CAMPAGNOLO N3W FreeWheel Body

"Great ideas aren’t always easy to bring to life."

To create Ekar, the new groupset with a full range of gear ratios, offering smooth and optimized shifts in a clean and compact version, Campagnolo’s designers had only one solution: a 1x13 system.

But like any great invention, its realization presented obstacles to overcome and challenges to address. This is precisely how the innovative idea that led to the creation of the Next 3 Ways (N3W) freehub body, starting from the very heart of the drivetrain, came to life.

A beautiful design that makes the impossible possible: compatibility with today’s wheels, future wheels, and even existing wheels that support 10, 11, and 12-speed systems. An innovative technology that, although first implemented with the release of Ekar, will extend across the entire Campagnolo range.

The Key to an Incredible World

Take a look at a gravel bike equipped with Ekar, and even though you can’t actually see what’s underneath the cassette, N3W is the key that unlocks the incredible world of Ekar’s 13-speed drivetrain. It does so by taking Campagnolo’s legendary passion for cycling and innovation to an entirely new level.

The ultra-durable N3W freehub body is similar to the proven design that Campagnolo riders have relied on for years, but with a slightly shorter body.

This modification creates the space needed to skillfully add a 13th sprocket, extending the possibilities of Campagnolo's 12-speed system. The design uses an innovative system of 3- and 4-sprocket clusters mounted on the shorter freehub body, with the 9-tooth sprocket positioned over the axle and secured with an integrated lockring system.

The result is a freehub/cassette combination that expands the gear range while saving weight in a way that is completely reliable, durable, and deceptively simple.