Campagnolo Ekar 13 Crankset Black, 172.5mm, 38t

Campagnolo bursts onto the gravel scene like the best dust clouds on a loamy single-track. The new Ekar 13-speed drivetrain will undoubtedly help shape the future of gravel focused riding and technology, and at the heart of the new system is the 1x Ekar 13 Crankset. The utterly gorgeous crankset is made of unidirectional carbon fiber for race-ready stiffness and power transfer. And while carbon crank arms are hardly new, Campagnolo loads on the subtle touches that make us want Campagnolo. Alternating narrow to wide chainring teeth are found on the new, easily removable chainrings to improve chain retention and smooth pedaling when riding over rough gravel sections. And of course, the teeth are a perfect match to the new Ekar chain. However, where the Ekar 13 stands apart is at the chainring to crankarm assembly. Campagnolo offers four chainring sizes — 38-44 teeth — to suit your preferred terrain and riding style. The 38-tooth ring Campagnolo intends for adventure riders and racers who tackle challenging terrain and heavily loaded bike packing. The 40 and 42-teeth chainrings suit flatter terrain and racing, while the 44-tooth is intended for e-road and e-gravel riding. Although these are all simply suggestions, and the magic with the Ekar 13 crankset is that you can leave the crankset installed to swap chainrings. Just unscrew the chainring bolts and swap out for another size, and you’re set for whatever terrain is on your off-road menu. The Ekar 13 seals to Campagnolo’s Pro-Tech bearing system via redesigned crankset semiaxles. The new junction creates an enhanced seal against the bearing’s rubber guard to keep out pollutants and grit that are sure to kick up when riding off-road. And Campagnolo includes crankarm boots to affix the ends of the crankarms to protect your investment for the long haul.

Price: $184.85 from Backcountry