Beyond the 22 gears, the Force 22 GXP Crankset draws heavily from SRAM's Red technology for more precision and power than before. SRAM lays up the cranks with unidirectional carbon fibers. When placed parallel to each other, the strength of carbon fiber is maximized so that the loads work along the axis of the fibers. This also means the amount of carbon used is able to be reduced, which in turn means greater weight savings. The unidirectional carbon decreases flex, which means every pedal stroke counts for a bit more. The spider it’s mated to is a forged alloy that includes the spindle on the non-drive side. SRAM chose to use a 130mm diameter spider, which means you’re able to use it with most aftermarket chainrings. Taking the standard a bit further, however, the mounting bolt has been incorporated into the backside of the crank arm. This reduces deflection and ensures no skipped front shifts. Trickling down from the SRAM Red group are the Exogram chainrings. SRAM uses its "True 22" X Glide R chainring calibration, ensuring no missed shifts. They are machined from 5mm 7075-T6 aluminum and specifically designed for the 11-speed system with optimized shift ramp profiles and stiffness.