1x Vs 2x Groupsets: Which Is Best For Your Gravel Bike?
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- Опубліковано 12 гру 2019
- Gravel riding is a new and exciting discipline that continues to be a focus for innovation in the bike industry. It’s often said that less is more, that simplicity is the ultimate sophistication, so is one chainring enough? Si takes a look at whether a single or double chainring setup is best for the type of cycling you do and dives into the gear ratios to help explain.
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Leave us a comment below! - Спорт
"These days I tend to stop pedaling around 60km/hr". I think if I ever hit 60 km/hr I would have a heart attack.
I was like "you're hitting 60?" haha,, *i'm loosing my breath at 45kph on flat =)
I think (and hope) he's talking about descents
people regularly go twice that speeds on motorcycles... whats wrong with that lol
@@RywokastDarkstar5000 we're talking about leg-powered bicycles here though
@@RywokastDarkstar5000 Yeah, most likely the heart attack was not referring to the sensation of speed, but the intense cardio workout to get there lol
If I’m going to be using it off road exclusively, I’d go 1x. If I plan on splitting it between road and gravel, I’d go 2x.
I'd assume that 80% of people living in Europe (and yes, including the UK and Ireland) would have to transport their gravel bike somewhere by car first to exclusively ride on gravel. If you live in a city, gravel is kinda rare. In suburbia and even many more rural areas with smaller towns, you'd have to take huge detours all the time to exclusively stay on gravel or dirt roads. So by your logic, nearly everyone should go 2x on a gravel bike.
@@dernils6176 Gravel in the UK largely means canals and national cycle networks and they are everywhere in every major city.
nelty mind not true mate I live 5 mile from a major city and I can do exactly 84 mile on gravel(old train lines)
@@richardmathers7238 I make a statement that says it applies to most, but not all people. You say that statement is incorrect, because a single person (you) doesn't fall into that majority. How dense.
Yeah...just recently got back into cycling with a 2021 trek Marlin 7, which is a 1x. At 39 years old, i'm enjoying gravel road riding and the 1x is falling short.
Where you are riding is important. If you live/ride in the area where you can spend 80% of time on gravel, go with 1x. If you have to spend close to 50% (or more) linking gravel on paved roads, 2x is a lot more comfortable and efficient.
Also depends on use... if you’re commuting on paved road, 1x might have the edge as well.
36/46 11-32 works great on my Boone X. I like to push hard gears on climbs so this is perfect for someone who likes to push a harder gear up steep climbs. Great vid GCN!
This channel is so helpful to someone like me as I’m not a cyclist like you guys who are pro’s. I’m going to get a titanium gravel bike as I’m retiring and I want to make an informed a decision as possible and your information is really helping me do this - thank you 👍🏻🏴
I was very much a road cyclist only until I spent some time in Tuscany in the early 90s. I was "forced" to join a group of MTB riders for a few days, so I bought one myself and got hooked! In those days it was 3x7 Shimano XT - brilliant, the number of gears and those crawler gears really needed. I then designed a so-called gravel bike with XTR centrepulls on a road frame, allowing me to put seriously wider tyres and tubulars (cyclocross) while using 700 wheels. I set it up with 2x8 which limited the gearing (clutch gears not being available).
Gave away My mTBs - a mistake. Now, spending 4 months in the mountains each year I soon found that my "allround" bike had limitations. This led to me reverting to 3x8 Shimano XT. Still a compromise, so I have just bought a Storck Gravel Bike, all carbon, 8kg and offers a good position, something many riders ignore. Manoeuvrable, great frame for climbing and road work where it is very slick. The Ultegra changing (2x11) is quick, positive and it suits me!
Tyre choice is often the most important factor. I have been experimenting with newer tyre types like the Schwalbe range, Continental Gravel King etc and they transform any bike on stony tracks.
The best tyres were the tubular cyclocross, but are pricey, and you will get punctures! Have also used Conntinental 4000 - amazingly capable if I am too lazy to change tyres!
The Schwalbe 700/32 are a revelation in bends and ability to hold the line, Gravelking 700/35 have exceptional traction, so for me, tyres, lightweight and the right gearing wins - but as always in cycling there is a choice.
One last point, my cycling started with English hand-made frames, like Woodrup or Ellis Briggs - Campy changing was superb, gears a little restricted! My first Alpine experience was on 51/45- 13-24 - hard work!
I just ordered a 2021 Marin Gestalt X-11 gravel bike. I chose this bike because of the relaxed geometry and because it seems to be a great all around bike. I can take it on gentle trails as well as on asphalt. I also wanted a bike with a 1X Groupset because it is SIMPLER overall and therefore requiring less maintenance. I don't plan on going over 60K any time soon. Less adjustments means more riding. Thank you for the video and explaining the pros & cons of both groupsets!!!
Great video guys. My reason for 1x: I don't race anymore and I don't compete with my friends, therefore I haven't needed close ratio gears; I don't need to be shifting all the time; I'm especially not a fan of shifting between front sprockets; I like riding fat tires; 1x is all I've had for the past year now and it has suited my style perfectly.
More gears is better than less.
What type of riding do you do? I'm trying to work out what to go with. I don't race but I do live in the hills. Cheers
@@richarddecredico6098 Not really...
@@richarddecredico6098 Watch the video.
I live in a fairly flat area, so my next build will be a 1x. Simplicity, aesthetic, less maintenance are all key its future use as a commuter and occasional off road gravel adventures!
Nice comparison - because I spend about 70% of my cycling time on road, 30% on gravel, I chose the 2X. The GRX components are great.
They're both great. Ride the one you got. Both setups will take you on amazing adventures. Ride so much either your chainrings or cassettes need replacing -- then decide if it's to switch from one to the other.
2x is better.
Period.
This.....either will work great...
So true, cannot say better!
@@richarddecredico6098 i agree, with 2x i dont need to shift as much, i can change to a higher gear more easily without clicking the rear shifter all the freaking time, and downshift faster too coming up on a hill
How easy/hard is it to convert a gravel bike from 1x to 2x or vice versa? I'm about to buy my first gravel bike (im a mtb rider branching out into road riding) and i'm super torn and don't want to be locked in. My first bike was a 2x8 hard tail which i loved but front derailleur gave the most grief. I now ride a fuel ex 5 (1x12) which I love for the trail, but am worried about doing 1x for gravel b/c of the decreased range...
1x for my MTB 2x for my Gravel. Would love to be able to afford that Orbea it looks great.
Lol. They guy walking easily up the hill, past the guy struggling on his bike, just about sums up my life.
was that b/c he was on the 1x it didnt offer him much gearing ratio to go up hill more easily ?
It wasn't a hill. ;-)
@@PeterGalbraith How can you tell?? Just because all the trees are growing diagonally?
@@user-xv7eb5ct9f opp6
@@Christian-fd2ct the guy walking is also diagonal
This is quite old topic, however I watched this video now just to assure myself I choose right. I own 1by Canyon gravel bike and I love it after 2500 km I drove last year. I love the simplicity in all ways - aesthetic is wonderful, simple clean design; changing gears is awesome simple, as you said, you don't want to spend your life changing gears :). Last but not least cleaning and service is unspeakable simple. So this was my choice :). Of course there are compromises, but I can live with them. A little thing about saving grams - you probably don't save any grams with 1by, because of weight increase thanks to bigger and heavier cassette within 1by setup. Have wonderful kilometres!
One of the main reasons for buying my Koga Colmaro Allroad was its 1x drivetrain. I love the uncluttered esthaetics, simple operation and easier cleaning over 2x. Most of my kms are aboard my 8-speed gear hub commuter, so 1x11 is plenty enough gears for me. It got me over the brutal Côte des Hézalles out of Trois-Ponts as well, so I wouldn't know why I would need more gears.
I got a mountain bike with 1x last june and loved it. I stopped riding year’s ago and have trail run last 12yrs. So to my surprise from my previous 3x mtb 1995 bike I loved it. I also have a 2x trek domane 50x34 up front and 11-34 in back, but just ordered a 1xGRX blackheart titanium and am excited to ride that!
Sy is the absolute goat at bike presenting. ❤️
Have started researching for my bike #2, which will 90% certainly be a gravel bike. Moving up from a basic hybrid I'm feeling super out of my depth with all the different tech, but this is very helpful!! I do love the minimalistic look of a 1x, not to mention the prospect of easier maintenance + I rarely hit speeds beyond 40k/h anyway, so definitely leaning that way.
I went one by on bike#2 and it was the right decision. Unless you are an experienced efficient rider I think you will get better overall performance from a single chainring and it's easier to maintain.
I chossed grx double.......I agree with the pro con you presented. Well done again! thank you
I'm currently building a 1x gravel bike from the frame up and I can't wait to try it out.
I ride a C3 Cervélo with SRAM 1x and absolutely love it. It’s my main road machine and don’t miss any gears from the past 😁
What are your ratios?
I initially went with 1x on my gravel bike because it got me the low end grunt I needed. This was a few years ago, when 2x meant 34x32 was as low as you could go, and there is a 1.6Km 16% climb on a favorite route that I barely make it up with my 42/10-42 1x setup. Now that 2x gravel bikes don't mean making do with road drivetrains, I'd probably make a different choice today. I really miss having the top end, and the paved sections always make me feel like I'm caught between cogs. I can't complain with how absolutely bulletproof a 1x setup is, though. It's nice having the reliability of a drivetrain like my mountain bikes on the washboarded country roads I frequent.
Gravel was also the gateway to road biking for this mountain biker, and I've seen it work the other way around. Not enough people talk about how these do it all bikes wind up expanding riders into different disciplines.
I would much rather have a mountain bike on gravel roads with a sus fork. I have done plenty of racing on gravel with those washboard sections and it’s BRUTAL! That stuff stops you in your tracks.
You sir, do such a great job on your channel. For me it is 1x ftw. Riding pave on rolling terrain I used to shift chain rings as much as rear derailleur. Annoying. So much easier to keep a 1x chain ring clean and riding smoothly. With direct mount chain ring I can quickly swap to something like a 34 T if I am going up jeep roads to 12,000 ft. But generally a 38 T chain ring with 10-42 cassette gets me most everywhere. Dropper activation using left 'shifter' is great for where I live and ride, and it keeps my neck much happier on descents as well as boosting the fun factor. I ride pave, dirt roads, with the occasional rocky steep challenging single track.
I used to look down on gravel riding at Roadies who wanted to ride MTB but didn't want to actually get flat bars. However, I demoed a giant Revolt carbon on my favorite trails yesterday and I'm sold. Gravel and MTB are totally different experiences on the same trail. One is about going as fast and as hard as possible, one is about being as precise smooth as possible. Needless to say I spent the whole demo day on a gravel bike and now looking to buy one. I'll probably go with a 2x.
1x forever!! When I got my first geared bike back in 95 when I was 12 years old I hated the front derailleur. Even then I thought why dont they just put more gears in the back and just have one up front. Needless to say I was ecstatic when 1x setups came out. This left leg amputee has all the gearing needed with a 36t chainring and a 10-46 cassette
I went for the 2x that I did because it best matched my fitness and riding patterns. I had a 3x as my first bike getting into cycling, and I needed all 3 starting out. For this season, I looked at the gears I actually used (didn't need smallest ring anymore), and found the Shimano 105 group set was a perfect match. (I can't imagine peddling past 40 km/hr, let alone 60 km/hr)
Chipmunk
Just the video I needed, nice one GCN!
Just got the Orbea and finished first ride - glad that I got the 1x - worked like a charm
Good stick action there Si, holding up the bikes! 😀
I think they are both good choices. It just depends on what you will use each set up for. I personally like a 1x for cross and mtb and 2x for road and gravel. There are times where a 1x set up is better for gravel and it depends on the conditions you are riding in. If it’s wet and muddy 1x but if it dry and fast 2x
Very helpful video. Thanks again for great content GCN.
this video is absolutely beautifully photographed. well done team.
Which do you prefer? Let us know in the comments below
Global Cycling Network great explanation! 2x for me because I prefer the advantage of having more precise gear options. 1x for wife because she prefers simplicity.
gotta be 1x - the only gearing issue I have ever had in a race or long epic ride is the front mech becoming problematic, or worse, dropping on inside and fouling the frame...
What kind of shoes are si wearing
2x if I am on a hilly ride with rapid gradient changes. 1x elsewhere
I’m thinking about picking up the 2021 M30 1x terra. You like it? Worth going for the M20?
ok, here I go again, watching reviews of things I can't afford =)
Totally.
Broke people, gather here!!!
This is more 1X vs 2X comparison than an all-out product review though. What is said here about 1X and 2X setup is applicable outside GRX groupsets.
Bikes are much cheaper than the super yacht and aircraft reviews I also watch 😀
1x for me, i’m used to it on my MTB. Liked the reduction in components. Also it was the only set available i could buy at the moment since all the 2x were sold out.
I was riding a GRX 1x on my Kinesis Tripster and this was very good as I was using it almost entirely off road. I don’t do so much road now, so sold the road bike and started using the Tripster as my road bike. It soon became apparent that 1x wasn’t working and so converted it to 2x, much better. Now does gravel & road. I also no longer use the Tripster as my light duty mountain bike as I now have a Specialized Tero 4 e-mountain bike for that job, so much fun.
I tried 1x for 2 yrs to test it out running alongside a couple 2x all-road bikes too with Ultegra. I liked it at times for the training benefit to force low-cadence spin, or high spin, after that, all compromises. I just sold all the SRAM Rival 1x and am back to ALL 2x, and that bike is now GRX 2x 48/31. Way way more versatile w 48/31 & 11-30/32/34 cassettes, way way more. And no compromises which is what you get the most of with 1x: missing gears, constant cadence and gear hunting, funky loud-ass shifters, and spinning out on downhills at 33mph. F that. And comically one of the selling points of 1x is how quiet they are!! Ha! Show me a shifter that's louder than a SRAM 1x HRD, you can't , LOUD AF. The take home? GRX is the answer that SRAM missed the mark on BY A MILE with eAXS with no mechanical option, HD drivers, 12-speeds when 11 is totally awesome, and e-everything with prices through the roof, wtf?! . Again, F that. Bravo Shimano, Shimano for the win !!
Ya had me laughing. Im about to FINALLY pull the trigger on a bike that will be used roughly 1/2 road 1/2 fire roads. Taking your advice on this one, thanks.
Love this video glad to hear you have a dropper on your mountain bike now LOL
I recently got my first 1x dropper setup a Davinci Hatchet running 11-42 rear with a 42 in the front and after 2x 50km rides on a mix of trail and tarmac at an average pace of 190w I think I'll switch my front chain ring to 40t , I had no issue surpassing 60kmph on small decents but I did find myself wishing for 1 more gear when things got 8% or more - using maxxis rumbler setup tubeless and still she's kinda heavy for carbon at 9.2kg but it still feels super light to me at 96kg - in comparison to my road bike with 2x setup I do miss having the "right" gear on tap for road sections but I've learned to just use those moments to get a little dig and make it work!
QUESTION: When should I change gears? -- What cassette gear should I be in when I change my chainring gear up or down? -- Would it depend on which chain ring I started in? -- Would the choice be different when I'm climbing, descending, sprinting, or cruising? -- I ride a 'gravel' bike with a 2x setup. -- This is my setup: Chainring == 48/32 | Cassette == 32,28,25,22,20,18,16,14,13,12,11. -- It seems that the best cruise cassette gear is the 14. -- The 48x18 is equivalent to the 32x12. -- I hope you can help me sort this out. -- Love the show. -- Keep up the great work!
Thank you for this excellent explanation in depth. Got a Rose Pro Cross GRX RX400 incoming. I felt a litte uncertain because everybody said: Naa, go with the 1x.
Finally good that I sticked with the RX400 2x due to two reasons: First I come from the Cross/ Fitness Bike section and ride Deore XT 3/10-11-34, therefore 2x feels right.
Second many manufacturers sell the lever for the f-derailleur as "only brake" version. If you then want to use it e.g. for your seastpost your left hanging...
46/30 & 11-32. Love being able to "dump" between 46 and 30 if I get caught out with a sudden climb on an unknown trail.
That's exactly what I was going to write. Thank you.
Still running 3x on my mountain bike. Up steep hills, fast on the flats and down hills, and everything in between. Always got a ratio where I want it.
Just got a new Ibis Hakka with a one by. Love it, just not missing the extra gears and the shifting is great.
I’ve got a Scott hard tail MTB with 2x and Cannondale road bike with 2x. I recently bought the beautiful Rondo Ruut Ti with 1x GRX. I love it and I love looking at it.
Thank you for explaining some things that most experience riders would know. My self I'm a newbie so this helps me well
Nice job on the review with excellent pros and cons. If I have to use a chain I vote for 1X setups with the rear cassette geared for the type of riding expected. Frankly I feel all chain drive bikes in over $1000 bikes should have been long eliminated and replaced with a rear hub or axle with embedded gears in the hub or a v-grove constantly variable e-gear ratio driven belt drive. I've seen the internal rear hub gears like the Shimano Nexus C3000 but it appears the mechanical toughness is still an issue. I expect e-bikes to start using these internal hubs and hopefully that drives innovation. Lets get rid of these 1900's tech chains!
I run a 105 R7000 (11-34 though) setup on my gravel bike, bought it just before GRX was released so had no real choice in the matter. Having said that I do love the easy and clean shifting it provides
The biggest advantage of 1x for me is that I can easily move the gear range up or down as needed. There is a large selection of chain rings, you're just limited by the frame (which can be a significant limitation). Unfortunately, the selection of 2x chainrings is quite limited. For example, the excellent 28-44 is almost dead. Shimano used to have that combination for XC MTBs. It actually offers bigger gear range than 31-48. And with a 11-40 cassette (IIRC), it was a beast. Personally, I would take a 2x with a wider range cassette (to tackle steep terrain), which the GRX unfortunately doesn't officially support.
I always use my Gravelbike on Gravel AND Tarmac. I think that's what makes a gravelbike so special. That's why the 2x11 GRX is fantastic for me. In difficult off-road terrain a mountain bike is more suitable in my opinion.
Great! Sounds like you have a great set up there
I have a CAADX with 105 46/32 11/32 and ride that thing loads. In its original form it was 46/36 12/28 and as my knees are blasted from MotoX and some of the places I ride are steeeeeeep fields I'm stoked with my set-up
@@joeinglesfield7446 How did you convert from 46/36 to 46/32?
@@joeinglesfield7446 I did the same except front 34. Looking at the Canyon as it has GRX. One issue with the CAADX has been chain bounce....sometimes get snagged or drop off
@@davidobrien8438 replace front chain rings. Tip: unless you're converting a brand new bike replace both ...
1x is worse for backpedaling, they say. I've never noticed it.
Though what I like about the 2x setup is the "get out of jail" card. If you have to do a sudden stop (maybe because there's a car coming at an intersection), going into a lower gear means you have to do several shifts with the shift cable tightening, and that means the rear derailleur have to work harder against it's own spring, thus you can't really shift under a lot of load and the acceleration from that sudden stop will be sluggish.
If you have a 2x you can just pop into the smaller chain ring, and the shift can be done under a higher load.
KallaMigCP so your bike setup is made for sudden stops?
@@ianiscaratti4924 Everyone in the city should have that in mind, yes.
KallaMigCP not for me. i like to ride in my 90-100 cadence and after braking for a car I can accelerate much harder in a lower cadence.
but btw. we are talking abou gravel bikes here and not about commuterbikes.
that also goes for comming down a steep hill in the forest - turning around a corner and first then realising you are at the foot of a 20% muddy climb ......
This is actually a very important point. For me this is the reason I would more likely abandon rear derailleur as opposed to a front one of it was an option. Also when riding in bad weather conditions and not looking for the bike condition all time, one of derraliours may break during the ride.
I live in a hilly area of the Pacific Northwest, not to mention that I am a 75-year old whose legs and knees are not as strong as they once were. My solution was a 2X GRX with 11-42 cassette, enabled with a Wolf Tooth on the derailleur. Shifts flawlessly, and climbs most hills I encounter.
Clear and succinct explanation. Thanks.
My head says x2 but my heart says x1 !!!
Rafa Caballero haha same
same here!!
good reason for two bikes!!
Same thing
What about just 1x but bigger? Right now I have a 42 GRX... I am thinking to replace it with a 46, 48. What you think guys?
I'm old, and I really, really want a low gear that goes below 1 to 1. Although my current gravel bike is a 2x with a compact 50/34 and a 11-36 cassette, I do run into hills that I can't climb in the saddle. And standing up just isn't an option for me at age 72 with a somewhat limited aerobic capacity.
What I want to do is switch to a 46/30 chainset. I'll get to it. One of these days
Just changed my FSA 34/50 for an FSA 30/46 on my Jamis Renegade - I also put an 11-36 cassette (Tiagra) on the back. It all works a treat - very happy with the result. I mainly use it for light bike packing duties.
Recently bought a Pinnacle Arkose D2 for winter use. It has a 48/32 chain ring and 11/34 cassette. It's a great combination.
l won t belittle for going easier at 72 yrs old and still BIKING THAT S FREAKING AWESOME l m amazed you re still going up hills GREAT JOB !!
PS MY DAD AT 81 IS STILL AT IT TOO :)
That is exactly what I am doing on my gravel bike. I switched the 11-32 to 11-36 (it seems to work fine with the stock derailleur, and soon I will swap my 34-50 crank to a 30-46. I had originally planned to switch the whole thing to a 1x system, but I can get a slightly larger range this way. I can grunt up some pretty steep MTB trails the way it is now, but I'm looking forward to that new crank, which will give me 1 lower gear.
@@rodmoore1055 That sounds like a great option, i live in a very hilly area and need easier gears. Do you have any shifting issues and did you need to adjust your front derailleur?
I agree with what Si said about too close gears. Tried 12-25 cassette (11s) on my bike I use for gravel and I ended up changing gear twice when I wanted to shift down or up (when being in the middle of the cassette, 1 tooth difference just isn't enough).
Roadbike: 2x compact, Gravel/Winterbike: 1x1 Singlespeed, absolutely hassle free in dirt and mud. Nice side effect: very good training in winter time for endurance and power. After the winter I am much more fit than my buddies who cycle indoors and went to Spain for two weeks in a training camp.
2x means you can change down the chainrings quickly for sudden uphills.
Its really handy
this.
You can do this just as easily with the rear derailleur if you have a good groupset adjusted correctly. And if you remove the front derailleur you don't have the annoyance of a scraping chain every time your cranks flex under power.
I live in a hilly area, I'd definitely go for the 2x set. Gotta have that lower front option for those 10-12% climbs.
You're lucky. I need the lower gearing for the 14-18% climbs in my area. There's also one hill near my home that's in the 16-28% range, but I avoid that one.
Really enjoyed watching this. Really well presented and very informative and it made me laugh, bonus. Keep up the good work GCN.
Superb discussion - thanks, Simon.
5:37 and you can impress yourself with your super high cadence trying to keep up with your mates with 2x on paved descents, and your bulging quads grinding up +12% hills
I find another advantage of 2x is that, when accelerating from a stop, the front chainring shift is quicker to dump to a much larger gear both because it’s a major change in one increment, and because it’s a cable pull, in a way that I find you can still apply a bit of power during the change. That might hardly ever come up on trails but for commuting in a city it’s the norm. That said Ive been using 1x anyway . Totally agree to me it does look better.
1x sucks
All great stuff in this video!! My questions are answered and more. Cheers
I have a commuter bike I built with 1X system 48 11/32 use it all the time especially during winter. Then on the summer bike I run a 53/39 11/28 best of both worlds. Love the 1X system works a charm
I will stay with the 2x set, I am not seeing myself hiking up any steep off-road sections anytime soon, but I am seeing my cross bike becoming the one-does-it-all bike in the future ... so hooray for 2x.
Except with GRX, you can now get more low range than the typical 1x setup. My 1x bike is 42T with a 10-42 cassette. I'm now seeing guys running 2x gravel bikes with a 11-36 cassette and 46/30 crankset. You wouldn't have to hike up the steep off-road sections AND still have the top end and closer ratios. That's a ridiculous amount of range that is making this SRAM guy reconsider his approach.
@@noodlesatf I'm happy to report that I am already using the GRX and it's a big difference to my road gearing. While the cranks on both my bikes are 50-34, the cross bike is running an 11-32. I imagine I could go bigger, but I am just a simple lowland for-fun cross-rider. The jumps between the gears will take some getting used to. But so far I can only recommend the GRX.
Just 3x user passing through
hello friend
so you have way more gears than you actually use?
@@merlinthebikewizard4392 kind of, I use 22/32/44 for front, and 11-28 10speed road cassette on rear
3x on a loaded tourer is fairly essential. Definitely has its place.
@Chris Jones for me, when touring with a loaded bike it certainly works. My other issue is that the chain is not meant to work at such angles in bottom and top gears. For 30 years I have always avoided chain crossing. Just can't get my head around 1x
I actually converted my 3x8 MTB to gravel and have found that it works well for gravel. I like having the option on a hard climb of dropping into my 28t chain ring and 42 in the back.
On a fast decent I will flip to the 48 and 11.
Love the humor of life lessons learned. Keeping being yourself Si
I use my gravel bike for bikepacking and long distance and when I do this it's usually around 85% tarmac or very compact gravel. And the possibility to be exactly on the right ratio for 200+ km outweights the simplicity of repairs and fast shifting on trails.
I also have a 1-by traily xc mtb and it's great.
My next purchase will be a true road bike anyway, I come from the mountains (and mtb) but now that I live in Paris it makes more sense.
Gonna be fun to stock all of them in my tiny flat tho. Thanksfully I can put my cheap fixie in the common bike garage.
I use my bike the exact same way. Leave my house commute to the forest service road. And then ride a shorty road uphill.
Do you use 2x11?
@@hensemzp1 yeah I have a 2*11 Shimano 105 with 11-32 cassette and 46-30 subcompact drivetrain. I don't really need 50+ tooth in front. I only wish I had a bigger ring in big decents while racing my friends on road bikes, but having a
@@LeDore38 Thanks for the answer. I want to assemble a gravel bike on a custom titanium frame, but I don’t know which groupset to buy. I want to have a bike for bikepacking, for marathons, road trainings and easy off-road. Universal gravel/endurance bike.I have experience only with my triathlon bike which has 52/36 11-28.And I really don't know which cassette and drivetrain to install.
As a student I only have 1 bike, so 2-by, as I do everything with it.
If I could have more bikes, I would get both.
I love my Cube crossrace 2019 entry model for less than 1000€
Nothing wrong with a sub-1k€ bike! As a student, I got a 800€ trek bike, with a discount for 600€, and I ride it daily even now 10 years later and still like it a lot! (Although thinking about getting it a gravel friend :D )
@@czeque Sounds like a great bike!
I have a 1x11 Gravel Bike set up but I do not have problems pedalling uphill climbs because I have a special 22t chainring from a 2x removal chainring crankset installed on my crankset. I just attached the 22t 64 bcd chainring on my 1x crankset with removal chainrings. The procedure when you are nearing a uphill terrain or roads dismount from the bike then put your chain to the 22t chairing using your hand in my country the Philippines local cyclists call it "1x Teka". With the "1x Teka" set up you have a bike with minimalist look, light weight, and no more worries with uphill climbs.
changed 2x10 on my mtb for 1x10 by replacing shimano slx by sram x9 (this week). all because of my cyclocross sram force 1x12 bike. -> at 2x10 i always thought about finding the right gear combination. now i'm really happy ^_^
My go to is a 10s 11-34 cassette with a 48-34 (110bcd) double. Easy to adjust, maximum range, super cheap (i just have second hand parts) and i just shift at the front at red lights.
Which specific cassettes do you use?
1X was designed for Full Suspension MTBs and in that role it works because front derailleurs are a problem (note all of the other technologies that are popping up to "recreate" the front derailer). In other roles it has its problems. 1X has fewer gear ratios to choose from and the angles that the chain is forced to work on causes a few %'s power loss. So if I was racing anything other than MTB downhill or enduro (and MAYBE CX where there are typically not long high speed sections), I'd be on a 2X.
Typically, SRAM (and other bike makers) have tried to market this deficiency as an asset and because the bike industry needs to sell crap and 1X is cheaper to produce so why not move everybody to 1X for a few years and then have the big reveal that 2X is actually more efficient sometime in the mid 2020s and get everyone to go back. Sounds like a plan to me.
Let me know when they get that Ceramic Speed chainless drive train reliably working for mass production and then I'll switch to 1X.
Mullet setup ftw! Eagle mtb rear end with Force eTap up front. The 10 tooth cog buys you 4 teeth up front, so you can get both a harder AND and easier gear than 2x setups. And, like Si said at 9:45, the gaps are welcomed off-road and not horrible in the on-road sections.
I run a Sunrace 1 x 12 (11-50) with a Schlumpf High Speed Drive (28 / 65) in place of the front crank on a Terratrike Sportster recumbent trike. I imagine the set-up would work fantastic on a gravel bike. On road, slapping the Schlumpf into high speed mode (65 tooth chain ring equivalent) would give a strong rider a massive boost possibly rendering the gravel bike full road bike equivalency. The gear-inch range on this set-up, if I'm remembering correctly, is essentially 35 to 165 which gives a low end better than that possessed by most mountain bikes. Give it a try! There's got to be Schlumpf hanging around GCN somewhere! Thanks for the video!
I was in love with my 1x GRX Di2, but then I started getting more serious in gravel and road riding, and the jumps between the gears were too much and so my cadence
I've watched this video 4x already. It lays it all out ther and some days I think 1x and others 2x ! LOL!
Even though there is gear ratio overlap, I love my 46/36T with 11-32t cassette 2X set up. It's a fairly traditional cyclocross set up, true. But, I find it manages to get me through a massive variety of tarmac, gravel & cyclocross terrain with nice close shifts. You have to be going up really steep climbs, or ripping down a descent while pedaling hard to feel the ends of the gear range. I can see that 1X might be nice on a purely race oriented cyclocross build though!
Great video Si!!
I have a 2x setup and can go an entire season only using one of my chain rings. It makes sense to go 1x. I didn't know about the special narrow-wide chain. Thanks for the details.
Right?
I generally only use my 34t inner chainring on my Emonda on climbs that are stupid steep... 15% or more.
I do have a tendency to cross chain big/big though.
When my gravel bike is in "road mode" with slicks on it I get along very nicely on a 44t 1x and a 11-42 11spd cassette.
I've been known to occasionally climb 22% grades on that thing.
If I'm off road in hilly country, I down size my front chainring to a 40t
And if you do go 1x... narrow wide is the sex. You need that
All three of my bikes are 1x. One of which I recently converted from a triple to proper 1x with a wide ratio cassette and narrow wide chainring. My other two bikes were 1x as stock and using them made me want to make the switch on my triple.
I will never go back to having a front mech. The unnecessary process of constantly shifting up and down at the front just to get the full use of the cassette without chin rub at the front is enough of a reason for me. The added perk though is that off roading in the winter filth means that there are a lot less mechanical components to get gunged up and liberally cleaned at the end of every ride.
We all know you don't climb for shit
@@Marco-717 do explain if you have anything intelligent to add.
@@michaelb9664 you ride flat all the time, so you don't need a 1x. You see any pro's with a 1x? No? Right
@@Marco-717 dunno how you come to that conclusion?
Have you ever ridden around Kielder forest and the Scottish boarders? None of that is flat and it’s a regular for me. Also plenty of professionals use 1x in the off road world. Have you been living under a rock? Considering you’re replying to comments from a year ago I’m guessing you have been.
@@michaelb9664 oh I'm sorry I thought this video was about road bikes! Hahaa what a tool bag. See ya kook
I have both types. I prefer the 1X setup. I never got the 2X setup shifting right from the start. I also only ride on streets, no off roading for me, well I ride on NYC streets & some streets are like off road! I also like the simplicity since I've gotten into trouble with the adjusting maintenance. I only like Sram. Had both makes & for me it's in the name: ShimaNO.
This video is really good. Good analysis, entertaining, and funny. Presenter has charismatic personality. Well done.
I think this is the first time I saw a chain on GCN that was not perfectly cleaned before a close up shot.
lol
what? have you ever clean your chain every minute even when you are in the track.?
@@ancogbernard its rusty!!! That doesn't happen during a ride or overnight
@@ancogbernard it was a reference to the always clean bikes at GCN. Even in the vids they make about cleaning the bike, they do not have dirty bikes to begin with.
@@SwiCyc
reasoning . who said that?
I like it that you speak of how important the looks of the bike are. Whilst holding a bike with a paint job reminiscent of a bowl of sick.
1x for me. Never needed a gear lower than 1-1 and the freedom of not having to think of cross chaining while sweating on a climb is priceless. Plus I really like my bike dead silent and shifting perfectly so a slightly out of alignment big chain ring which happens when you go off road some times made my life a living nightmare.
this was a great vid to help me determine next steps in building up a Bombtrack Hook Ext-C and really want to go 2x (b/c i;m old and like choices), but having never ridden a 1x, and wanting to squeeze a 2.1 tire in it, i may keep the 1x set up as the previous owner had it and try out a dropper post left shifter as well.
switched from 3x to 1x and loving the 1x
I switched from 3X to 1X, and i wish i should have just gone 2X. Unfortunately, i have given away my front shifter and derailleur.
Depends on where you live, in a hilly place I go for a 2x as the gear ratio of a 1x is not sufficient for steep hills.
I have a foot in all 3 camps.....Specialized FSR Full sus, 26” wheels, 1999 model, 3x9, big ring on the road, middle ring off road, and little ring if it gets REALLY steep. 2018 Specialized Roubaix Expert, 2x11 mainly used on road but I will ride dry trails on it since it will take a 32mm tyre, and it’s a Roubaix...... Sonder Signal Ti 29er 1x12, love it but I do spin out at about 25mph on road, on the other hand the 32x50 bottom gear will climb anything provided I can get the tyre to grip.
I'd go with 1X. It wasn't too long ago before mountain bikes were invented that the bike I had shifted from the downtube and shifting was a pain to get just right and the chain would throw off the front and jam so I tended to find a gear and just leave it there and power over whatever got between me and where I was going. I have only been doing Di2 for about a year and boy do I feel spoiled! Thanks for putting the thoughts together and putting it all out there for us.
It might sound old-fashioned - but I loooove my 3x groupset at my mountainbike. If I compare it to the 2x groupset of my second mountainbike, it has soo many advantages:
1. I can stay mainly on the middle front gear and just fine-adjust with the back gears. With the 2x groupset, I always have to shift up and down, depending in wich gear I am.
2. When it is really step or I ride fast I have a wider range
3. the gear-steps are much smaller, so I can always find the right gear for my cadence.
The little extra weight is totally worth the comfort. And my front shift never failed in 15 years of bike riding, it is always the back. I don't understand the tendence to buy 1x or 2x groupsets (just because of weight and optics?)
having just moved from 3x to 2x I wholeheartedly agree. I seem to have to shift through more gears than before.
I totally agree, on my Ghost 7500 Cross (2011) I've got 30 gears. The top gear I can start using comfortably at around 40Kmh. In the lowest gear, pedaling fast as I can, I get a top speed of around 5Kmh. It has a Shimano XT 48-36-26 / 11-36 groupset
I agree that 2x is awkward on MTB, because you have to cross-shift all the time to find the right gear. Maybe paradoxically, rather than 2x, a 1x set with a modern wide range cassette might give you an experience much closer the 3x. Imagine the single front cog on an 1x being like your current middle cog on 3x, and a large 12-cassette (they make monstrosities like 9-52 now) gives enough range and small enough steps that you never need the two other front cogs.
But I also do not see anything wrong about 3x sets, and am a little angry that manufacturers stopped developing them and are slowly stopping to produce them. It is again one of the cases when manufacturers forcibly remove options from the customer. This is happening in all industries recently.
@@flashpeter625 I pretty much agree with you, and kind of wish I had gone with 1x and upgraded the cassette as you suggest. But now I am on 2x I have found that I seem to be doing a lot more sequential shifting while staying on the same front cog, typically having to drop 5 gears whenever I stop at a junction. I think I need to experiment with some cross shifting, such as shift to small on the front and then only downshift 2 at the back, but whilst that is fewer clicks in total it is more complicated. I never seemed to notice this on my old 3x. Would it be even worse on a 1x, maybe 6 downshifts?
@@flashpeter625 Hi Peter, thanks for that insight. Maybe I should consider than 1x12 for my next bike. But I guess, I will have no chance anyway... 😅
i've been running 1x for quite some time now and i like it so much i would probably run it on a road bike as well, when i ride 2x i always forget to shift on the front anyway
a 1x11 with a 44 front chain ring and an 11-42 cassette gives me all the gears i need
If majority of you guys are mountain bikers who goes on technical trails then the choice is clear as mud.But if you spend more on the road then a 2x or a 3x is the obvious choice...
@@filicandadsjournal4221 I ride a gravel bike with a 1x11 setup with road tyres on it's just as fast as any road bike
@@filicandadsjournal4221
not really.
With an 11-42 x 42 1x - you don't really give up that much in reality.
Find a gear that gives you a reasonable cadence and cruise.
I occasionally ride my surly crosscheck travel rig on the road when I ride with my wife - with conti 5k 32s on it, it is surprisingly capable.
Yes, my emonda is faster, but only in a few places. on the level, the gravel bike spins out at about 30mph. And the emonda a bit more, but then again ask yourself... how long can you actually sustain 30mph on level pavement outside a pack? 25 is sustainable on both for a good long time, and that's good enough if you aren't racing.
The gravel rig gets you there in plush comfort.
So much so that it is a Jack of all trades for single track, gravel roads, and tarmac - all I have to do is select the right tire.
@@stinkyfungus hi there, I have an Exploro 1x11. I'm setting up another bike with a similar gearing. 11-42 with a 42t chainring is a better option than 44t? I want it for speed. Thanks
Good information for someone like me who is thinking of getting a gravel bike. And, I couldn't agree with you more about the importance of aesthetics, in bike purchase or any other purchase.
I bought a canyon grail with 2x set up last Christmas (after watching a GCN video while laid up with a bust collar bone - you’ve cost me a fortune!,). Anyway it makes a great allrounder for club road rides as a winter bike, through to proper off road. ive done a muddy CX race and its coped with everything - if I could only have one bike this would be it
If you want 2x, that's fine. If you want 1x, that's fine as well. But for 2x, PLEASE make sure the rear derailleur has a clutch. Some gravel bikes are 2x, WITHOUT a clutch based rear derailleur, and it will be noisy and have some chain slap.
Been doing gravel rides on my new Trek Marlin 7, which is a 1x, and I'm starting to realize I'm losing a massive amount of efficiency. I'm average 10-11mph and have moved up from mostly 10 mile rides to 20 mile rides.
I have a lot of steep climbs here, so I needed a easy climbing gear ratio. I've got a 1x setup with a 40t chain ring and SRAM 10-50 eagle cassette. And yes, i have a dropper as well for the technical downhills! :-)
I did a detailed calculation of the weight savings by converting my full suspension stumpjumper to 1x. It comes out as saving 50 grams for my bike. Some bikes will save more. But not mine.