Is Ekar right for you?

Gerard Vroomen - 12-Apr-2021
We get a lot of questions from people considering Campagnolo Ekar for their OPEN bike build (or considering the complete WI.DE.U.P. and U.P.P.E.R. bikes we offer in our webstore). Is it right for them, what is important to consider, etc. Here are my thoughts.

13-speed. The simplicity of a 1x drivetrain has many advantages for gravel, including less chance of chain drop and no muck clogging up the front derailleur. With 1x11, some felt the steps between gears were a little too big. With 1x12 from SRAM, that rarely gets mentioned anymore. With this 1x13, the issue is completely solved.



small steps. Of course 13-speed only works if the cassette ratios are chosen right. And I think Campagnolo has been near flawless in its choices here. First off, all cassettes start with six 1-tooth steps: So in the case of the 9-36T cassette, that means 9-10-11-12-13-14. Other cassette with that much range start with 10-12-14 or 11-13-15, so 2-tooth jumps from the get-go. This is a game changer!

3 cassette options. The 9-36T is great for road riders (whether on a road or gravel bike) and even for gravel riders if your terrain is not too extreme or if you are willing to focus on one end of the spectrum. The 9-42 and 10-44 give you a great range for a gravel bike on any terrain. Here are the full ranges:

9-36T:       9-10-11-12-13-14-16-18-20-23-27-31-36
9-42T:       9-10-11-12-13-14-16-18-21-25-30-36-42
10-44T:   10-11-12-13-14-15-17-19-22-26-32-38-44

2 wheelset bliss. The final part of what makes these cassettes great is their ability to work in a 1-bike-2-wheelsets scenario. Just put the 9-36T on your road wheels and the 9-42T or 10-44T on your gravel wheels. When you switch to the gravel wheels, you reduce your low gear by roughly 20% for the tougher terrain with the option to keep your top gear intact or adjust it as well.

wheel compatibility. To fit the 9T cog, your wheels need the new N3W freehub body. This sounds like a big hassle, but most manufacturers are starting to offer this freehub, and often it is retrofittable to old wheels.



ergonomics: The levers are very nice, with good grip on the hoods even on rough terrain. The thumb shifter takes a bit of getting used to for people not familiar with Campagnolo, but like any shifter it becomes second nature quickly.

mechanical: Some will see this as an advantage (durable, fixable when in trouble) while others pine for electronic shifting. To me, it's a non-issue, the way the shifter works is so far down my priorities on a 1x bike that it would never make me go one way or another.

brake calipers: Luckily Campagnolo has gone away from their proprietary concept for the calipers and they now fit flawlessly on all our frames. Even more importantly, they work very well. We list exactly what adaptors (if any) and bolt lengths you need for each frame model in our extended spec lists for the UP/UPPER, WIDE and MIND.

crank: Technically it is a very good crank, stiff, light, with almost the right chainring options for every rider level. If I had my say, they would also make a 36T chainring but I am sure they will offer that soon, at least as a replacement part. The aesthetics seem to divide people. 

I started writing this blog wanting to do pros and cons, but there really aren't that many cons to Ekar. Depending on your viewpoint, the fact that it's mechanical and the looks of the cranks could be, but to others both are pros, not cons. In the end the only con may be that we don't have very many.

We now have Ekar available on 3 bikes with a great spec of Enve cockpit and HED Emporia Pro wheels (700c or 650b) or ENVE AG25 (700c):
  1. U.P. in various colors or RTP (ready-to-paint)
  2. U.P.P.E.R. in matte black or RTP
  3. WI.DE. in various colors or RTP
If you have any questions, let me know. 

Comments & Questions

OPEN
Power meter options for Ekar are very limited due to the chainring availability. Perhaps not as big of an issue now with the Garmin spd pedals, but a consideration.
Post #1 of 44. Posted by Erik on 12-Apr-2021 11:02:54 GMT in reply to blog [0<--23039]
OPEN
As you say, Garmin now has an SPD pedal, SRM has an SPD pedal, Wahoo has a pedal (based on Speedplay so not great for serious dirt but probably more coming). I think in a few years, the majority of power measurement will be at the pedal. And there are also more and more manufacturers making Ekar-compatible rings including FSA.
Post #2 of 44. Posted by Gerard Vroomen on 12-Apr-2021 11:08:26 GMT in reply to post #1 [23039<--23040]
OPEN
While SRM has a pedal, I've not seen any actually available for sale in the past 3-4 months when I have looked. I ended up going with a 1x GRX di2 build on my Wide due to availability of a power meter and a DT hub. It appears the DT hub is available now. I'd been running a Favero/XPedo hack for a while, but it always made me nervous for rock strikes. I definitely could use the extra gears of EKar though.
Post #8 of 44. Posted by Erik on 12-Apr-2021 12:55:36 GMT in reply to post #2 [23040<--23046]
OPEN
So when ordering the group & frameset, will it be built up already - or at least partially?
Post #3 of 44. Posted by Mathias on 12-Apr-2021 11:15:53 GMT in reply to blog [0<--23041]
OPEN
hi Mathias, not in this case, as there is very little to install before you have all the parts. So best to leave everything protected in its own packaging.
Post #4 of 44. Posted by Gerard Vroomen on 12-Apr-2021 11:18:24 GMT in reply to post #3 [23041<--23042]
OPEN
Thanks Gerard. And, any idea where I could get the N3W freehub for Zipp 303s & DT Swiss GR1600 wheels?
They don't seem to be available just yet!
Post #6 of 44. Posted by Mathias on 12-Apr-2021 11:34:06 GMT in reply to post #4 [23042<--23044]
OPEN
Hi Mathias, I don't know, luckily I'm only responsible for the 3T wheels and we have N3W options on some hubs and coming on others very soon, so I am sure Zipp and DT aren't far behind.
Post #11 of 44. Posted by Gerard Vroomen on 12-Apr-2021 16:06:30 GMT in reply to post #6 [23044<--23049]
OPEN
I think they can't go below 38T on the EKAR Chainring as the BCD isn't small enough.
Post #5 of 44. Posted by Dane on 12-Apr-2021 11:28:12 GMT in reply to blog [0<--23043]
OPEN
Maybe, then they'll just have to make a new crank.
Post #12 of 44. Posted by Gerard Vroomen on 12-Apr-2021 16:10:31 GMT in reply to post #5 [23043<--23050]
OPEN
I first thought that the sprocket spreading of the Ekar cassettes is a bit odd. But after a ride on mostly flat gravel with my "Frankenstein" build of a Klein Adroit Pro (model year 2000) mountain bike that i fitted last autumn with a Shimano XTR 1x12 drivetrain (probably the only vintage MTB with 135 mm dropout width and Shimano Microspline on the planet), I did not really have the right gear between 26 and 28 km/h. I was constantly shifting between the 14 and 16 sprocket of the 10-45 cassette. When I look at the spectrum of that cassette in the gear calculator (ritzelrechner.de), Campagnolo's choice all of a sudden makes a lot of sense. It is a lot better to have the small steps at the fast side of the cassette rather than the slow side, because that is the part of the spectrum that is more relevant to smooth and constant pedaling frequency. No one really pays a lot of attention to hit 90 rpm constantly on a steep climb. Therefore, it makes a lot more sense to have the large steps at the slow end of the cassette. Well done Campa!
Post #7 of 44. Posted by Urs on 12-Apr-2021 12:31:26 GMT in reply to blog [0<--23045]
OPEN
I just spec’d out. BEAST handlebar for my new WIDE build, and I’m very close to making call on Ekar. Your post was reconfirming and I appreciate that!! Can you tell us anything about the wheelset on that bike with BEAST rims? I’d love to hear about that specific build, if possible. Looks like it would be one of the lightest WIDES I’ve seen!
Post #9 of 44. Posted by Sasha Freedman on 12-Apr-2021 13:16:49 GMT in reply to blog [0<--23047]
OPEN
Hi Sasha, it's a customer's bike, I don't know much more than what you see on the photo. There are other Ekar bikes, also with Beast wheels actually, in the showcase so you can check there for more inspiration: https://opencyc...case. Just select Campagnolo for the drivetrain to narrow it down.
Post #10 of 44. Posted by Gerard Vroomen on 12-Apr-2021 14:14:07 GMT in reply to post #9 [23047<--23048]
OPEN
Thats my bike and i love the Beast Wheelset so far: 7,61kg w/o Pedals. They’re 40mm; Weight is 1390gr and they hold up the speed. Love the WIDE.
Post #15 of 44. Posted by Pat on 13-Apr-2021 18:24:27 GMT in reply to post #10 [23048<--23069]
OPEN
im looking for enve x open , anyone have any suggestion where i can get it??
Post #13 of 44. Posted by jhan on 12-Apr-2021 16:13:30 GMT in reply to blog [0<--23051]
OPEN
Hi Jhan, those are long gone, sorry. It's always possible there is a retailer who still has one but I would say that's unlikely given how few there were.
Post #14 of 44. Posted by Gerard Vroomen on 12-Apr-2021 16:16:06 GMT in reply to post #13 [23051<--23052]
OPEN
Hi Gerard, as fellow Dutchman I would like to get your advice on the following if you have the time. I have decided that an Open UP would be the bike that covers for me three areas of usage (a) winter road bike (b) road bike in case I also want to take some sand tracks (zandpaden) in the route and (c) adventure light, take the bike a couple of days with light packaging and sleeping in B&B's / hotels. That means that the bike will mainly be used in the Netherlands (I live in Twente), occasionally to Limburg or Tecklenburg, but not be used in the Alps or Mont Ventoux. I am a reasonably fit 55+ who likes to keep a good tempo on the bike, on my race bike I try to beat my own PR on a 30km route once in a while. I wonder whether I should go for Campagnolo Ekar or are better off using a 2x12 group, whether Campa/SRAM/Shimano. Looking forward to your view.
Post #16 of 44. Posted by Gerrit on 20-Apr-2021 18:13:30 GMT in reply to blog [0<--23082]
OPEN
I would go for EKAR, for the simplicity. You probably just need the 9-36T cassette, so you have a nice close-range setup. you can always consider getting an extra 10-44T cassette if you find yourself wanting to go into the steep hills. It's not really an extra cost (just an extra initial outlay) to do that as it will just make your other cassette wear slower.
Post #17 of 44. Posted by Gerard Vroomen on 23-Apr-2021 08:22:27 GMT in reply to post #16 [23082<--23089]
OPEN
Thx Gerard clear and makes sense. What front size would you recommend in that set up?
Post #18 of 44. Posted by Gerrit on 23-Apr-2021 09:51:59 GMT in reply to post #17 [23089<--23091]
OPEN
Well, depends on how strong you are. Keep in mind that a gravel tire is already 5% bigger in circumference than an average road tire, and of course the tire profile also slows you down a bit (not much, but still). So a 40T chainring for a 40x9 gear is like a 48x11 in direct comparison, but more equivalent to the effort of running a 50x11 or 52x11 on a road bike.
Post #19 of 44. Posted by Gerard Vroomen on 23-Apr-2021 10:34:32 GMT in reply to post #18 [23091<--23092]
OPEN
I will probably ride mostly road profile tires 700Cx32 or 35mm like rene herse 700cx32 stampede and 700cx35 bon jon pass, no nobs.
So 40 seems right, or 38, agree?
Post #20 of 44. Posted by Gerrit on 25-Apr-2021 09:28:32 GMT in reply to post #19 [23092<--23099]
OPEN
If 48x11 (or 52x12) is a gear you often use now (and I mean USE, not just HAVE AVAILABLE, on your bike), then yes, the 40T sounds good.
Post #21 of 44. Posted by Gerard Vroomen on 25-Apr-2021 10:31:13 GMT in reply to post #20 [23099<--23100]
OPEN
Hi Gerard, great summary! It looks like I can finally say goodbye to my 2x road drivetrain. So F'it I'm going to go with Ekar for my planned MIN.D build! My local roads are all rolling hills with a few short, sharp climbs and I also do a few epic climbing Sportives with up to 25%+ gradients (Early British road designers never really discovered the concept of traversing up a hill). I'm currently running a compact 50/34T with an 11-34T cassette, which works okay apart from all the continual chainring swapping as I go up and down the many steep climbs and dips. So I was thinking of going with a 38T front and 9-36T cassette for daily use and swapping to a 9-42T cassette for the epic Sportives to give an extended low end range. Does that sound like a good plan? Or alternatively I could simply go with a 40T and 9-46T for everything. Lazy option!
Post #22 of 44. Posted by Pete Harrison on 17-Aug-2021 08:12:14 GMT in reply to blog [0<--23272]
OPEN
That sounds good to me. I think the 38T is the right choice for you. I would swap the cassettes, as long as you set it up for the 9-42T, then the 9-36T will work no problem with the same chain length. There is no 9-46T, only a 10-44.
Post #23 of 44. Posted by Gerard Vroomen on 17-Aug-2021 12:46:00 GMT in reply to post #22 [23272<--23273]
OPEN
Oops that was a typo! I meant 40T with 9-42T at the end for a wide range.
Post #25 of 44. Posted by Pete Harrison on 17-Aug-2021 12:58:17 GMT in reply to post #23 [23273<--23275]
OPEN
I don't know, if you need a wide range, I don't think you desperately need more top end speed, just low end, so I would probably stick with the 38T ring.
Post #28 of 44. Posted by Gerard Vroomen on 17-Aug-2021 13:24:22 GMT in reply to post #25 [23275<--23278]
OPEN
Yes, I think that makes sense as I don't use my current 50-11 gear very much at all. So I will start with a 38T, 9-42T setup and see how that goes. I expect it will be near perfect for my roads and riding style.
Post #29 of 44. Posted by Pete Harrison on 17-Aug-2021 13:37:32 GMT in reply to post #28 [23278<--23279]
OPEN
If you order online, you will also see that you can specify the 1x-specific frame, which is very nice and clean.
Post #24 of 44. Posted by Gerard Vroomen on 17-Aug-2021 12:47:33 GMT in reply to post #22 [23272<--23274]
OPEN
Thanks Gerard, yes I spotted the 1x frame. No changing my mind then! I have an appt set up with one of your UK dealers in a couple of weeks so will order through them.
Post #26 of 44. Posted by Pete Harrison on 17-Aug-2021 13:00:37 GMT in reply to post #24 [23274<--23276]
OPEN
Yes perfect, just make sure they get the right version.
Post #27 of 44. Posted by Gerard Vroomen on 17-Aug-2021 13:23:28 GMT in reply to post #26 [23276<--23277]
OPEN
Hi Gerard, thanks for this article about the Ekar groupset.
Here is my question : do you know if the groupset can be used on a 12v cassette from Campagnolo (or different brand ?)
I can't install a 13v cassette on my home trainer so I need to find a compatible 12v cassette. Any idea ?
Post #30 of 44. Posted by Jerome on 06-Dec-2021 04:57:05 GMT in reply to blog [0<--24375]
OPEN
I don't think so given the cog spacing. I presume your trainer is a direct-drive? Which model?
Post #31 of 44. Posted by Gerard Vroomen on 06-Dec-2021 05:09:11 GMT in reply to post #30 [24375<--24376]
OPEN
IT's the Elite Suito
Post #32 of 44. Posted by Jerome on 06-Dec-2021 05:43:45 GMT in reply to post #31 [24376<--24377]
OPEN
Any update here? I contacted Tacx/Garmin regarding a freehub for the Flux 2 direct drive, but they won‘t offer one. Not enough customers using the Ekar was their argument.
Post #34 of 44. Posted by Daniel on 29-Jun-2022 16:01:06 GMT in reply to post #32 [24377<--24601]
OPEN
I would think that as Campagnolo moves more cassettes to N3W, eventually it will be worthwhile for Tacx. But of course I don't know their exact thinking.
Post #35 of 44. Posted by Gerard Vroomen on 29-Jun-2022 17:02:59 GMT in reply to post #34 [24601<--24602]
OPEN
I really do not understand the desire for 9-10-11-12-13-14 sprockets. I have used 11-13-15-16-17-18-19 with a 46t chainring on my ROAD bikes for close to 20 years. That includes 15 mile commutes at a 23.8mph average (3 times, even 20mph not possible today though). I would not bother with Ekar unless there was a 9-11-13-14-15-16-17 option.

Really, for those of us older speed-crazed solo powerless riders, the 9 is downhill with a tailwind, the 11 is downhill or a tailwind, the 13 is for the days when you are feeling at your best, and the 14-15-16-17 are for close ratio speed riding in normal conditions. With a 38 chainring, those first 7 sprockets and a 42t large rear sprocket, then I could have a 1x that I would accept. And I might even switch to Campagnolo freehubs for it, rather than my current Shimano HG freehubs with Campagnolo shifters and derailleurs.

And really I spend thousands of dollars on bikes every year. And this year 12500 miles. That money goes somewhere else if you do not supply the gears I want.
Post #33 of 44. Posted by Michael on 30-Dec-2021 12:52:53 GMT in reply to blog [0<--24393]
OPEN
So you put Ekar 1X on a hydraulic disc brake bike whose brakes are exponentially more complex to maintain and keep the pads in alignment versus rim brakes, and then you advertise the "simplicity" of 1X over having a front derailleur with tight gear spacing and proper chain angles. Marketing clowns can sell nonsense like 1X on a mixed use road/gravel bike to any collection of gullible fools. LOL And if you want a very good laugh about the inability of 13 speed Ekar to stay in adjustment read what the guys at granfondo.com have to say about that laughably poor groupset. I know a number of riders who are CampyOnly type guys who had the exact same experiences with it as Granfondo.com - lots of ghost shifts, mis-shifts and impossible to keep properly adjusted for very long. :-)
Post #36 of 44. Posted by Tom V on 20-Aug-2022 13:19:15 GMT in reply to blog [0<--24652]
OPEN
Do you need to change the chain length and/or readjust the derailleur when swapping wheels with different cassettes? A 9-42 with road wheels and a 10-44 gravel wheels would be my preferred set up. I’ve seen in campag videos that the derailleur is adjusted to a very precise distance of the second biggest gear, so that distance would not be kept when you swap wheels…
Post #37 of 44. Posted by Iñaki on 02-Oct-2022 14:23:40 GMT in reply to blog [0<--24688]
OPEN
Well, you have to keep in mind that to change any chain line for 1x, you need to change it by 2 links. That corresponds to more or less 4 teeth on the cassette and/or chainring. So there are plenty of situations where changing the cog by 2 teeth wouldn't result in an official requirement to change the chain length, let along an unofficial one. Or put another way, if you change the cog by 2 teeth, you would need to change the chain by 1 link to keep the same relative position for everything. That's impossible, so you would need to go with zero or 2T for the change. If you pick zero, there you are. Of course if your setup was already right on the edge, the result may not be so great. But that will be rare.
Post #38 of 44. Posted by Gerard Vroomen on 02-Oct-2022 16:49:08 GMT in reply to post #37 [24688<--24689]
OPEN
Thanks for the quick reply!! :)
Post #39 of 44. Posted by Iñaki on 03-Oct-2022 06:29:47 GMT in reply to post #38 [24689<--24690]
OPEN
And what about the derailleur?
Post #40 of 44. Posted by Iñaki on 03-Oct-2022 06:34:55 GMT in reply to post #38 [24689<--24691]
OPEN
Hallo vraagje waar zou ik de wi de in het echt kunnen bewonderen ik zou heel graag de wi de in het hoog glans grijs willen kopen
Post #41 of 44. Posted by Koen Boot on 18-Dec-2022 19:55:36 GMT in reply to blog [0<--24760]
OPEN
In Nederland heb je de grootste kans bij Bike Superior maar het beste even bellen wat ze precies hebben want dat verandert natuurlijk als ze weer wat verkocht hebben. Mocht je toevallig bij Basel in de buurt komen, daar hebben we zowat alles staan.
Post #42 of 44. Posted by Gerard Vroomen on 19-Dec-2022 04:19:54 GMT in reply to post #41 [24760<--24761]
OPEN
En in Basel kun je natuurlijk ook over een aantal dagen verspreid verschillende modellen proberen, plus een hele leuke stad.
Post #43 of 44. Posted by Gerard Vroomen on 19-Dec-2022 04:20:31 GMT in reply to post #41 [24760<--24762]
OPEN
Brilliant groupset that's a bit pointless for a gravel/off-road bike if you buy and use the stock ekar crankset. Not quite sure were campys design team thought 38 would be a low enough chainring?

my advice is Don't buy the ekar cranks.
Buy a 3rd party 110 bcd crank along with ratios 13 speed chain rings this will give you the option of the 30 to 36 compatible chainrings campy should have offered out the box.

You can file down other chain rings to fit campys narrow chain profile, or use a warn out chain ring if you want to use an oval etc, but the 34t ratio rings been enough for me

Unless you must have electronic shifting, this will give you the most competitive 1x groupset on the market.

On the tough stuff and off road you get a concervative but usable 21.5 gear inches with a 44 rear/34 front cog along with road race style 1 tooth jumps for the faster flats and downhill sections, allowing you to maintain good cadence where you need it, best off with the 10/44 cassette save your energy for going up hill and don't peddle on downhill sections Spesh if you're looking at ultra distance racing.

Often you'll get advice that you need 19 or lower gear inches for races like the silk road or tour divide, in practice on a bike and gear thats been dialed in. If you're not fit enough to spin 22.5 gear inchs at 85kg total bike/gear/rider, you're not ready/fit enough and a lower granny gear probably isn't going to save you.
Post #44 of 44. Posted by Spike on 21-Mar-2023 05:45:33 GMT in reply to blog [0<--24782]
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