Sorry, figured you were using a mountain RD, I was wondering if you are you using a 10 sp or 9 sp version.

The thing that closes the deal for me is whether the frame has vertical drops or not. I weigh 185 and below a certain ratio the QR pressure required (with horizontal drops) to hold the axle in place seems excessive. I think too low of a gear makes me want to attempt too steep of a grade. I use a 36/26 on my road bike. The roads here are dirt or short and very steep or both.

That's definitely another point to consider. I tend toward mashing quite a bit. I rode my 29er in a 1 x 10 set up for a while and did quite well with it because I'm fine with mashing when necessary. I've put my tire into the chain stay many, many times on several different bikes with horizontal drops.

An update, I had a stroke of genius (or maybe just a stroke) and remembered I already have a modern wheelset available. The Colonel's bike reminded me I have a wheel set with Ultegra hubs and Campy Barcelona tubular rims sitting in the basement at my parents' house. Now I just need to retrieve them and find an appropriate set of tires.

From the looks of things, a set of tubular cross tires can cost one a healthy portion of a new, clincher wheelset.

FWIW...I run Campy 11s with a modified Truvativ triple, converted into a compact double...46-30. Our back I run 12-29 and a 35c Kenda Smallblock 8.

Our gravel roads tend to be in areas with hilly terrain and my normal mashing stylee doesn't cut it...the gravel can be loose, especially in winter, and an easy spin is often required to maintain traction.