Ahead of the highly anticipated Unbound Gravel races this weekend, glimpses of the many decked-out gravel machines riders will be using to tackle the grueling open gravel roads of the Midwest are starting to trickle out.
The races themselves, the 100, 200, and 350 XL, take place on Saturday in the Tallgrass Prairie and Flint Hills around Emporia, Kansas.
As the largest gravel event of the year, Unbound also makes for the perfect proving ground for new gravel equipment, so we have been keeping our eyes peeled for new tech around the race.
One intriguing thing that has been spotted so far is a potentially new Shimano gravel groupset.
The Japanese component company's popular GRX gravel specific groupset has been around for a few years now, available in 10 and 11 speed versions only, to date.
However, cycling journalist Ben Delaney, who wrote our gravel groupsets buyer's guide and is racing this weekend, managed to grab these pictures of the new 12 speed GRX components, which were seen spotted aboard Shimano-sponsored Taylor Lideen's bike. The American is riding the XL on Saturday, and is apparently doing so with some exciting new tech.
This epic course been won in the past by riders such a Rebecca "the Queen of Pain" Rusch and ultra-endurance star Lael Wilcox and sees riders suffering for 23 or more hours, so maybe he needs the extra cog at the back.
The rider from Phoenix seems to be using a 12 speed XTR mountain bike cassette, in conjunction with a GRX branded cassette and shifters. This would suggest Shimano are either in final development stages for the new groupset, or even ready to launch.
While the likes of SRAM have used 12 speed shifting since 2019, Shimano, has been late to the party adding the latest and greatest sprocket, with 12-speed Di2 only becoming available on the road last year.
According to Delaney, "[Lideen] had a mechanical 12spd GRX rear derailleur, shifters, brake calipers and crankset with a 10-45t XTR cassette.
"I asked Shimano reps for information, but they would not comment at all, and eventually shooed me away from filming the bike." You can see more on Delaney's YouTube channel The RIde.
This is the first time Shimano 12-speed mechanical shifting has been spotted on a gravel bike.
We will be keeping our eyes peeled for more unreleased tech here at Unbound Gravel, so stay tuned!
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
-
-
Why am I so tired? New AI tool promises to answer this and more from your wrist - tech round up
From a coach on your wrist to no-sealant in your tires: tech news that piqued our interest this week
-
'The hardest ride': Matt Downie beats Mark Beaumont's NC500 record by an hour
26-year-old completes 516 mile course in 27 hours 30 minutes dead to set new best time
-
'It's definitely risky' - Ti specialist Moots on launching its first carbon and e-assist bike
After a four-decade dedication to titanium, Moots launches a carbon e-bike. Moving with the times or a risky move?
-
Moots goes carbon and electric: a first look at the Moots Express gravel e-bike
Moots has launched its first carbon bike, which is also an e-bike — a big departure from its heritage of titanium bikes.
-
Shimano GRX 12-speed adds a gear but keeps the cables: ‘The market wants mechanical’, apparently
First spotted at Unbound Gravel at the start of June, Shimano today officially unveiled its latest generation of GRX components, consisting of three new 12-speed, mechanical drivetrains.
-
Gravel racers are the target for this new titanium frame from Moots
The new Routt CRD has performance-focused chassis, and inhouse carbon components are on the way
-
How to convert your road bike into a gravel bike
If you’re thinking about riding gravel but not ready to buy another bike, with just a few part swaps you can use your road bike to confidently ride gravel. Here's how.
-
A $1300 electronic, wireless groupset? Yes, please! SRAM introduces Apex AXS — the lowest-priced electronic groupset yet
SRAM introduced its Apex AXS electronic groupset, the lowest priced electronic groupset yet, thereby making electronic shifting accessible to newer audiences
-
Lazer releases gravel-specific helmet, Cerro KinetiCore, for mixed-terrain protection
Lazer today launched its latest entry-level helmet: the gravel-specific Cerro KinetiCore. Here's why it caught our eye.
-
The Ultimate Gear Test: this bike and gear survived an epic edition of the Unbound XL
The Unbound XL is a true test of fitness, self-sufficiency, tenacity and equipment. Here’s how this rider's bike and gear fared after 352 miles of gravel, mud, rain and thunderstorms.
