Originally Posted by
bakerjw
Not to derail the thread, but like you, I hate getting caught between gears as well which is one reason why I will likely never go to a 1x drivetrain.
Not a derailment at all. It's an important consideration when choosing a bike you might tour on. So many "adventure bikes" are now doing 1x and 2x. I think people who haven't toured need to give careful thought to gearing. Does it match the terrain they expect to ride? Might they one day decide to tour in mountainous areas. What sort of load are they going to be carrying over time. Wheel strength is another important consideration.