SRAM's Force XPLR AXS E1 Power Meter Crankset is the mid-tier gravel option for riders who want left-leg power data without stepping up to the spider-based Red version. The power meter is hidden inside the DUB spindle , so nothing is bolted to the outside of the crankset and the chainring interface stays clean. If you're building a 1x13 XPLR drivetrain and want power data baked into the crankset rather than pieced together from a separate unit, this is where Force lands in the hierarchy.

The spindle-based approach measures your left leg and doubles the number to estimate total output. The power meter is accurate to +/- 1.5% and runs on a replaceable AAA battery that delivers 400+ hours of battery life , which for most gravel riders translates to a full season of training and racing before you're digging through the drawer for a new cell. No charging cables, no docking stations — when it dies mid-season, you swap the AAA and keep riding. It's worth understanding what left-side measurement gives up: riders with meaningful leg imbalances will see less precise total-power numbers than a dual-sided system would report, so if you're chasing that data point specifically, the Red XPLR spider-based unit is the step up.

The crank arms are carbon fiber, and the crankset uses the DUB Wide spindle standard with a 47.5 mm chainline — the spec that separates gravel-specific cranksets from their road counterparts and gives you clearance for wider tires and boost-adjacent rear ends. Arm lengths run from 160mm to 175mm across five options , so fit isn't a compromise. The chainring uses SRAM's X-SYNC narrow-wide profile with a direct-mount interface to the crank arm, keeping chain retention sorted over washboard, roots, and everything else gravel throws at a drivetrain.... Read More