Outside

VeloNews Road Road Gear

Tour Tech: Mark Cavendish’s SRAM HydroR hydraulic rim brakes

Caley Fretz has a peek at Cav's new toy — hydraulic rim brakes from SRAM

Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.

Mark — Cavendish is the first top-tier pro to use one of SRAM’s new hydraulic brake systems in competition. Of course, the disc brake version is not yet UCI legal, so we won’t see those in the Tour any time soon. SRAM representatives said that the UCI approval request for the hydraulic rim brakes, necessary for any new piece of technology, went through in the last few weeks, opening the door for the brakes to be used in competition. Photo: BrakeThrough Media

Mark — The hydraulic rim brakes offer excellent power and finely tuned modulation. They’re also lighter than standard calipers. Photo: BrakeThrough Media

Mark — The HRR brakes are sculpted for aerodynamic improvement as well. Photo: BrakeThrough Media

Mark — Cavendish has two custom-painted Specialized Venge frames here at the Tour, bearing the logo and colors of his new CVNDSH brand. Besides SRAM’s 11-speed Red 22 and hydraulic brakes, he’s on an S-Works carbon crank with a Quarq power meter. For flat stages where crosswinds are likely, like this Tour’s first stage, he likes the Zipp 404 front and 808 rear setup. Photo: BrakeThrough Media

Mark — It seems absurdly simple, but Quarq’s presentation of each power meter’s ANT+ code on the outside of the spider is one of the most user-friendly updates to power meters we’ve seen in years. Photo: BrakeThrough Media

Mark — Cav’s saddle is branded, in two senses of the word. Photo: BrakeThrough Media

Mark — Word on the street is that Cavendish tried out the HydroR brakes and was immediately smitten, requesting them for the start of the Tour. Photo: BrakeThrough Media

Mark — The hoods are tall, bulbous even, but when VeloNews tested them earlier this year we found that the extra hand position was actually quite nice, like having a pair of Ups to match your drops. Photo: BrakeThrough Media

Mark — Major wins on the top tube. Photo: BrakeThrough Media

Mark — The aero Venge frame has a carefully shaped head tube to decrease drag. We have to think that the massive hoods probably have the opposite effect, though. Photo: BrakeThrough Media

Mark — Aluminum Zipp bars and a the company’s big, stiff carbon stem. Photo: BrakeThrough Media

Mark — HydroR, Red 22. Photo: BrakeThrough Media

An American in France

What’s it like to be an American cyclist living in France? Watch to get professional road cyclist Joe Dombrowski’s view.

Keywords:

Native
Wilier

Related content from the Outside Network

One Way South

Mountain Bikers React to Their First Taste of Non-Alcoholic Craft Beer

Video review: BMC URS 01 Two gravel bike

Kiel Reijnen Vuelta Video Diary: The painful decision to abandon