MiPeGr

OK...so I'm looking at buying a gravel or endurance road bike soon, but one thing I've identified I'll have to do is put lower gearing on it to make it usable for me. I'm looking at using 105 R7000 or GRX brake/shift levers. In back, I plan on using an 11-42 cassette and M8000 SGS rear derailleur with a cable pull adapter (Wolftooth Tanpan or Jtek shiftmate).

My question is about the front. I'm looking to add lower gearing up front as well, so one possibility I'm considering is using an MTB crankset (need something lower than even 46-30 subcompact). One thing I can't figure out is whether the R7000 FD can handle the smaller rings of an MTB crank or if I have to use an MTB FD. *If* I have to use an MTB FD, will the R7000 shifter be able to shift it (are the pull ratios compatible?). I've found conflicting info in other places (about older parts), so I'm hoping someone here can give me a definitive answer. Is a cable pull adapter available for the front?

I'm trying to collect all the info I can before I commit to purchasing anything so I don't end up with a lot of incompatible parts. Any help is appreciated!

redlude97

no it will not work. If the bike has a seat tube that is compatible with a clamp style FD use the GRX FD. If it is braze on there are adapters to lower the mount point

Jeff Wills

No. The "road" cable pull is shorter than a "mountain" front derailleur requires. As Redlude said: use the GRX front derailleur.

AeroGut

I’m not sure this is correct. I’ve used an old shimano road DR for a 22/32/42 MTB crank and it worked fine. Only caveat is that I was using friction shifters, so I can’t say for certain that it would shift smoothly with indexing. I’m also currently using a road DR (circa 2000 Sora triple) with indexed shifting on a 26/39/50 triple, and it handles the 26/39 shifts fine.
So I suggest you give the 105 DR a try before buying something new.

Wilfred Laurier

You experience is not relevant to OP. Functioning with friction shifters means nothing to someone using indexed shifters.