The Force 1 X-Sync chainring is the piece that made SRAM's original 1x road and cyclocross drivetrains work without a chain guide. By combining tall square teeth and sharp narrow teeth, X-Sync chainrings provide the performance needed for SRAM's 1x11 cross group. The tall teeth engage the chain earlier than a traditionally shaped chainring, and the narrow teeth help manage deflected chains, especially when paired with this chainring's chamfered edges. If you're running an 11-speed Force 1, Rival 1, or CX1 crankset and it's time to replace a worn ring, this is the direct-fit replacement.

The ring mounts to any standard 110mm BCD, 5-bolt double crank arm , which means it fits Force 22, Rival 22, and Red 22 spiders in addition to the dedicated 1x cranks. It works with SRAM 10-speed and 11-speed chains, so a 10-speed cyclocross setup can share the same chainring platform as an 11-speed gravel or road build. Mud clearing recesses help keep your chain clean , which matters more in cyclocross and gravel conditions than on pure road.

Available sizes are 38T, 40T, 42T, 44T, and 46T. Gearing choice depends on the cassette range and terrain — a 42T paired with an 11-36T cassette is a common gravel setup, while cyclocross racers typically run 38T or 40T with tighter cassettes. This is the older X-Sync tooth profile, not X-Sync 2, and it's not compatible with SRAM's 12-speed AXS or Eagle chains. Keep it matched to an 11-speed or 10-speed SRAM chain and it does exactly what it's designed to do: hold the chain on a single ring without a guide, through rough terrain and hard shifts under load.