KonaRider125

Here is a amazing new product from Wolf Tooth components called the Tanpan that allows you to use 10 and 11 speed Shimano mountain bike rear derailleurs with Shimano 10 and 11 speed road shifters. Up to 11-42 cassettes with a double and 11-46 if running 1x.

Tanpan ? wolftoothcomponents.com


Even if you run a smaller 11-32 or 11-36 cassette plus a XTR derailleur you still get the extra benefit of chain retention of the clutch mechanism.

What do you guys think are you going to get one of these on your gravel bike? Opinions?

BTW, I've got nothing to do with Wolf Tooth components, just a interested customer!

Spoonrobot 

To be honest any lower than 36x34 and I'm faster walking.

I think the technology is neat but the cost is pretty intense for the 1-bys and 40t+ cogs. Especially since I'm still running 9 speed Sora.

KonaRider125

I'm a relatively fit rider and have trouble keeping a sustained reasonable cadence with my low of 34-32 on my carbon road bike on several of my local mountain climbs. Add a heavier steel or alloy gravel bike+bike packing gear for a over night trip and yes I damn sure need a gear lower than you can accomplish with current Shimano road components. I know I can't be alone here either.

bwilli88 

this would work nicely with a 49-46 or 46-43 front chainrings and a 11-42 11 speed rear
HTML5 Gear Calculator

idc

Heard about this one - it's cool but another moving piece to worry about maintaining (albeit a simple one). Using an old-fashioned double/triple without needing a clutch gives you tons of options.

mstateglfr 

36x34 at 90rpm is 7.7mph. Even at 60rpm, you are riding at 5.2mph.
You are a fast walker while pushing your bike.

Sora currently is 9 speed, so you are 'still running' the most up to date Sora group. Hardly ancient.

KonaRider125

In my area of California I have mountain climbs with sustained 10, 15 and even 20+ percent gradients. Unless your a pro rider, gearing lower than a 34T small ring and 32T cassette would be welcomed by anyone.

mstateglfr 

I agree and have lower gearing on the bike I use for riding lonely gravel roads around me. Even that gearing isnt ideal for some of the areas around me in 'flat' Iowa since its constant hill after hill.
My point in the earlier post was that the gearing ratio listed nets a faster pace than walking. Spoon mentioned its faster to just walk if gearing were any lower and I responsed due to doubting that.

I have a 27.5gi at lowest based on 28x28and would for sure benefit if it were down to 24.2gi using 28x32.

Tim_Iowa

Seems like a great product! The DynaSys Shadow+ (clutched) derailleurs seem good for gravel bikes: large chain capacity and less chain slap.

Personally, I use a 9-speed RD-M772 SGS to run a large cassette on my 10-speed touring bike.
And, I use SRAM 10-speed gear on my carbon gravel/'cross bike -- SRAM 10-speed is cross-compatible and allows you to use a MTB RD with road shifters. Unfortunately, their 11-speed stuff is no longer cross-compatible.

Spoonrobot 

If you are going to be pedantic to the point of using a decimal you should have requested my tire size first.

I'm currently running 26x1.9 so 90 rpm is 7.32mph and 60rpm 4.88mph. I generally get off and walk at between 30-40rpm after going from sitting->standing to try to drop my heart rate. Speed at 30-40rpm is between 2.44-3.26mph. It is very easy to walk faster than this, especially at race pace when I'm very warmed up and trying to be slightly competitive.

Previously I'd been riding a full MTB triple, but found using the small 22t ring caused my heart rate to go to high for too long and really hurt me later on in the ride. Easier to get off and walk for a few minutes than spin at a very low speed.

The reference wasn't to the age of Sora, but to the number of gears and overall placement of the groupset in Shimano's hierarchy. I'm still running 9 speed Sora, despite the fact that there are a lot of different, better options available on the market. Heck, full 105 is like $350!

Andy_K 

This looks like a good product, and it gives you a much needed barrel adjuster for a shadow derailleur. Based on my experience with Travel Agents, I'd say threading the cable through there just right is likely to be a minor pain but once you get it set up right it should work well. The design is very simple mechanically, which is nice.

For those not wanting an extra part to maintain, Gevenalle makes shift+brake levers that work with Shimano 10- or 11-speed MTB derailleurs directly.

mstateglfr 

Ha, I admittedly did not take 26" wheels into account as I associate 700s with gravel riding and just defaulted to that.

If I were to spin in the discussed gearing at 30rpm as you mention, I would probably fall over. 30rpm is a turn every 2 seconds...thats seriously slow when going up a hill. I would walk too if I were turning at 30rpm. I walked up a hill just last week actually, since I had to stop on the incline and couldnt get started!

I see what you meant about Sora. Its perfectly good stuff, but with how cheap the Euro retailers are right now, its not much of a jump to Tiagra and 105. I have thought about this a few times since my wife got a Cannondale Synapse last year with Sora.

Seattle Forrest

I have a 50/34 and 11-28; so far this has been plenty for everything I've tried to ride up. But I bookmarked this in case that changes. I have a few challenging rides coming up.

These gravel bikes are hugely versatile, but the downside to this "one bike to rule them all" notion is that gearing is pretty light on the pavement.

Darth Lefty 

Their Road Link would seem to allow the same result (brifter plus big cassette) so I guess which you pick depends on which parts you already have.

KonaRider125

How a gravel type bike that is going to be ridden off road and on light single track, I don't see how having a clutch RD would be a bad thing. You can find XTRs on sale for well below $200. Even if your only running a 11-28 or 11-32 cassette this would still be a benefit.

Canker

forget the XTR and just get a SLX and eat a few grams while saving $$$$

BluesDawg

Good option for gravel riders wanting to run a clutched rear derailleur on a Shimano setup. I use SRAM 10 speed shift/brake levers on my gravel bike with a 12-36 cassette and 46/30 chainrings and a GX MTB clutched rear derailleur. Until now, there was no way to do this with Shimano levers.

bwilli88 

These have got to be the ugliest thing to be made for a bicycle.

Andy_K 

You get used to it. Plus they work well enough that you don't mind.

unterhausen

I couldn't figure out if Jtek made this particular combo or not. Seems like they do, but they have a lot of products

jtbadge

Function over form, friend. Incredibly useful and reliable for drop bar, off-road shifting.

trail_monkey

Gevenalle shifters work with road 10 and 11 speed Shimano derailleurs and 9 speed on down mtb derailleurs only unless they have a new design. I bought some but returned them and bought all Sram instead.

Andy_K 

They do have a new design. The CX variety still works with road derailleurs, but there is a GX that works with Dyna-Sys mountain bike derailleurs (10- and 11-speed available). They also recently introduced a UX shifter which works with 8-speed Alfine.

trail_monkey

I see that now. Interesting. That wasn't available 3 months ago when I was in the market.

alan s 

Just installed the Tanpan, and it took all of 2 minutes to thread the shifter cable. Looks like a winner. Shifts perfectly.