Do y'all really prefer 1x for gravel?

[wheelsONfire]

In a manic frenzy i ordered the new XT Di2 and an 11-42 cassette.
I am not sure i should keep it just to try.

Otherwise i've been on 44/34 and 11-36.
Not really sure if i keep it, what size chainring i should go for.
It seems a 40T, a 42T might be a bit over the top for fat 650B tires (47-52mm)

Wolf tooth have direct mount oval (PTE) chainrings for Easton cinch.
A 36T is similar to a 34T in dead zone and 38T in power zone.
Running a 36T now in the winter, along with my 11-36 cassette.
So far, the chainring feels great when pedalling. Much more so than Rotors Q-rings.

If i should test Hope tech 10-44 cassette nad perhaps Wolf tooth 40T (PTE) chainring.
Or just send the XT Di2 back and skip it.
Hm...

I think shifting is much better with my new crank and spider, than it was with my Shimano 6800 crank.
(Shimano chainline 43.5mm. Easton EC90SL + Kent Eriksen CNC machined 110bcd spider is 47mm)
Makes a true difference, no more chain drops, even without chain catcher.

I'm really not sure if 1*11 fill any gap or reason. Mainly, i was 50% bored and 50% curious.
I guess all this hype about 1*11 made me feel i should try what all fuzz is about.

Anyone here been fiddling with different cassettes and chainrings, 1*11 VS 2*11.

Sure, there is not 2 chainrings to shift between, but the cruder gear jumps should be quite noticeable!?
I guess guys with strong legs, won't notice this as much.
(a bit of ranting here,.. i know)

[wheelsONfire]

Can't find the link, but it seems Shimano is already working on a 1*12 system.
Some discussion seemed to have appeared on Eurobike 2017 around this subject.
I wonder if that will be released parted from the 4-5 intervals of DA/UL!?
Also wonder when Sram is going to release 1*12 Road?
Anyone?

[justaute]

wof...how's the 1x experiment going?

[wheelsONfire]

I can't say it was my prefered choice.
I'm rather stuck on 2*11.
I still guess 1*11 won people over due to problems with jumping chains running 2*11.
I think that is solved by a wider chainline.
I went for Easton EC90SL cranks+axle, Kent Eriksens custom CNC spider (110BCD, chainline 46-47mm) and Wickswerks 44/34 CX combo.

I have tried to provoke the chain to jump to see where this actually got me and i can say, this is way better than the 43.5mm Ultegra was.
My issue was that the chain jumped inboards at approximatedly between 12-3 o'clock.
Then it got sucked in bewteen the chainstay and the small chainring.
Really nasty for the frame. It chewed paint to a point i needed to do something before it was deep down carbon instead of paint.
The spider cost $125 but it's worth it. It was 63 grams if you wonder

[reippuert]

I recently aquired my second 1X Sram Force gravel bike, this one is a Specialized Sequoia, and the last one was a Diverge. I planned to put Force 22 on the Diverge, but never did. I have most of the parts here ready to install on the new bike. For me the 1x drivetrain just has too big of gaps between the gears with the 11-42 cassette. I replaced the cassette with a 11-25, and the RD with a short cage Force, and it feels noticably less drag in the drivetrain as well. Which makes since with bigger cogs having more teeth would be more contact points on the chain, and more contact would be more friction.

Don't get me wrong I love my
1x mtbs, but for road, and now gravel it's just not for me. I'll be putting a FD on my Sequoia soon as I find a 2x crankset in the proper length for my preference that fits the wider spacing needed for the wider tire clearence. Does anyone feel similarly?

Nope, 1x is useless for long mixed surface rides - it may provide lowend and decent range but jumps are way too high, especialy when going fast. Jump bewten the 3 smallest cogs (10-12-14t or 11-13-15 are way too high for crusing and finding a decent cadance.

Give me 2x10 on 13-14-15-17-19-21-24-28-32-36 with 50/34 with 32-35mm tyres.
or a reduced/modded. Shimano 11 speed 2x10: 14-15-17-19-21-24-27-31-35-40 with 50/34 on 40-45mm tyres - lowend jumps on the later are seriously nice.

Obs - you need cogs from a cs6600 junior casette (+10 speed spacers) to mod shimano 11/36 and 11/40 casettes to build a decent cassette.
Im surprised no one is yet to offer a decent gravel/adventure/touring casette (wide range with tight top). SRAM 1:1 type 2.2 long gage rear derailure rules as they can be used with both SRAM and Campy road shiters and has a clutch (10 speed as long as you use a 10 speed HG casette spaceing).

[Marin]

Nope, 1x is useless for long mixed surface rides

You mean it's useless for you.

150k with lots of gravel and climbing: https://www.strava.com/activities/1247712468
I ran 36 / 10-42, did a decent average on the road sections and managed to ride basically everything except for the parts where I had to carry the bike. 1x is perfect for me.

[nickf]

Double here. I'm on a compact with a 11-26 out back. Running 38c tires, need any bigger i'll bring the mountain bike. But for me 2x is the most versatile. I can bring the bike up to NC and go up hills or go 25+ on road rides here in flat Florida. With 1x you are compromising something, gear range, speed, cadence. A front derailleur is a pretty simple device and has never let me down. If it comes down to weight, 1x still isn't worth it.

[Marin]

You need a 2x in Florida? You'd need a 4x for the Alps ;O)

[joshpeck]

To me it would totally depend on terrain, and how tight I wanted the gear transitions to be. Drag would be secondary.

[jeanjacques]

Finally find a solution at my problem (low gear and tight ratio): Rotor 3D+ crankset with 46/30 spidering, 429+144g. With an Sram 11-28 cassette: close ratio, low gears and still the 16 teeth cog. Easy to swap the cassette for an 11-32 (or 11-36 ?) for hard gravel use.

Compared to the Sram Force 1 derailleur, the classic Force one is quieter and more easy to adjust well. No problem with front derailleur (Force too), integrated chain spotter for peace of mind.

About the weight, there is no gain with dedicated Sram 1x:

Shifter - derailleur - cassette - chainrings - chain - cable and housing

Force 1 273g - Force 1 256g - XG-1199 10-42 272g - Garbaruk NW 44t 76g - Sram XX1* 252g - 125g
Force 320g - Force rear 170g / front + clamp 96g - XG-1190 11-28 185g - 46-30 120g - KMC X11SL 228g - 150g

1x = 1254g
2x= 1269g

*the only one long enough for 44-42 without use two quick links. 46-28 need a shorter chain.

[nickf]

You need a 2x in Florida? You'd need a 4x for the Alps ;O)

I'm up in TN, NC, SC a lot so having a full range of gears without massive jumps in cadence is great. Plus with the 50t i can do 28+ no problem on the flats without the need to hunting for gears the entire time trying to find a comfortable cadence.

[ProfessorChaos]

Finally find a solution at my problem (low gear and tight ratio): Rotor 3D+ crankset with 46/30 spidering, 429+144g. With an Sram 11-28 cassette: close ratio, low gears and still the 16 teeth cog. Easy to swap the cassette for an 11-32 (or 11-36 ?) for hard gravel use.

Compared to the Sram Force 1 derailleur, the classic Force one is quieter and more easy to adjust well. No problem with front derailleur (Force too), integrated chain spotter for peace of mind.

About the weight, there is no gain with dedicated Sram 1x:

Shifter - derailleur - cassette - chainrings - chain - cable and housing

Force 1 273g - Force 1 256g - XG-1199 10-42 272g - Garbaruk NW 44t 76g - Sram XX1* 252g - 125g
Force 320g - Force rear 170g / front + clamp 96g - XG-1190 11-28 185g - 46-30 120g - KMC X11SL 228g - 150g

1x = 1254g
2x= 1269g

*the only one long enough for 44-42 without use two quick links. 46-28 need a shorter chain.

It would probably even give the lightness nod to the 2x with an 11-25 cassette. I rode my Sequoia today, and I loved the 2x setup. idk if I mentioned it here, but I climbed Mt. Evans a few years back on a 1x Diverge. It was totally doable, but I constantly felt in the wrong gear. Those days are over with my Super Sequoia!

[reippuert]

Nope, 1x is useless for long mixed surface rides

You mean it's useless for you.

150k with lots of gravel and climbing: https://www.strava.com/activities/1247712468
I ran 36 / 10-42, did a decent average on the road sections and managed to ride basically everything except for the parts where I had to carry the bike. 1x is perfect for me.

Mixed terrain = also include fast paved terrain where sub 5-10% gain ratio (small gains) is requred to keep a decent constant cadence depending on gradiet, surface and wind direction. A typical 1x11 setup with a wide cassette means 13-20% gain ratio, espcially the jump between 10t and 12t is just stupid.

[Marin]

Didn't really hold me back though. If you don't have to match a group's speed larger gaps are no problem. Merckx had similar gaps on his bikes as current 1x-cassettes have...

[PyotrGhimme]

Hmmm I love the concept of 1x system. It looks cleaner and simpler etc.. than traditional 2x version huh?. However I am not ready for it because it lacks high gear ratio. In other words, It is definitely slower when you are hammering down a hill than 2x systems. I need at least 41/9=4.5454 (in 2x it is 50/11). unfortunately there's no way to put 9t cog on my wheel. How sad.