all surfaces to pound-out microfractures, machine out required interfaces, and anodize everything for an even harder and longer-wearing finish. On the non-drive side, press the spindle directly into the arm to reduce weight. On the drive side, use a single oversized bolt to cinch the burly spline interfaces of the arm and spindle together for easy crank removal and chainring swapping.

WHY WE CHOSE IT

Our precision-milled, thread-together aluminum shell is strong and stiff to ensure perfect alignment and support our widely-spaced, large-ball cartridge bearings. It's the same $70+ solution that mechanics turn to when the cheap, plastic press fit bottom brackets creak and fail. It adds quite a bit of cost and a handful of grams, but we think the increased durability, efficiency-under-load, and general peace of mind are well worth the investment.

WHY WE CHOSE IT

This chain gets the job done with neither fanfare nor fuss. Designed by SRAM to work with all their 1x11 drivetrains, the workhorse PC1110 shifts and wears as well as far more expensive models. Keep it clean, treat it regularly with a wax-based lube, and replace it the moment your checking tool (you do have one, right?) indicates elongation in order to keep your drivetrain quiet, your shifts snappy, and your relatively expensive chainrings and cassettes free of premature wear.

WHY WE CHOSE IT

SRAM's Centerline 160mm rotors offer a blend of power, modulation, smooth operation, and heat-management. We chose a Centerlock interface for easier installation and removal.

WHY WE CHOSE IT

Mixed-terrain riding often requires ultra low gearing, particularly when slogging gear up steep dirt roads. Paired with a 10-50T cassette, a 44T chainring offers a monster 500% range with considerably more low end grunt than most 2x options (including that of our OB1 AXS 2x) for steep dirt climbs while maintaining plenty of top end for high speed road descents.

WHY WE CHOSE IT

SRAM's XG-1295 cassette is a masterpiece of CNC-milled steel and aluminum. Identical in all but finish to their top-of-the-line XG-1299, it saves a significant 100g relative to SRAM's next lightest option. Sporting 12 speeds and a monster 500% range, you'll always have the right gear for your fitness and terrain.

WHY WE CHOSE IT

Identical in all but finish to their top-end XX1 AXS offering, SRAM's X01 AXS electronic rear derailleur offers the same slick shifting as the cable-actuated 11spd rear derailleur we use on our original OB1 but in a wireless 12 speed electronic format.

WHY WE CHOSE IT

SRAM's Force AXS levers take the excellent shifting and braking we've come to love from the SRAM mechanical levers we spec on the original OB1, but with light-touch wireless electronic shifting and the addition of contact point adjustment to dial how the brake pads bite. They are also functionally identical to the top-of-the-line Red AXS save for a ~15g difference in lever weight.

WHY WE CHOSE IT

SRAM's Force 1 AXS carbon crankset offers the best combination of light weight, durability, and gearing range of any crankset within SRAM's line. We went with their 44T chainring for an optimal balance of top-end speed and low-end grunt, allowing you to tackle everything from screaming road descents to loaded dirt climbs.

WHY WE CHOSE IT

Our precision-milled, thread-together aluminum shell is strong and stiff to ensure perfect alignment and support our widely-spaced, large-ball cartridge bearings. It's the same $70+ solution that mechanics turn to when the cheap, plastic press fit bottom brackets creak and fail. It adds quite a bit of cost and a handful of grams, but we think the increased durability, efficiency-under-load, and general peace of mind are well worth the investment.

WHY WE CHOSE IT

Chains are a wear item that should be checked, cleaned, lubed, and replaced frequently for optimal performance and to preserve your expensive chainrings, cassettes, and derailleur pulleys. Within SRAM's line, we chose the GX 12-speed chain for its hardened steels and anti-friction/anti-corrosion finishes.

WHY WE CHOSE IT

We're huge fans of the smooth-braking SRAM Centerline Centerlock rotors we spec on our original model. For our AXS model, we chose the upgraded XR version for its ~23g per wheel lighter weight.

WHY WE CHOSE IT

An electronic drivetrain won't do you much good without a means to charge it, so we of course include a charger with every bike.

WHY WE CHOSE IT

Mixed-terrain riding often requires ultra low gearing, particularly when slogging gear up steep dirt roads. We therefore went the lowest gearing possible within SRAM's line to achieve a 1:1 bottom end.

Note: if you're considering riding steep terrain, check out our OB1 AXS 1x option for its even more generous low end and comparable top gear.

WHY WE CHOSE IT

Mixed-terrain riding often requires ultra low gearing, particularly when slogging gear up steep dirt roads. We therefore went the lowest gearing possible within SRAM's line to achieve a 1:1 bottom end.

Note: if you're considering riding steep terrain, check out our OB1 AXS 1x for its even more generous low end and comparable top gear.

WHY WE CHOSE IT

For some riders, the tighter gear spacing of a 2x drivetrain is a must have. 2x also happens to be where the benefits of electronic shifting are fully realized.

We chose SRAM's Force AXS electronic front derailleur over top-end Red AXS due to its more durable, 10g heavier steel cage. No more thinking about shift-timing, cross-chaining, or other distractions associated with having to coordinate front and rear shifting. With motors and software doing the work of nailing each shift, you're free to focus on what really matters: the road ahead.

WHY WE CHOSE IT

For some riders, the tighter gear spacing of a 2x drivetrain is a must have. 2x also happens to be where the benefits of electronic shifting are fully realized.

As with the cable-actuated model we use on our original OB1, we chose SRAM's Force AXS Electronic Rear Derailleur for its slick shifting, convenient cage-lock feature, and chain-taming clutched design. It also happens to be functionally identical to SRAM's top-end Red AXS save for a difference of 15g.

No more thinking about shift-timing, cross-chaining, or other distractions associated with having to coordinate front and rear shifting. With motors and software doing the work of nailing each shift, you're free to focus on what really matters: the road ahead.

WHY WE CHOSE IT

SRAM's Force AXS levers take the excellent shifting and braking we've come to love from the SRAM mechanical levers we spec on the original OB1, but with light-touch wireless electronic shifting and the addition of contact point adjustment to dial how the brake pads bite. They are also functionally identical to the top-of-the-line Red AXS save for a ~15g difference in lever weight.

WHY WE CHOSE IT

SRAM's Force AXS carbon cranks offer the best combination of light weight and durability of any crankset within the SRAM line.

WHY WE CHOSE IT

Our precision-milled, thread-together aluminum shell is strong and stiff to ensure perfect alignment and support our widely-spaced, large-ball cartridge bearings. It's the same $70+ solution that mechanics turn to when the cheap, plastic press fit bottom brackets creak and fail. It adds quite a bit of cost and a handful of grams, but we think the increased durability, efficiency-under-load, and general peace of mind are well worth the investment.

WHY WE CHOSE IT

Chains are a wear item that should be checked, cleaned, lubed, and replaced frequently for optimal performance and to preserve your expensive chainrings, cassettes, and derailleur pulleys. Within SRAM's line, we chose the Force 12-speed chain for its hardened steels and anti-friction/anti-corrosion finishes.

WHY WE CHOSE IT

We're huge fans of the smooth-braking SRAM Centerline Centerlock rotors we spec on our original model. For our AXS model, we chose the upgraded XR version for its ~23g per wheel lighter weight.

WHY WE CHOSE IT

An electronic drivetrain won't do you much good without a means to charge it, so we of course include a charger with every bike.