Originally Posted by
Steve B.
I would simply swap the crank to a 30/46. You get a lower gear, which is desired and keep the 2X, which should be desired.
Swapping the crank also means replacing a power meter, which drives up the cost significantly. As I mentioned, part of this is also about trying a 1x system to see if it is something I want to stick with.
As far as overall range, a 30/46 with my current 11-36 cassette would extend the range even lower than my intended 38x42 low gear, but would still have a couple of gears on the high end that I don't seem to have much use for. Within the range of gears that I actually use, the only advantage I see in a 30/46 2x is a couple more steps in the mid-high range.
Why should a 2x be desired?