Zaskar

Why are the gravel bike manufacturers following the MTB 1x__ trend? There's not a category that needs more gear range than gravel bikes. These bike are supposed be at home on flat to rolling pavement, steep FS switchbacks, mild singletrack... If ever there was a place for a 50/34 x 11-36 it seems it's on a gravel bike.

Metis

As you said I think it's a "trend" the manufacturers are marketing.

If I were to buy a 1x gravel bike it would be for the ease and simplicity of having a single chainring with no shifters or derailleurs to worry about. Plus most people are probably coasting down the super steep grades where a 50x11 would be useful?

Zaskar

Ironically, I ride a 1x11 (52 x 11-28) road bike, a single speed (53x15) road bike and a 2x11 road bike. I agree - I really love the simplicity and silence of the 1x and single speed... but grinding out a 30 RPM cadence 'cause you're out of gear, well... your pounding heart will interrupt that silent drivetrain. ;-)

HTupolev

1x is a thing on gravel bikes for the same reasons that it's a thing on MTB. Fewer things that can fail in a mucky ride, better front retention over rough terrain via narrow-wide chainrings. And while gravel riding is usually not as technical as MTB, it's similar in the sense that it's usually hard to be fine-tuning a rhythm as you pedal along, so tight gear spacing is often seen as less important.

On the flip side, I agree that gravel bikes can *also* be far more demanding. The gravel in my area is mostly forest roads in the mountains, and "gravel rides" can involve lots of pavement in the flats and valleys. Furthermore, I like it if my gravel bike is comfortable as just another road bike. As such, I like my gravel bike to have all the gears I'd have for road riding, and some extra bailouts for steep loose climbs.
And from that angle... heck, if I'm going to add a front derailleur anyway, I'd rather go all the way to a triple. It's too bad that good road triple options are getting so sparse.

redlude97

I'm not really looking to pedal at 40mph+ on gravel, I'd rather just tuck and concentrate on taking a good line on variable surfaces so a 50T isn't really necessary. But I do much prefer a 2X on gravel, but with a 46T large ring and either a 36/34 small mated with an 11-32. The jumps on that cassette are manageable. I have nothing against 1x in general though, I run 1X on my cross bike for races but you run steep stuff there and recover on downhill sections as best you can. Chain retention is fine with 2x using a chain keeper and increasing the cage tension on the shimano RD by moving the cage spring to the high tension position. With the new ultegra clutched RD i think there will no longer be any reason not to use 2x on gravel except for personal preferences.

BillyD

Moving from Road to Gravel forum.

Zaskar

I don't see how the front or rear derailleur, clutch or no clutch is a factor. Rewind the calendar a few years and every XC mtn bike was a 2x10 (2x9...) and they worked out just fine - in harsher conditions than gravel bikes.

Really seems it's a (profitable - fewer parts) trend the manufacturers are pushing.

Zaskar

Whoops! Thanks

redlude97

I've never bounced a chain on gravel but others have. I've done it a number of times racing cross though and 1x with a clutched RD and chain catcher and a NW has been chain drop free all of last season including pretty muddy conditions. They do make a difference

vinuneuro

I've never understood 1x for gravel. Makes total sense for cross where the terrain is way harsher and speeds are in a narrower range. But even in the muddiest gravel races, it's the rear derailleur that's the source of trouble.

Clutch derailleurs are awesome though and Shimano has come through for 2x.

chas58

1x for mountain bikes is not the same as for CX/gravel. It is on mountain bikes fix to fix problems with the seat tube design (caused by rear suspension and curved designed to use big tires with shorter chain stays). For CX, it is fashion, not function. It dosn't hurt, but is not required.

i just went through this decision process. I decided I wanted 2x to give me the broad range, ability to do very fast road rides and slow gravel hill climbs. I love always having the correct gear at hand.

But, if I'm not doing a lung busting pace line, 1x would be fine. It has a decent range, I can coast on the downhills and the gear jumps are not that big of a deal if I'm not worried about being dropped. I do hate it though when I need a 16t cog to cruise, and I only have a choice of a 15t or a 17t.

Zaskar

It's like a tailwind. We rarely notice when we're in the optimal gear... but hunting - up to the 17t, back to the 15t never goes unnoticed.

Metaluna

I see the term “All Road” getting thrown around a lot lately, so maybe the industry is trying to make a distinction between the go-anywhere, all-purpose, All Road bike that still works pretty well even if you’re almost exclusively on pavement, and a more hardcore gravel racing bike that might be more suited to 1x.

Zaskar

Damn... I hope not.

I get that the manufacturers want to sell us a bike for every day of the week, but the right gravel bike could be so versatile with just a wheel swap. For me, the ideal gravel bike would be a 2x11 with room for 44mm tires. Let me swap wheels/tires based on the ride/conditions.

softreset

I recently converted back to 2x.

I put a Force 1x group (42t/11-42) on my commuter. I just completed the cutover to an R8000 group (50/34 & 11/34).

I really liked Force 1x, my first time on SRAM and after about 3000 miles, give it two thumbs up. The biggest issue for me is that my entire commute (19.6 miles each way) is super flat, maybe 150ft of elevation gain, if that). Where it lacks in elevation it makes up for in wind. I was always hunting for an acceptable cadence, especially on the trip home which usually sees head and head-crosswinds. If my day was long and I was tired there were some trips that I'd be shifting regularly to balance my exhaustion with speed of getting home.

My new (should be here next week) gravel bike is coming with R8000 (same gearing as commuter). But I'm interested in the new Easton chainring announcement as I'm hoping to start exploring some bike packing and gravel rides in late 2018 and a full "campaign" in 2019. I agree that 34/34 with gear and my (larger) frame isn't going to be awesome. So I'm excited about the offers out there. I really hope we'll see a 48/32 option at a minimum from Shimano, they didn't deliver with the new 105 so we'll see what Tiagra brings next year.

Metieval

most guys that want a 50t chain ring on a bike with tires north of 700x30 are most likely cross chaining it anyways.

Given their RPMS/speed they could be doing the same on a 1x system and riding triple the miles they ride now on an over geared 2x.

Abu Mahendra

if your premise is true, then 50/34 x 11-36 is still too high. MTB triples are probably the ticket as far as range goes.

Koyote

53x15? Seriously? I hope there aren’t any hills in your neighborhood!

Koyote

I think much depends on terrain. Around here, with lots of rolling hills, I use my 50 chainring plenty with the smaller cogs when going down the hills...And I use the 34 chainring plenty when going up the hills.

But granted, I’ll probably be considering a 46/30 crankset at some point. The hills seem to be getting steeper as I get older.

Zaskar

Atlanta, moderately hilly... avg. 1,000' per 20 miles. I ride that bike fairly often with my club and need the big end for a couple sections that are sorta flat, sorta downhill - fast, but ya still have to pedal.

Metieval

maybe if you didn't expel so much energy in the 50t going down, they wouldn't feel so steep going up?

Metieval

I bet that 999/1000 riders wouldn't regularly turn in a faster average speed on average rides with the 2x than they ever would a 1x.

Koyote

Momentum!

Metieval

lol, not buying it.

mstateglfr 

Havent understood 1x for gravel since it started being spec'd.

I ride 2x11. 46/34 and 11/36. It does fine for me right now.
I do stan and climb at times which means i have to be aware of weight distribution so my rear tire doesnt lose traction.


Ideally, i would have a 46/32 crank with 12/36 cassette.

A 46/30 crank mated to a 12/34 cassette would be fine too. Save a bit of weight for sure.

I didnt want to spend the $ to get a 46/32 crank, so i love with what i have.


My front derailleur is friction, so there is never a shifting issue.
Even still, 2x11 just doesnt scream shifting problems to me.

But hey- everyone rides what they like.
...i do think many get what they have because they didnt know 'better'. But of they smile when riding, then cool.