Campagnolo has introduced an all-new gravel groupset. Its 13-speed Ekar groupset promises immeasurable benefits for gravel riders. Italian component brand Campagnolo conducted an extensive rider survey to assess what gravel riders need.

Campagnolo's comprehensive rider survey of 4,500 gravel bike owners identified durability and gear range as the most desired characteristics of a gravel drivetrain, while aesthetics and compatibility with double chains were not essential.

These rider preferences were a point of reference for Campagnolo's industrial designers and engineers, who set about developing an acreage system specifically for 1x13.

Aesthetics were not the rider's priority, but Campagnolo's Italian heritage has resulted in a robust and visually pleasing 1x13 gravel bike drivetrain.

The rear derailleur uses a combination of different materials and fasteners to reduce weight without compromising reliability. Carbon fiber-reinforced polymers and alloys make up the bulk of Eker's derailleurs, while stainless steel bolts keep tension precise even after thousands of miles on gravel roads.

Campagnolo offers three different cassette options on the new Ekar 1x13, providing a wide range of ratios that equal or exceed the traditional 2x system. The lightest cassette is 9-36T (340g), followed by Campagnolo's 9-42T (390g), and for gravel riders who are not afraid of steep climbs on fire roads, there is a 10-44T (410g) option.

Driving the Ekar 1x13 system is a typical Campagnolo crank with carbon fiber arms and steel axles. There are four different chainring sizes (38T, 40T, 42T, 44T) and the Ekar chunk arms are available in lengths (165mm, 170mm, 172.5mm, 175mm) to provide a perfect fit for riders of all heights.

As a reference for the weight of the Ekar crankset, the version with 38T chainrings weighs 615 g.

The chain and bottom bracket work hard to make a living on gravel bikes. Campagnolo's product specialists wanted to create components that could withstand the wear and tear of dusty and muddy off-road routes.

The Eker chain, dedicated to 13-speed shifting, has a narrow enough profile to run smoothly through all engagement angles with the wide-ratio 13-speed cassette. It is made of steel for excellent wear resistance and weighs a competitive 242 g.

Gravel bike bottom brackets can produce a deep, grating creaking noise if microscopic dust breaks the seal. Campagnolo's solution with the Ekar groupset is the Protech system, which features an external sealing ring as part of the bottom bracket structure to prevent contaminants from degrading performance and component life.

Disc brakes are finicky on gravel bikes, risking disc warping and caliper rubbing; Ekar's floating steel discs have ample ventilation holes and are only 1.85 mm thick; by using aluminum carriers

The 140mm discs weigh a light 123g, but riders seeking more stopping power can opt for 160mm rotors (157g each).

Campagnolo's Eckardt brake level is ergonomically designed for generous adjustment. The hydraulic system provides powerful deceleration without sacrificing lever feedback or dulling modulation.

Individual component prices for the new Ekar groupset are £210 for the derailleur and £226 for any of the three cassettes. The crankset costs 297 pounds, the 118-link chain 38 pounds, and the bottom bracket 28 pounds