When Classified first launched its Powershift hub in 2019, the concept was revolutionary. After entering into agreements with major wheel brands, joining the WorldTour and attracting some high-profile investors, Classified’s Powershift hub might just solve the issues of 1x and 2x drivetrains.

The hub allowed road and gravel cyclists to skip their front derailleur, by integrating a wireless two-speed shifting system into the rear hub in addition to the standard 11- or 12-speed rear cassette. Effectively, it doubled the gear ratio that the rear hub could run, while doing away with a double chainring up front. 

While this technology was exciting, it had one major drawback: it was only offered with Classified’s in-house road and gravel wheels. Last year, however, the company branched out and started working with DT Swiss, Mavic, Fast Forward, Enve, Reynolds, Boyd Cycling and Spinergy, to bring Powershift-ready wheels to market. And more recently, Nick Evans – the chairman of Rapha, who invested personally in the apparel company in 2006 when it had a staff count of five – has poured €10 million into Classified via his private equity firm Active Partners. 

For gravel riders who struggle with a lack of sufficient gear range, or for those who want to use 1x-equipped bikes on the road for faster-paced group rides, the Classified Powershift system opens up a lot of possibilities. It offers substantial gear range with small shifts between gears; it shifts instantaneously and under power; and it blends unobtrusively into the bike.

Matt Phillips, Senior Gear Editor of Bicycling in the US, tested the Powershift hub on an Otso Waheela C gravel bike, and used it to place second in his age group at Grinduro Pennsylvania in June last year. Former road pro turned gravel racer Rob Britton used the hub to win the Wafer edition of the Belgian Waffle Ride in San Diego. 

And this year, Classified officially entered the WorldTour: Victor Campenaerts from the Lotto-Dstny team will be using a Powershift hub for the whole 2023 season. At Le Samyn – a single-day race in Belgium, and part of Opening Weekend – he paired the Powershift hub with an obscenely massive 62-tooth chainring, and helped set up his teammate Milan Menten for the win. 

With Powershift now being offered on complete wheelsets by several prominent brands, and as a standalone rear hub option, expect to see more widespread use of the technology. And by getting high-profile riders (and the UCI) on board, the brand has embraced an important new chapter in its expansion, paving the way to the potential extinction of the front derailleur altogether.

“There was a big request coming from the industry and riders around the world to make Powershift more accessible,” says Classified CEO Mathias Plouvier. “The broad adoption underlines the market’s recognition that our innovative system is well and truly accepted within the cycling ecosystem.” 

MTB shifting announced!

In April, Classified announced the launch of a mountain bike-specific Powershift hub system. The new mountain bike product, the Powershift boost hub, together with Classified’s new 11-40t 12 speed cassette, has a gear range of 530%, the largest of any drivetrain system on the market. Entry into the mountain bike space allows Classified to introduce yet another revolutionary piece of technology: the Ringshifter. A feather light wireless shifter that controls the 2 speed Powershift hub, offering sensational feedback and fitting seamlessly into the existing cockpit. 

“The feedback of professional riders is very promising and brought us even better insights into the enormous potential the product offers. Extending our range further into off-road space with the mountain bike hub confirms Classified’s vision to be a technology that is compatible across all cycling disciplines. We are extremely excited about the possibilities the new product brings and its ability to enhance the existing MTB drivetrain market.” says Mathias Plouvier, CEO and co-founder of Classified Cycling. CTO Roell van Druten adds “we are very proud to bring Powershift technology to mountain biking. With an ultimate gear range of 530%, the Powershift Boost hub combines a high-grade, one-piece compact steel cassette (11-40t) with a larger chainring, improving the overall durability of the drivetrain.” Van Druten goes further to explain the benefits of the new system: “Using the Classified hub with an 11-40t cassette and a 34t chainring results in the lowest drivetrain ratio of 0.58. To achieve this ratio with a traditional system the user would have to use a 30t chainring. Using a smaller chainring in a traditional system lowers the efficiency and durability of that system due to the higher chain forces. The more compact Classified cassette also allows the use of a shorter derailleur cage, increasing the robustness of the drivetrain alongside the efficiency.”

The Ringshifter: The next generation of shifting, this sleek, fully wireless handlebar control provides shifting performance with the lightest flick of your thumb. The Ringshifter can perform 10 000 shifts before needing to be easily recharged with the provided magnetic USB cable. Featuring a unique magnetic spring back mechanism, the Ringshifter promises durability and a smooth, responsive feel. The functionalities of the Ringshifter can be customised to meet the individual needs of every rider.

The MTB world has become used to a 1×11 or 12 gear drivetrain system but Classified passionately believe that more is needed for the optimum ride experience. The addition of the 2-speed hub, multiplying the cassette gears and gearing range, gives the rider 16 unique gears, after removing duplicate ratios, to always be able to access the right cadence, reduce gear grinding and remove huge gear steps. On top of that the additional gears are all accessible in the middle of the cassette which helps keep cross chaining to a minimum.

Classified’s 11 – 40t, 12 speed cassette is also compatible with the existing 142mm variant of the Powershift hub, ideal for extreme gravel riding or bikepacking, where an extensive gear range and compact steps in between each gear are required to ensure a comfortable cadence.

How does it Classified work?

Powershift uses a planetary gear system (six small gears revolving around a central gear) within the rear hub to create two different ratios: 1:1 – direct drive, like riding a standard hub – or 0.7, equivalent to riding in the small chainring on a 2× set-up.

A shift button syncs with a handlebar unit to send out a wireless signal, which is picked up by a smart through-axle to trigger the hub to shift. This can be done at speed, and under enormous loads of up to 1 000W.

Classified claims that doing away with a double chainring improves aerodynamic performance, reduces cross-chaining and the risk of dropping your chain, and allows you to shift more often.

The hub weighs 475g – about double that of a high-performance standard hub – but weight becomes less of an issue if you consider that you’re culling a chainring plus the front mech and its cabling or battery.

Classified will be distributed in South Africa by Omnico, with the first units landing around the end of May.

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