Campagnolo remains firmly in third position in the road groupset triumvirate. Staunch Campagnolo purists who demand nothing else touch their high-end bikes now have another Italian option for their gravel bikes. The Campagnolo Ekar GT groupset takes what was built with the Ekar gravel groupset and makes it more affordable by eschewing carbon bits and is now offered with more range. But, why does a 2nd-tier gravel groupset really matter?
Campagnolo on more (gravel) bikes
With the simplicity offered by a 1×13 groupset, Campagnolo is offering something truly unique in the market. I tested and enjoyed the SRAM Apex 1×12 groupset last summer, but having one extra cog and tighter spacing would be welcome. Riders will appreciate the added range and Campagnolo may start to enjoy OEM spec on a variety of gravel bikes. With 480% range, Ekar GT has enough cogs to satisfy a wide range of riders and terrain. The new groupset will feature four cassette options (9-36, 9-42, 10-44,10-48) and five different chainrings (44, 42, 40, 38, and the new 36).
Legendary Campagnolo braking for more riders
If there’s something we can appreciate, it’s the feel and performance of Campagnolo’s disc brakes. The lever shape and progressive feel remains tops in my book as far as road disc brakes are concerned. The shape of the Ekar hoods feels great and will provide excellent power and modulation for both aggressive and casual riders alike.
It’s mechanical, stupid
Mechanical groupsets may seem old-fashioned, but after a dead battery in my SRAM Rival XPLR shifter this month, I can appreciate a good mechanical groupset. There’s something to be said for just hopping on your bike after it’s been sitting a few weeks and not worry about battery levels. There is a downside though as many top-tier frames won’t accept mechanical groupsets anymore. Be careful if you plan to do a custom Campagnolo Ekar GT bike and double-check that your frameset will take mechanical bits. Expect Ekar GT to weigh 2700 grams and set you back $1599. That puts it lighter than SRAM Rival XPLR, but slightly more expensive.
What do you think about the latest gravel groupset from Campagnolo?
More Info: Campagnolo.com
All images courtesy Campagnolo.
