Internal hub gear manufacturer Classified has teamed up with performance brake specialist TRP to develop a 16-speed one-by groupset, although the Vistar // Powershift is available in 1x16 for road and 1x15 for gravel, "1x16" is a bit misleading, as the term "1x16

The new Vistar // Powershift groupset combines a 12-speed cassette with a Powershift hub for sequential shifting, automatically changing gears in the hub as needed to provide 16 sequential gears. For riders seeking even higher gear ratios, shifting can be fully controlled, theoretically allowing 24 overlapping gear ratios from a one-by drivetrain.

Shifting is electronically controlled, with the shifter, derailleur, and internal hub gears all working wirelessly.

In a single chainring groupset, the brands claim that this new collaboration offers the widest gear ratio of 530% when mounted on a 10-40 tooth cassette.

While TRP is not a new brand in the groupset world, having already produced the EVO 12 and EVO 7 DH mountain bike groupset, this collaboration with Classified marks TRP's first foray into the road and gravel market.

Classified CEO Matthias Plouvier said, "We are excited to showcase the VISTAR // Powershift groupset for the first time after two years of collaboration with TRP for this groundbreaking product. Both Classified and TRP share the same strategic vision of pushing the boundaries of drivetrain technology, and we have achieved our goal of creating a pioneering product that is not only fast, efficient, and durable, but also offers the widest gear range on the market."

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TRP may not be mainstream in the groupset market, but it is certainly a brand associated with hydraulic disc brakes, having developed high-performance brakes for over 35 years. This pedigree continues with the Vistar lever, which TRP claims "Vistar's innovative and ergonomically designed hood and levers allow for powerful braking with a single finger, regardless of hand size."

One of the main advantages of the groupset is the aerodynamic benefit of removing the front derailleur. The front derailleur is located on the side of the seat tube and is directly exposed to airflow, which by its nature is not a particularly aerodynamic shape. Moving to an internal hub gearing system would reduce the overall aerodynamic drag caused by the groupset.

Another advantage of single-ring setups with two-speed internal hub gearing is the ability to maintain an optimized chainline for more time. In a traditional single-ring setup, the optimal chainline is located in the center of the cassette. In a traditional double-ring setup, the optimal chainline depends on which chainring is ridden.

What Vistar // Powershift allows is for the rider to have more gear options near the center of the cassette, keeping the chain in a more efficient position and increasing the range of effective ratios. This has the advantage of increasing drivetrain efficiency compared to the traditional one-by configuration.

Leo Chen, CEO of TRP, said, "We are proud to collaborate with Classified on the first electronically controlled drop-bar road and gravel groupset."

"We are very pleased to be working with Classified." Both companies are committed to disrupting the market with innovative new technologies, and with VISTAR // Powershift, we have delivered a unique groupset that offers top-class two-by-performance with all the benefits of a one-by system."

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Specifics on pricing and availability are scarce, but the groupset is expected to be available by the end of the third quarter of this year.