With gravel riding ever-growing in popularity, Hope has entered the gravel fray with the release of their RX gravel chainset, which uses a rather clever hollow bonded CNC machined aluminium arm to deliver a respectably lightweight chainset.

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Hope has developed the new crankset aiming at gravel riding using a cool manufacturing method which allows them to create a hollow aluminium crank. Hope claims that the method creates a unit which is perfectly stiff and lightweight, weighing in at only 510g with the five-bolt spider fitted.

They're also tested to the same standard as Hope's mountain bike components, so they'll be strong too.

Designed to be used with a single direct mount chainring to keep the weight down it can be fitted with a 5 bolt spider with a 110BCD which, we're told, allows the rider to fit a double chainring set up.

To create a hollow crankarm made from CNC machined aluminium Hope starts with two already machined pieces. This allows for excess material to be removed from the inside of each part. Then, the two sides are bonded together under strict parameters to ensure a perfect bond. After the bonding process, the single units are then put through another CNC process to achieve the final shape. 

In classic Hope form, the cranks will come in 6 different colours and 170, 172.5, 175mm lengths. They're also compatible with almost all BB types.

They'll be available from October and they'll be priced at £300 (excluding the spider).

• www.hopetech.com

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