New Campagnolo Ekar 13-speed Gravel Groupset | 3bikes.fr, your Cycling, Gravel & Triathlon magazine

Campagnolo launches its new 13-speed Gravel groupset: the Campagnolo Ekar. A mechanical 1x drivetrain (38/40/42/44), designed to work with a new 13-speed cassette featuring a new N3W freehub body and offered in three gearing options (9-36/9-42/10-44). A groupset that aims to appeal to trail riding enthusiasts with its ease of use and performance. A total weight of less than 2500 g and a price of around €1,700, depending on the configuration.

Source: Press Release / Photo credits: Campagnolo

The new Campagnolo Ekar 13-speed groupset, developed for trail riding, is hitting the market!

A master in the art of innovation and a pioneer in the cycling industry, Campagnolo launches its new Campagnolo Ekar groupset. A 13-speed groupset developed for the Gravel world, which takes its name from the slopes of Mount Ekar, north of the historic Vicenza firm’s headquarters.

Campagnolo, the historic Italian firm, makes a spectacular entry into the Gravel world with the launch of the new 13-speed Ekar groupset.

The new Campagnolo Ekar groupset aims to offer ease of use and a wide range of gears to novices and enthusiasts of the discipline, with a 1×13-speed drivetrain, rigorously tested and developed for riding on gravel and rougher trails.

New design and polymer derailleur pulleys (12-tooth upper and 14-tooth lower) for the new Campagnolo Ekar 13-speed derailleur.

Thus, the new EKAR 1×13-speed derailleur features a new design with a specific clutch, for performance and construction oriented towards Gravel riding. It has a new 2D parallelogram geometry, designed to offer precise mechanism on all 13 cogs. And it is equipped with high-quality polymer derailleur pulleys (12-tooth for the upper, 14-tooth for the lower).

The small lever located at the top left, just above the clamping axle, allows the derailleur clutch to be locked to ensure easy removal of the rear wheel during maintenance.

The body is made of carbon fiber reinforced polyamide and anodized 7075 and 6082 alloys, for a light weight (275 g), strength and durability. And the screws are made of stainless steel. It integrates a clever clutch lock for easy wheel removal. Finally, the derailleur is compatible with all three cassette options. For the price, expect €247 per piece.

The Campagnolo Ekar derailleur body is made of carbon fiber reinforced polyamide and anodized 7075 and 6082 alloys, weighing 275 g.

The new cassette features 13 speeds, for a complete range presented as capable of “matching or exceeding all 2x systems”. It is composed of a two-piece block, which combines the strength of steel with the lightness of alloy. Compact, it benefits from a narrow design with fast shifts, offering lightness and improved chain security.

Three cassette options are offered for the new Campagnolo Ekar groupset: 9-36T / 9-42T / 10-44T

The materials and design promise durability and strength, without weight penalty. The reduced gear spacing is intended to create a natural cadence progression. It is available in three range options, to best suit each type of gravel riding, and works with the new N3W freehub body. It is sold at a price of €265.

Bottes de pressothérapie Jolt Boots noires et leur unité de contrôle dans une mallette ouverte. — Three gearing options Endurance / Gravel Race / Gravel Adventure are offered for the new 13V steel and CNC machined cassette.

Options and weights of the cassettes offered for the Campagnolo Ekar 13s groupset
340 gr (Endurance 9-36T: 9-10-11-12-13-14-16-18-20-23-27-31-36)
390 gr (Gravel Race 9-42T: 9-10-11-12-13-14-16-18-21-25-30-36-42)
410 gr (Gravel Adventure 10-44T: 10-11-12-13-14-15-17-19-22-26-32-39-44)

The Ekar crankset is designed around a 1x single chainring system. It is presented as light, efficient and perfect for trail riding. The strong and lightweight UD carbon crank arms articulate around a two-piece Ultra-Torque axle, made of high-strength 630 steel with corrosion resistance.

Four chainring options are offered: Adventure (38T), Pure Gravel (40T), Fast Gravel (42T), eGravel (44T). The crankset benefits from a narrow-wide tooth design for efficient drive and maximum chain security. The alloy chainrings are easily interchangeable, without needing to remove the crankset. Four crank arm lengths are offered: 165, 170, 172.5, and 175 mm. The Q-Factor is narrow (145.5 mm). For a weight of 615 grams in 172.5 mm / 38T. The recommended retail price is €347.

The new C13 chain has been developed specifically for the Ekar 1×13-speed system. The wide and narrow tooth design has been conceived to offer efficient riding and smooth gear changes. It features a narrow, light, and efficient profile. Strong and durable, it is shaped with different steel qualities and coatings for increased strength and wear resistance.

It notably benefits from a unique ultrasonic bath impregnation process to give it long-lasting efficiency. It is offered in two options: Classic Pin and C-Link (weight: 242 g (117 links / C-Link) / 242 g (118 links / Pin). Expect €46 for the first version mentioned, €44 for the second.

The bottom bracket has also been designed specifically for trail riding with enhanced protection against harmful ingress of water, mud, and sand. It features Campa ProTech technology, a patented external sealing ring, and a solid fiberglass and polyamide tube.

The large, protected external stainless steel bearings attach directly to the crank arms for smooth performance. It offers full compatibility with all threaded and PressFit standards (BSA, ITA, BB86, BB30, BB30A, BB386, PF30, BB RIGHT, T47). Its weight is 50 grams and its price is €33.

The new Ekar Ergopower levers offer a comfortable support with a Vari-Cushion hood that provides a secure grip in all riding positions and conditions. Gear shifting is precise and fast, always following the “one lever, one action” principle. The downshift lever has been improved to facilitate access, especially in a riding position with hands in the drops.

The lever benefits from a new “Lever 3” design, easy to activate and handle. Grip capacity has been improved with an additional laser-cut texture and controls that are more resistant to sweat and wear. Ultra-Shift allows multiple actions, such as shifting up 3 gears. Ergonomics and reach are still adjustable, to adapt to the maximum number of hand or finger sizes. The pair weighs 420 grams. For a recommended retail price of €382 for the right lever, €304 for the left lever.

The Ekar calipers and the internal components of the hydraulic system adopt the operating principle of Campagnolo’s high-performance road groupsets, designed to offer a progressive and reliable braking feel, for total control on all terrains.

The new DB310 pads with a unique organic compound offer high braking performance and improved wear resistance in wet or dry conditions. The weight is 110 grams (for the front caliper with adapter kit) and 95 grams (for the rear caliper with adapter kit). Expect €382 and €316 (with Ergopower levers).

Compatible with CenterLock mounts, Ekar rotors are made of 1.85 mm thick hardened stainless steel, and are intended to remain straight and reliable, even under heavy and sustained braking. They are presented as strong, durable, lightweight (157 g in 160mm / 123 g in 140mm) and corrosion resistant. Expect €36 per rotor.

The new Ekar groupset and its 13 speeds are an opportunity for Campagnolo to introduce a new N3W freehub body. N3W allows the use of Ekar’s 13-speed cassette but also ensures compatibility with current 12 and 11-speed cassettes, using a spacer lock ring. Campagnolo specifies that it is an open license. The N3W body notably appeared for the first time on the new Campagnolo Shamal wheels unveiled last July.

For the launch of its new Ekar Gravel 13s groupset, Campagnolo states that it has worked closely with a number of bicycle manufacturers. For 2021, the brands that will feature the Ekar groupset on their Gravel bikes are expected to be: 3T, Pinarello, Ridley, Wilier, and Specialized. On the wheel designer side, with whom Campa worked for the integration and compatibility of the new N3W freehub body, the firm was able to rely on the following brands: DT Swiss, GW Manufacturing, Roval, Tune, Newmen.