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Also looks like they have links from Cascade on the proto, not sure if production will be made by Cascade...
I really don't see how schrader valves are superior to presta valves. Except for being able to pump them on a gas station.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CWBwZUwjZtN/
It’s true dh bike sales are low but I still think if a dh gx axs group was released there would still be the few buying it who absolutely must have the best kit. Which, going by the internetz, is still quite a lot of people.
In terms of production it wouldn’t be too much extra effort in terms on manufacturing cost for sram. It only takes putting a short cage on to an existing gx axs mech and new firmware.
When the original 7 speed x01 dh group set was released it seemed like no one would be spending that kind on money. Yet it still took off.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see a dh oriented axs group released in the near future.
What I meant is that if Shimano will go all in with Saint and release it fairly soon, DH market still has some life in it left. If all the Saint proto stuff will just whittle away, then the market is so small, it doesn't make it worth it to make a special group.
Otherwise it's a non-issue. And AXS doesn't seem like a big benefit to me, even more so if you'd enclose the whole thing in a metallic/carbon fibre casing, as you'll be blocking the wireless signal to the derailleur. And it makes sense to close it off to protect it from the dirt and do wet sump lubrication on the system
I think if you take care of the axial sliding, mounting the cassette to a 'freehub' and the derailleur to a mount inside a casing (or just inside the front triangle) is fairly easy. Deal with bearing supports for the two axles and the input and output gears (to bring the power in from the pedals and take it back to the rear wheel) and you're done. And it makes all the sense in the world to do it if you want a 'gearbox' bike, as you use off the shelf components, that are reliable (even more so, when they are protected and in a clean environment), fairly light and the system is known to be efficient.