You reach the bottom of a technical climb. Your pulse races, the chain starts to tighten, and you need that extra cog NOW! But, in the heat of the moment, your thumb hesitates: Was it the top button or the bottom one? If this has happened to you, you're not alone.
We recently started a discussion on our Pedra Instagram account about assembling the new SRAM Pod AXS shifter. This shifter, introduced with the Eagle Transmission series, has been a game-changer thanks to its modular design and Infinity Clamp .
The comparison: Two ways of looking at change
At Pedra we tested two mounting configurations that drastically change the ergonomics:
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Standard Mounting (Vertical): This is the default mounting. The control sits more "hanging," following the natural line of older push buttons.
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Inverted/Horizontal Mounting: Taking advantage of the 360° rotation of the Pod, we position it flatter and parallel to the handle.
What does the community of Pedra say?
We launched a survey to see which of these two assemblies was more intuitive for avoiding the common mistake of "going up when you meant to go down." The results were surprising:
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56% - The Original: The majority still trust the classic position.
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44% - The Horizontal: A very high number of users prefer to break with the established norms to gain naturalness.
Why assembly matters so much in the AXS Pod
Unlike older controllers, the Pod AXS uses a "Click and Fire" system. Because it uses independent buttons instead of a pivoting joystick, our muscle memory needs to be retrained.
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Infinite Adjustment: Thanks to its circular clamp, you can rotate the controller body on its own axis.
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Interchangeable Cap: In the Ultimate version, you can choose between concave or convex buttons to differentiate the feel between up and down.
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App customization: Remember that if you like the physical setup but not the function, you can always reverse the buttons from the SRAM AXS App.
Conclusion: Which one to choose?
In cycling, ergonomics are personal . If you're among the 44% looking for something different, we encourage you to experiment with horizontal rotation. Sometimes, a small 20-degree turn is the difference between a perfect shift and being "out of time" mid-race.
A gift for those who dare to innovate
To everyone who participated in the survey and indicated they'd like to try horizontal mounting , check your messages! I've already sent you an exclusive discount code , and you'll be the first to receive a notification as soon as support is available on the website.
Meanwhile, we're continuing with our work: developing the support and testing it internally until every millimeter is perfect. We want to be sure that this "marginal improvement" will truly be an advantage on your rides.
At this point, a question arises: Are we crazy or do we just love tinkering too much? Probably a bit of both, but it's that nonconformity that makes us create unique pieces that no one else has.
See you next Friday with a new "stone" for our wall!
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