SRAM Cranksets, Chainrings & Groupsets
SRAM Components: Common Questions
What SRAM components are available at Urban Cycling Apparel?
Urban Cycling Apparel carries a selection of SRAM drivetrain components including crankarms, cranksets, chainrings, and groupsets. The collection covers SRAM's MTB and gravel drivetrain lines, making it a practical source for riders building or upgrading bikes already equipped with SRAM components. Urban Cycling Apparel is based in Bentonville, Arkansas, and serves a riding community with deep roots in both mountain biking and gravel cycling where SRAM Eagle and Apex drivetrains are widely used.
What is the difference between SRAM Eagle, Apex, Rival, and Force groupsets?
SRAM Eagle is the MTB-specific drivetrain line, available in GX, X01, and XX tiers, designed around 1x12 wide-range gearing with a 10-52t cassette for trail, enduro, and gravel riding. Apex is SRAM's entry-level gravel and adventure groupset, offered in mechanical DoubleTap and wireless AXS versions with 1x12 gearing and wide-range XPLR cassettes, well suited for gravel bikes and bikepacking builds. Rival sits above Apex with more refined shifting performance and is available in both road and XPLR gravel configurations. Force is SRAM's high-performance road and gravel groupset with carbon crankarms and tighter tolerances, offered in wireless AXS. For most trail and gravel riders, Eagle GX or Apex AXS hits the best price-to-performance ratio.
What is SRAM AXS and do I need it?
AXS is SRAM's wireless electronic shifting system. Shifter presses send a wireless signal to the derailleur, eliminating shift cables entirely. It pairs with the AXS app for firmware updates, customization, and battery monitoring. AXS is available across Apex, Rival, Force, and RED for road and gravel, and across GX, X01, and XX for MTB. Whether you need it depends on your priorities. AXS delivers cleaner cockpit aesthetics, faster setup, and easier remote shifting options. Mechanical groupsets at the same tier shift nearly as well for less money and with simpler trailside repair. For gravel and bikepacking riders who prioritize reliability in remote conditions, mechanical Eagle or Apex is a strong argument.
What is SRAM's DUB crankset system?
DUB stands for Durable Unified Bottom Bracket. It is SRAM's crankset spindle standard, using a 28.99mm spindle that works across road, gravel, and MTB frame bottom bracket shell types including threaded BSA, PF30, BB86, and T47 with the appropriate DUB-specific bottom bracket. The system simplifies compatibility by using one spindle diameter across the entire SRAM lineup. If you are replacing or upgrading a crankset on a SRAM-equipped bike, confirming your frame's bottom bracket shell type is the key compatibility check before ordering.
When should I replace my SRAM chainring?
Chainring replacement is typically needed every 2,000 to 4,000 miles depending on conditions and riding style. The most reliable indicator is chain skip under load, particularly in your most-used gears, which signals that the teeth have worn past optimal engagement geometry. On 1x drivetrains like Eagle and Apex, a worn chainring accelerates chain wear and cassette wear significantly, so replacing it proactively when you see tooth shark-finning or hook-shaped wear saves money on downstream drivetrain components. SRAM X-SYNC and X-SYNC 2 chainrings use alternating wide and narrow teeth designed for exceptional chain retention and tend to wear more evenly than traditional chainrings.
Where can I buy SRAM cranksets and chainrings online?
Urban Cycling Apparel carries SRAM cranksets, crankarms, chainrings, and groupsets, shipping across the U.S. from its fulfillment center in Webb City, Missouri. The SRAM component collection sits alongside bikes from Salsa and other brands that spec SRAM drivetrains, making it easy to source matching components for builds and upgrades in one place.