The 1x sucks on rolling hills not because it limits my speed, but because it’s a bloody lot of shifting on the rear. One slide of the chainring will smooth the up and down shifting.

But few of us are ever limited on the top end. I mean, 52/13 was the highest ratio available to Eddy, and I’m definitely not Eddy.

My road bike runs 52/36 up front, and 12-27 in back. My cross/gravel bike runs 46/34 up front, and 11-28 in back, though I’ll probably change to 12-28.

My other utility/gravel bike is running 38/28 up front, and 11-28 in back.