13 cogs on a single cassette represent SRAM's answer to the gearing gaps that gravel riders have complained about since one-by drivetrains became standard. The Rival XPLR E1 XG-1351 cassette adds that extra gear position between your climbing bailout and your descending gear, smoothing transitions across varied terrain without the front derailleur complexity that gravel's original drop-bar mountain bikes abandoned years ago.

The cassette uses SRAM's XDR driver body interface, which handles the wider 13-speed stack. The 10-46T range covers road-pace flats through steep gravel climbs, with the intermediate gears spaced closer than what you'd find on a comparable 12-speed setup. That 10-tooth small cog gives you legitimate top-end speed for paved sections and tailwind descents, while the 46-tooth large cog handles loaded bikepacking grades without spinning out at walking pace.

Construction follows SRAM's approach for their Rival-tier components: steel cogs throughout with a nickel chrome finish for corrosion resistance. The full-steel build adds durability for the grit and moisture exposure that gravel riding delivers, trading some weight savings you'd find in higher-tier cassettes with aluminum spider construction. For riders putting serious miles on mixed surfaces, the longevity trade-off makes sense.... Read More