105 2x vs GRX 1x
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04-24-20, 08:13 AM
#27
nothing to see here
There was an article I read recently on this same subject. The authors preferred set up was a 2x GRX drivetrain but using a 10-42 sram cassette. I like the subtle spacing differences on the sram cassette over the very similar 11-42 shimano.
I remember a few other guys around here that are running a wide range 2x set up. 46/30 chainset and an 11-42 rear using RX800 derailer. It seems to work great for their needs. It may need an entire shimano chain + a few more links depending on chainstay length to make it work though.
My city/touring bike has a 46/32 in front and an 11-42 in the rear. Its a flat bar bike so an M7000 SLX mid cage derailer in the rear handles the cassette just fine. After some tweaking with the B screw it shifts flawlessly and the climbing gear is just about perfect.
My current plan is to upgrade my Diverge to electronic shifting but haven't settled on 1x or 2x at this point. 1x would be a Sram Force/Eagle set up, the other would be a GRX 2x with the Sram 10-42 cassette. Really just depends on ergonomics and ride feel. Need to do a few demo rides before making a decision. I have a dedicated road bike so the Diverge is normally only ridden on pavement when riding to/from the trails.
I remember a few other guys around here that are running a wide range 2x set up. 46/30 chainset and an 11-42 rear using RX800 derailer. It seems to work great for their needs. It may need an entire shimano chain + a few more links depending on chainstay length to make it work though.
My city/touring bike has a 46/32 in front and an 11-42 in the rear. Its a flat bar bike so an M7000 SLX mid cage derailer in the rear handles the cassette just fine. After some tweaking with the B screw it shifts flawlessly and the climbing gear is just about perfect.
My current plan is to upgrade my Diverge to electronic shifting but haven't settled on 1x or 2x at this point. 1x would be a Sram Force/Eagle set up, the other would be a GRX 2x with the Sram 10-42 cassette. Really just depends on ergonomics and ride feel. Need to do a few demo rides before making a decision. I have a dedicated road bike so the Diverge is normally only ridden on pavement when riding to/from the trails.
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04-24-20, 08:27 AM
#28
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Specialized Sawtooths in the 42c variety, setup tubeless. Ive had them for almost a year now and have not gotten a single puncture (that I can tell). Theyre heavier than most choices but they have been completely bomb proof. The lack of knobbies has not been an issue either for the terrain I ride.
FWIW, I recently chose 2x11 GRX 810 w 30/46 and 11-34. I like derailleurs and close gears
04-27-20, 08:09 PM
#29
Senior Member
Loads of people are using 2x with 11-36 (I am one, on 46/30 crank). Some have gotten Shimano Ultegra RX and GRX to shift 11-40 stock, and more using a mount spacer like Roadlink. 10-42 might just be possible right at the limit of a mid-cage rear mech (ie GRX, RX800) with a roadlink, especially if you can tolerate a slack chain in the uncommon 30-10 combo. I don't think 11-46 and 2x will go even with a true long cage derailleur.
Keep in mind that in the gravel spectrum, there's a pretty big difference in total gearing between a 650x47 and 700x45. Make sure to include that in your math when you're looking at bikes.
FYI I'm coming from a primarily roadie background, and with 46-30, 11-tooth top gear, on 700-28 road tires, I spin out on very long solo descents where I also spun out my 50-34 road bike. I have gotten dropped from long group descents where I was unable to pull at the front. I'm routinely on 3000+ ft continuous descents around the SF Bay Area, so real mountains not just rolling hills.
Keep in mind that in the gravel spectrum, there's a pretty big difference in total gearing between a 650x47 and 700x45. Make sure to include that in your math when you're looking at bikes.
FYI I'm coming from a primarily roadie background, and with 46-30, 11-tooth top gear, on 700-28 road tires, I spin out on very long solo descents where I also spun out my 50-34 road bike. I have gotten dropped from long group descents where I was unable to pull at the front. I'm routinely on 3000+ ft continuous descents around the SF Bay Area, so real mountains not just rolling hills.
I have 1x on my gravel bike and would never go 2x. I also have a dedicated road bike so I'm not worried about it as a roadie.
I run 11-42 with 40t. This is pretty common. Very occasionally, like tailwind pavement run home after the dusty stuff, I'll run out of gears but just barely. It's never happened off pavement. I do sometimes want just a wee bit more uphill. Not much, just a little.
The solution is not GRX. Well, the shifters and rear derailleur but nothing else. I really think 38t with 10-42 would be a perfect set up. That means a sram XD freehub. Pretty sure GRX can't fit 38t either. This would be a sweetheart of a Frankenstein.
Depending on your budget, Sram electric shifters are cross compatible within the brand. In theory you could get Force shifters and Eagle 1x12, that's 10-50! But you've got to go electric to make it work.
I run 11-42 with 40t. This is pretty common. Very occasionally, like tailwind pavement run home after the dusty stuff, I'll run out of gears but just barely. It's never happened off pavement. I do sometimes want just a wee bit more uphill. Not much, just a little.
The solution is not GRX. Well, the shifters and rear derailleur but nothing else. I really think 38t with 10-42 would be a perfect set up. That means a sram XD freehub. Pretty sure GRX can't fit 38t either. This would be a sweetheart of a Frankenstein.
Depending on your budget, Sram electric shifters are cross compatible within the brand. In theory you could get Force shifters and Eagle 1x12, that's 10-50! But you've got to go electric to make it work.
04-27-20, 09:00 PM
#30
Senior Member
How fast are you? I've raced for years, live in the bay area and rode most of the roads from Santa Cruz to Point Reyes and never spun out 50x11. I won a cat 3 race once solo into a tailwind descent without access to my 11 or 12. I have no problems sprinting to 47 into rollers on training rides. I've done 60 mph pedaling down 101 into San Luis Obispo drafting a truck. I think 50x11 is more than enough for any non-pro, BUT I was never the fastest guy. Best FTP ever was ~325 and usually hovered closer to 300. Also I'm not super aero. So perhaps one of the long-legged TT type guys could spin out.
04-29-20, 04:50 PM
#31
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Agree 100%.
This is also terrain dependent. 1x is a lot easier to live with in flat areas. If my rides included long climbs or descents I'd definitely want 2x, but on flat roads I'm rarely spinning out on a 42T 11-32 1x setup. The only time I feel out of gears is in fast group rides, where I don't really want to be on my CX bike anyway.
This is also terrain dependent. 1x is a lot easier to live with in flat areas. If my rides included long climbs or descents I'd definitely want 2x, but on flat roads I'm rarely spinning out on a 42T 11-32 1x setup. The only time I feel out of gears is in fast group rides, where I don't really want to be on my CX bike anyway.
04-30-20, 04:29 AM
#32
Gravel Rocks
I found this statement interesting as I have a completely different different opinion that on flat, a tight cluster is a big advantage. I ride predominately on Long Island, NY, so almost as flat as Florida or Delaware. I have always found having 1 tooth jumps on the rear more useful as I can maintain a steady cadence, especially when it's windy (a lot). In this scenario a 2X gives me the range I need for the many short but steep hills, than I;m back to the one tooth jumps for the flats. My road bike has a 50/34 with a 14-28 Junior cassette as it gives me good range. I'm not racing, rarely hit 26 on a flat and can coast down our few hills at 35-40. Thus I'm not changing my gravel gearing, indeed my road wheels for that bike have a 46/30 and 12-25 11 spd.rear.
