Schadenfreuder

Hi
I have a Cannondale Slate 105 which I’m looking to change out the gearing on.
My local rides often involve lots of hills with pavement/tarmac, gravel, cobble / rubble to near-singletrack moorland.
I’ve long since swapped out the 52/36 chainrings for 50/34 but I’m now considering changing out the rear mech and cassette. Ideally I’d like to swap for a Shimano Deore M8000 (with Wolf Components Tanpan cable pull converter) rear mech with either a 11-34 or 11-36 cassette (before anyone asks I’d like a clutched mech not GS road mech mainly to stop losing the chain on rougher ground)
What I’m querying here is whether or not I need to get a M8000 GS or SGS mech.
Shimano states that the GS only has a “front difference” of 10T which I could understand if you were using 11-44 or 11-42 cassette. But I would’ve thought for the 11-34 or 11-36 cassette size (with 50/34 chainrings) I’m looking to use I shouldn’t need to use a (bigger and heavy) SGS mech which Shimano states as having “front difference” of 18 teeth???
Anyone got any experience or feedback on similar set ups?
Would be really appreciated!

wgscott

I'm using an 11-36T SRAM cassette with an otherwise ultegra setup, just by cranking on the B-screw. It might be worth trying that kind of approach first, before doing anything more drastic (and costly). I ride gravel (and worse) with this and never lose the chain -- I would check your FD adjustment.