Hopefully I can keep this short and on topic(s).

I’m quite keen on a Canyon Inflite CX bike as my first purchase of a modern/carbon frame - the way I figure it:

- I’ll have a kick arse CX bike out of the box
- It can take 38mm tyres so a bit of gravel/bikepacking is possible also
- it can also take 25mm tyres and do well on the road

I’m happy to invest deeply in to a CX frame and deal with the compromises for road and gravel, but first I’m interested to make sure some assumptions regarding the gearing are both technically feasible and good ideas regardless.

The Canyon Inflite comes with 1x SRAM Force with a 11-36 cassette and 40t chainring, the ratio spans 1.1~3.6 over 11 gears, which from this point on I assume is a good CX range.

For road, which I’m coming from, I’m used to riding 80s/90s 8-speed with a 12~25 cassette and 53/39t. This equates to a range of 1.6~4.4 across maybe 12 gears once the overlap is accounted for... (<< keep in mind that my forthcoming logic pivots around this point).

With a 46t chainring (max available for SRAM Force 1x) (and a longer chain) the range increases to 1.3~4.2, which is pretty close (I’m not often in 16th gear anyway). Sounds like a solution in terms of SRAM Force..

Ah but, I quite like the look of modern Campagnolo and the new(ish) mechanical 12speed Record!

My question: Could the new Campnolo Record 12sp be set up 1x?

… With a 11-32 cassette and a 50t chainring I’d get a range of 1.6~4.5 (over 12 speeds) for road, and with a 39t chain ring, a range of 1.2~3.5, or alternatively with a 36t chainring a range of 1.1~3.3 (over 12 speeds) for CX/gravel.

I wonder however, can the Campagnolo 12speed cranks be set up just take the smaller inner ring? And if so does it maintain a good central chainline so I can use the full cassette? (also, what about chain retainers like those used on the SRAM force equipped Inflites, I assume they’ll play nicely? Or will the thinner chain and sizes not work out?).

Also the same question, but regarding ‘road mode’ would the 50t chainring work well with the inner removed?

I quite like the look of the power meter ready Quarq cranks that come standard on some of the Inflite models, can they take the campag 12 speed chainrings?

Either way, would the 12speed record gear be recommended for CX anyway (2x or 1x)?

I understand that it’s meant to be 2x, but coming from 8-speed I think I’m actually going to experience relatively more refinement in terms of ratios, even in a 1x setup (ha!)

Hope I’m making sense?