Why not try a compact road crank, 50/34? That would give you a real live higher top and also a lower bottom than the 46/36 cx crankset. I have a 1x7 setup, 42x11-28 and another bike w/ that compact double x 9 spd I think it's got an 11-26 cassette. The 2x9 really does give me that giddyup that the 7 spd only has in comparison to when I used to ride that bike as a single speed...