All direct-drive smart trainers on the market today ship with a Shimano HG (hyperglide)-compatible freehub, because this meets the needs of many cyclists, especially roadies.
But what if you have a mountain or gravel bike using one of the increasingly popular 1x 12-speed SRAM Eagle groupsets? In that case, you have two options:
- The more complex and expensive option: purchase an XD/XDR freehub body from your trainer manufacturer (here’s one for Wahoo KICKR, and here’s one for Tacx NEO), and install it. Then purchase and install a 12-speed cassette to mount on that new freehub body.
- The simpler option: purchase and install a lower-spec cassette like the SRAM NX Eagle PG-1230 which can mount on your existing HG-compatible freehub. This lower-spec cassette is heavier than the high-end counterpart, but that doesn’t matter indoors. (It’s also worth noting that the smallest cog on the PG-12320 is 11 tooth instead of the 10-tooth of the higher-end cassettes, which may affect your ability to push hard in sprints or on descents in Zwift.)
Shane Miller, our favorite Zwifting Aussie, talks us through it:
Questions or Comments?
Are you running a 12-speed setup on your direct-drive trainer? How did you do it? Share below!