My wife is over her drop bar on her road bike. Partly due to her feeling she doesn't have the control she likes with the steering on dirt/gravel paths so she asked me to swap it with a flat bar with a 2" rise. Easy enough and these blips allow you to continue using your SRAM Rival eTap AXS drivetrain with a hybrid setup. Once you pair all the different pieces to the rear derailleur including the road bike levers you can get rid of your SRAM drop bar shifter/Brake levers for good or until you need to pair them again. The SRAM wireless blips work without the Rival brake/shift levers. Your only decision now is what mountain bike brake levers are you going to use now for braking. I went with the trusty Shimano XT 8100 Brake levers and the Ultegra 8170 brake calipers. Great combo to work with the new SRAM wireless blips. The wireless blips come with multiple options for mounting to the handlebar. I used the plastic ring looking attachment and some electrical tape to blend the blips into the handlebar better. It fits perfectly and hidden somewhat. People ask how my wife shifts her bike because they don't always notice the blips near the Ergon grips. All in all I think SRAM engineering did a great job with these blips. I would buy them again and also recommend them to a friend. Yes, I know you can't swap the batteries or charge it you basically have to replace them once the battery dies. The battery life is all dependent on your riding style. How often you shift during your ride. SRAM says it will last over 2 years and depending on your use maybe 4 to 7 years. That's about $4 a month if it only lasted 2 years, and the cost goes down the longer they last. The other great thing is it works with the SRAM AXS app. Once the battery goes out on mine I will disassemble them to see what's inside. Maybe there's a way to replace the battery after all. Big??
Switching from mechanical shifting to electronic shifting was a bit daunting. The big worry was range anxiety (like EV owners) of the electronic shifters, front, rear derailleurs and power meter. However, SRAM has eliminated that issue with their SRAM AXS app (awesome software) which shows the charge level of the above SRAM system products, but also add-ons such as the SRAM Blips and Quark (SRAM).
I have a Garmin Edge 1050 head unit and swiping screens to view other screens meant that I had to take my eyes off the road for too long. Enter the Blips. Installing was a blip (less that 2-3 minutes per Blip). I assigned the Blips to the Edge 1050 and paired the Blips to the Edge 1050 in about 3-5 minutes. SRAM has an installation video which is first rate to help guide you. I love the Blips as they have made the Edge 1050 more functional and safer to use.
I set them up as auxiliary shifters on the tops of my gravel bike bars. There isn't much I can add beyond what is commonly known: They are intended to be disposable in that the battery isn't replaceable unless they are hacked apart. They only do a single shift with each press. There are no multiple shifts. Because of their size and shape, it can be challenging to find an acceptable positioning/mounting solution. They're working well for me.
The fact that they quit working in a year and battery is not replaceable lol. Watch me with the circuit board. :) That said, they do come in handy for my unconventional usage of them. I have the double decker handlebars on my gravel bike and being able to shift up or down from either side or the tops (I got 2 sets is great for my personal preferred ergonomics. The fact that I will need to do surgery on them to replace the battery killed the 5 star potential rating.
Small and easy to mount. Along with your lever shifters, you can shift from all bar positions. I'm on my third season using blips, so battery life seems nothing to cry about.
I tend to climb with hands on tops. I also tend to shift more frequently on climbs. Ergo: Blips. Don't leave your preferred position in order to shift. Always have your optimal gear at your fingertips. BTW they work, flawlessly.
For $99, I think that's fair for a product that is estimated to last 4-7 years. I mounted these on my gravel bike so I could have shift options while riding on the tops, I found this location on the underside of the bar tops is great while cruising along in a group or more upright comfort position at endurance pace for longer events. I used the tape and mounted them under the bar tape with the bar tape closely wrapped to the sides of the blips. They paired easily following instructions and work perfectly. Most will never notice them but I have the extra shift option with multiple hand positions. Outstanding product!
Was never sure if I needed them but once installed I would never do without them again. A good safety feature not having to move your hands around when wanting to change gears. Brilliant wireless technology!
Excellent product in its operation with AXS gears.
Put the blips on my aero extensions on my road bike for a mock TT set up. Works great and was easy to set up.
Brilliant little add ons for your AXS group. Easy install, small in size, quick response, love them.
Convenient to locate and have alternate shift locations. Easy to add to AXS eTap Rival once you read far enough into set up details.
I was planning on using these as a climbing satellite shifter. They are just too big and clunky, I don't like the way they look and feel. I just couldn't find a good position. If I were building a bikepacking rig these would have a great spot on some aero bars.
Installed and wrapped these wireless blips in the drops of my 22 Roubaix and now I can stay in an aero position without having to reach out or having to loosen my grips on the bars. Pairs easily and very functional. Not sure about having to replace them when the battery dies, but if I can get 5-7 seasons out of these, it would be well worth it.
Placed one at the handlebar top for climbing and one in the drops to activate weeeeee. Easy set-up but just note that the clear plastic thingies that come in the package are one of the options for mounting so don't throw them away thinking it's part of the packaging like I did. It sucks these are throw-away items because you can't replace the batteries. Come on SRAM, do better.
The blips are not compatible with first generation 11-speed Sram Red Etap!!!!
They wok perfectly. My only issue is that you cannot change the battery. Once they run out you throw them away. I hope I get several years out of them. But let see.
