Going back from 1x to 2x (Gravel)

I just never bought into the 1x fad.

I changed from 1x11 (40x42) back to 2x10.

42.28 x 11-36 just suited me and my riding far more.

+1 on 1x just does not do it for me on gravel. Properly off road, a properly good climb, any luggage and 1x just is not the range I need without big steps it it.

I just never bought into the 1x fad.

I also have not understood the 650b gravel fad - on a mountain bike 29 rolls better, but on a gravel bike you need it to 'be more flickable'???

Odd.

Yeah, I never got 1x for gravel.

I'm not even convinced by it for mountain bikes.

I also have not understood the 650b gravel fad – on a mountain bike 29 rolls better, but on a gravel bike you need it to ‘be more flickable’???

Depends on your "gravel". Long gravel roads tend to be easier/faster with the bigger wheel. Short, twisty, rooty trails and lots of narrow single-track benefit from the smaller wheel. I've ridden my Amazon with both options in order to inform my opinion.  On many frames, 650 wheels also permit a wider tyre. Much depends on the rider though. Bigger folk with bigger frames might not experience the same as us more compact individuals.

Oh - chunkier tyres on 700c wheels can also restrict luggage carrying capacity for the shorter rider if that's a requirement.

I just never bought into the 1x fad.

For gravel at least.

My Arkrose came with a 48/32, 11-34 setup and its great. So good, I've now got it on my winter road bike.

I’m about to

3 gravel bikes in a row with 1x but my next one is going to be 2x

The problem is trying to apply one line of thinking to everybody else and their riding.  Luckily the kit choices exist to suit everyone.

Ultimately the range of gears between 1x and 2x can be the same so it's just a question of whether you are running ratios that work for what you want to do, and if you dislike the gaps between gears.

For me personally I think its made very little difference whether I've been on 3x, 2x or 1x.

I think we did this on another thread recently? Personally I'm almost considering going the other way as my riding/fitness/gearing seems to mean I spend a lot of time in the big ring but crossed over to the top half of the cassette, or the little ring but down in the bottom half of the cassette! I might as well just go 1x and enjoy marginally better chainline most of the time 🙄

1x fad.

Can a fad last 30 years? Been running 1 X since the 90s

I changed from 1×11 (40×42) back to 2×10.

42.28 x 11-36 just suited me and my riding far more.

Yeah I'm currently using 38/11-40 and while its an overall OK range for riding without much luggage, there's an annoying jump from Gear 8 to 9 and that lowest ratio doesn't quite cut it once you're loaded up (and a bit tired).

I'm thinking I'd go 40/26 perhaps with an 11-36 or 11-34 Cassette to get a useful enough range with the 'big' ring in sensible steps, and get some helpful "bailout" ratios for climbing in the granny ring.

My sums say I'll get ~100" to ~20" (on 700 x 40c).

I'm toying with a couple of ways of operating the front mech too as I don't currently have a LH STi lever (I do have a spare LH Barcon and another friction lever I could mount "suicide" style or elsewhere on the frame/bar/stem, for simplicity's sake and infinite trimming)...

I just never bought into the 1x fad.

I'm not unhappy with 1x, I'm still into the 'Fad' it still makes sense in many ways, but on this specific bike, for the way I want to use it going forwards (more distance and luggage carrying) I can see merit to a sub-compact 2x setup. I don't think the use of Front mechs (or not) has to be such a polarised thing.

My other option would probably be to just throw money at a new bike with fancy pants 1x12 and a monster cassette, but I'm a skinflint.

I'm soon to be moving from 34/50 11-32 to 40 10-44 I guess I'll find out if this single ring thing is any cop

I ride 1x11 on my gravel bike and recently went from a 42t round ring to a 38t oval and have really enjoyed the easier gears and haven't really noticed the top end speed reduction (maybe I'm just slow).

But I have thought about a double for big days out in the highlands or when bike packing. From my experience of multiple chainrings in the past, I found I could sometimes get in a no mans land between the two rings. So I think if going to a double, I'd want them to mostly overlap the gears to prevent more regular front gear changes.

I think ultimately a triple is best for gear range and general usage but those days have well gone.

Small ring for climb
Big ring for descending
Middle ring for the other 90% of the time.

Chainrings are too big on 1x gravel. 40t chainring with a 11-42 cassette just doesn't give you the low gears.  A 12 speed gravel bike with 34/36 10-50 is what you want, yeah just get a hardtail. As matt_outandabout  said, 29er roll so much better.

I'd want to stick with 2x as my gravel bike is the bike I ride on road too. If it was purely for off-road 1x would be fine, but I like the closer ratios on the tarmac. Nice to see this is still an option on the latest GRX, means it'll be possible for a good few years yet.

Even on a MTB that does proper XC/long distance rides 1x doesn't really work for me, it lacks the top end and has horrible gaps. Best drivetrain I've ever had was full XT 2x10 with 26/36 and 11-36 cassette on an On One Scandal.

Fully paid up 2X gravel lover. Currently on 50/34 front chainring with an 11-34, but may downsize to 48/31 for bikepacking loaded & for steeper hills.

The cynic in me thinks 1X gravel is here because Sram couldn't make a 2x cable front mech that worked properly with doubletap.

2x11 Gravel and 2x10 & 3x11 MTBs here. I just cannot get my head around what 1x is trying to achieve.

I know it makes some design options possible on big bouncy bikes, but not needed for CX/Gravel/Road.

I just cannot get my head around what 1x is trying to achieve.

To be fair, it is less maintenance, lighter, cheaper and simpler...

I was wondering this the other day with the new grx 12 so I did the maths.

1x:

• 40 10x51, 4 to 0.78m

2x:

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• 31 11x36, 2.82 to 0.86
• 48 11x36, 4.36 to 1.33

So, yes a slightly bigger range on 2x but not a whole lot at either end. I think the bigger difference is the closer gear steps will be better if you are more road based

Chainrings are too big on 1x gravel. 40t chainring with a 11-42 cassette just doesn’t give you the low gears

38t X 11-51 since GRX came out. Plenty low enough for me and I'm heavy and unfit

...cheaper...

Hardly when wide range 12 speed cassettes cost what they do!

Got a 1x on my MTB as thats what new bikes have but otherwise 1x is fine for flat TTs or maybe CX if your local series doesn't have mud or long steep climbs. Otherwise 2x all the way although if I could get 3x in hydro road brakes I would. Why?

1)It is simpler. No stupd clutch mech or silly N/W rings.

2) Tougher. No ground dragging rear mech.

3) Closer ratios = better pedalling

4. Bet you weight will be as good. Small cassettes with  alloy chain rings .

5. No reason why a front mech can't be made to work with a a silly wide BB.

6. Going against the grain is good.

7. Cheaper cassettes

8. If you are not  clever enough to deal with a front mech you are not helping the human gene pool.

My commuter gravel bike is 48/31 on 11/34.  It works well and the parts are cheap at GRX/Ultegra level, but on my proper gravel bikes, I find 1x just fine.  42t on 11/40 and I can get up and along stuff including mud, roots and yes, gravel.  The other is 46t on 10/44 and I haven’t tried that off-road much yet.

Hardtail is 34 on 10/45, Full sus is 32 on 10/50.

road bike is 52/34 on 11/32.

The real benefit of 1x gearing is being able to adjust your gears quickly without looking to see what gear you're in. No dropped or grinding chains from trying to quickly change gears at both ends. When I ride my road bike, I'm always looking down making sure I'm in the right gear, I loathe cross chaining, especially that chain rub noise.

I've noticed that a fair few of my local club riders tend to ride the vast majority of time in the big ring and will often cross chain, only changing the front gear when at the end of it's range. The noise of several bikes cross chaining up a hill puts my teeth on edge 😬

The reason for 1x is that we all went from 3x to 2x and that left us constantly changing gear at the front, which is generally annoying. 1x fixes that, but 3x gives you the best of both options.

I recall being shouted down by a Singletrack writer in the past when I wrote that 1x was 'the Emperor's New Clothes'.

I do however have 2 bikes that are 1x...

- the Brompton, as that's got 6 out back, so enough for that one.

- the gravel bike ....because its got a 14 speed  Rohloff hub. If I'd not got that big range on the Rohloff, I'd absolutely be on 2x

I guess it all depends on what you want to achieve with the bike. Local trails, I’d be happy with 1x especially with the new GRX 12 spd. I went 2X for my Fairlight to give the range of gears for loaded touring. I’m really happy with it

Aye - likely more of an issue for those who are limited to one bike which needs to do "everything". I mean I've a singlespeed, but only because I have other options 🙂

The reason for 1x is that we all went from 3x to 2x and that left us constantly changing gear at the front, which is generally annoying. 1x fixes that, but 3x gives you the best of both options.

I went to 2x by removing the big rings from my bikes and replacing them with a bashguard. I generally run 26-36 steel Deore rings so there's enough top end for cruising on road. I change gears at the front less than I did with 3x, I use the big ring exclusively on road and drop to the little ring only for very steep climbing sections.

As an aside,

on a mountain bike 29 rolls better, but on a gravel bike you need it to ‘be more flickable’???

Does one "mullet" ones gravel bike?

Of course 1x is not a fad - it is a very good choice for a lot of people. I even used 1x on the road until I got bored of gears again so now just ride 1x1.

If you ride roads and gravel which are not overly hilly you can run 1x with a small range cassette - I was happy running 45 chainring with an 11 - 26 cassette so none of those jumps between gears that people moan about but all the gears I needed.

If you ride in mountains with a fully loaded touring bike then 1x may not be quite as good...

I’ve bought a new gravel bike with 40 11-42 and am now having the same thoughts. Thought I would try either a 38 ring or 11-46 cassette but not sure if my rival 1 derailleur can handle it, any opinions on which way to go?

I just never bought into the 1x fad.

[swoons/]

nickcFull Member
I just never bought into the 1x fad.
[swoons/]

You know that character loses that argument, right?

As a side note the one I've just ordered is 40t with 10-44 so I've lost a top gear and gained a bottom gear but lost some of the closer spacings so in theory I should be good, time will tell, its going to replace my rival 22 set up which tbh has been brilliant   I just fancied a change

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Noto Sans', sans-serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">2×11 Gravel and 2×10 & 3×11 MTBs here. I just cannot get my head around what 1x is trying to achieve.</span>

Is that because you've never actually rode with 1x?

It's got to be 10 years since I've used 3x11 on an MTB, and at least 8 years since I moved onto 1x - it just works brilliantly for MTB, no way would I go back.

And for gravel the only weakness is a lack of top end, but then I could fix that on my current bike by just moving to a wider range cassette and adding a couple of teeth to the front ring.

we definately all ride totally different stuff,

camino runs 40t 11/46t GRX, unladen i've only ever felt i've needed high gears on tarmac, but it speeds along happily. climbs well.

i never get the comment surely a 29er hardtail will ride better, for west yorks i find my gravel ** rides quicker over smoother terrain than my arc 29er, when its lumpier, i prefer a full sus to track the ground uphill.

not much in it on a mixed XC ride

if i was more tarmac orientated i'd definately go 2x

3x now that was a right pain looking back

** disclaimer i have a rs rudy on gravel bike :0)

we definately all ride totally different stuff,

camino runs 40t 11/46t GRX, unladen i’ve only ever felt i’ve needed high gears on tarmac, but it speeds along happily. climbs well.

Indeed.
I just did our three day tour with luggage and 'needed' my 2x extra low gearing and nice even spacing - but mrs_oab did the same tour next to me with a bar bag and frame bag and didn't feel she was missing out at all... 🤷‍♂️

@matt_outandabout yep laden up i can see the need for lower gears for hilly areas. I've never been fussed for even cassette spacing, i tend to bang through gears 2 at a time and change my cadence up and down.

in terms of hills i ride circa 2k metres a week on 65-70 mile so don't mind a climb but someone living in flatlands is going to want a bigger top speed for local riding, and then may struggle on proper hills

age is a big factor too, cant get the heart rate up like i could even 5 years ago. bigger gears for the future :0)

we definately all ride totally different stuff...

Very much ^^this^^, and basically why I started this thread.
I wasn't really looking for a 1x bashfest, (but the same old suspects need to vent I suppose), I was actually interested in how people have found going 'back' to 2x and why they chose to, specifically on gravel bikes (Drop-barred on and off-road type bikes) I don't really care about people's MTBs or road bikes in this context.

The bike in question has a relatively basic 1x10 setup, and has been run 1x since I assembled it several years ago, the overall gear range is currently 95-26 'gear inches' while that is a modest range by current standards it's actually not bad for doing my local loops and a bit of distance (say 100 miles in a day) and could probably do more but it's limitations start to become apparent the further I go and the more luggage I mount on it...

I have options of course, 2x isn't the default (Hence this thread):
I could simply fit a smaller ring up front (the cheapest, easiest option) but I'd lose the taller gears for chopping along on the flat/roads.
I could opt for a wider range cassette but the increments get bigger and potentially more annoying as I'm still on 10 speed and don't really want to buy new levers as well.
And I could buy more sprockets (go to 11 or 12 speed) but that's even more cost and I might as well buy a new bike at that point TBH (Maybe I do need to consider a new bike further).

I've worked up a basic range comparison spreadsheet (there's always a spreadsheet 😉 ) and on that basis the various 1x10 options don't look terrible (changing ring and/or cassette sizes to eek out more range), but at the same time a relatively narrow range cassette (say 11-32 or 11-34) with a 'sub-compact' 2x setup looks quite good too, and I could start using Road mechs too if I wanted, it broadens my possible component choices if I don't need a mech that can stretch across a monster cassette.

So I still find myself mulling the idea of going 2x10 on my gravel bike due to my slowly changing use over time, I don't absolutely need to, I have viable, easier, cheaper options which would cost less and be simpler to reverse, But I can at least see the merits of the 2x option.

Does one “mullet” ones gravel bike?

i'm a little dissapointed the singlespeeder's havent been onto say you only need one gear for all conditions.

I’ve went back to 2x on my gravel bike.
not to get bigger gears, although i did,

not to get smaller gears, no change there,

but to reduce the gaps between in between.

on my mtb, I still use 2x, but geared such that I would spin out at 19/20mph, and i have plenty of low gears.
20 might not sound that fast, but it works really well For Me.

Same as above, range was never really a problem on my old Boardman CX even with a 42 to 10-42 on the back. I just never felt in the right gear. I also vowed never again to Rival as I simply couldn't get the shifting to work smoothly for any length of time.

Now on 2* GRX800 and it's just a better experience all round. Getting the front mech set up nicely couldn't really be much easier either, certainly far better than sodding around with Rival.

Some bikes are 1x, in order to achieve greater chainstay clearance, for bigger tyres.
Check that a 2x chainstay doesn't foul the chainstays

I just cannot get my head around what 1x is trying to achieve.
To be fair, it is less maintenance, lighter, cheaper and simpler…

Simpler, yes. Fact. I can't see the first two, though. For there to be less of something doesn't there have to be an amount of it to start with? Opinion is divided on here about weight, but that's not something I particularly trouble myself with. My bikes are dominated by payload 😉

Some bikes are 1x, in order to achieve greater chainstay clearance, for bigger tyres.
Check that a 2x chainstay doesn’t foul the chainstays

I'm halfway through changing my gravel bike to 1X, because although you can nominally ride it with a double, and there's no fouling, I got horrendous chainsuck.

Anyone know if a cervelo aspero can take a 2x standard rival dub (double) chainset?  Looking at getting one, but probably want to convert to to 2x as I have a spare rival power crankset and do a fair whack of road stuff too, so 40/10 is a bit too easy (and soon will have some spare bits of rival axs)..

Guess there's two questions there: Anyone know if the aspero takes a "wide" crankset or normal? And then if it's normal, will it fit a 48/35 chainset?   Quite niche questions, but a total pain to figure out googling!  I see you can get a 2xGRX aspero, so it must be able to take a double, just not sure sram 48/35..