[Closed] Gravel 1x11 - Lower gearing

There are lots of gear calculators online that you can use to work out the ratios etc.

If you go too low then you'll lose a lot of speed on the fast road sections. If you look at  the terrain where you usually ride, then that should inform your decision. It also depends on how often you'll be riding with a trailer etc..

The gaps in your cassette are all between 11 and 24%. Going from 46 to 44T is less than 5% so it's less than half of your smallest shift at the back. So I'd say no, not significant.

40 to 46 is 15% so that's one average sized shift at the back.

I'm running a 34 chainring with an 11-34 cassette on a gravel bike. For big, steep, off road climbs that's not quite low enough but I find it gives a high enough gear that I don't spin out too much on the road.

It's all personal preference/type of riding dependent though.

I would say a 42 front would be the sweet spot with that rear cassette.

I'm quite a strong climber, but still find 1:1 too high when getting into the loose-stuff on 20% uphills where I prefer to stay in the saddle to assist with grip, never mind towing a trailer. Don't know what terrain you're riding, I'd be looking for the lowest gear as pushing a bike and trailer uphill would be no fun IMO - you can always coast the downhills.

This is why gravel bikes should have a front mech.

Or just go single speed and embrace cycling in the wrong gear at all times.

Or go 10-50 at the back (but you will need a new freehub).

For a mountain bike it makes sense, for a gravel bike, I'm not so sure.

Aye 1x, the solution looking for a problem...

Sorry not helpful I know. Didn't work in pro racing either despite the marketeers protestations...

Go 2x (or 3x) you'll have zero range problems. I double guarantee it. 👍

Yeah sorry, if you have the cash and the inclination I think 2x is the answer, I'm running 48/31 GRX with 11-36, the lowest gear is still comedy low for my definition of gravel (e.g. not muddy singletrack climbing!) and yet 48x11 is almost pointlessly high. In fact I should probably have gone 46/30.

Plus lighter and cheaper cassettes!

42t with 11-42 would be a common choice with that cassette on a cx bike - it's what I'm running on mine and it's still quite speedy on road/flat sections

shimano are now doing a deore 11-51 cassette

42t with 11-42 would be a common choice with that cassette on a cx bike

My CX bike came with 38t with 11-36 - and having run that for a couple of months I have come to the conclusion that 42t + 11-42 would be perfect (tiny bit more at the top and a fair bit more at the bottom). Unfortunately, when I priced it up I'd be looking at ~£350 for a cassette that doesn't weigh a ton, a higher capacity mech and a new chain. Can't justify that till everything is knackered unfortunately!

For a mountain bike it makes sense, for a gravel bike, I’m not so sure.

Yeah, I think it's borderline. I've got 42 x 11/40. I do find myself wanting a little more bottom end for long steep climbs, but don't really want to lose any top end for the road stuff.

By comparison I find 36 x 11/36 perfect for CX racing.

Aye, it depends on what you call gravel, the steepness of the trails you use, the amount of road required to link them up and your personal strength and cadence preferences. Unfortunately, fashion is removing choice.

[i]42t with 11-42 would be a common choice [/]

Thats the same 1-1 ratio as the OPs 46x11-46 (and my 42x11-42)

1x is here to stay on my bike, but as others have hinted, you need a slightly lower gear than 1:1 for steep climbing on a laden bike.

I find it really helpful to have a list of your gear ratios, it means I can generally gear a bike or singlespeed pretty accurately as I can compare to other bikes...I chose to use Sheldon Browns 'Gear Inches'. From that I know I'd like to have a climbing gear on my gravel bike of around 1.9

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Thanks for the input all. Agree a 2x set up would suit me best, but I'll be sticking with 1x as I don't want to shell out for all the kit needed. I do like the simplicity of 1x and it's only when on trailer duty I struggle.

Will try a 40 for the next outing and see how I get on.

This is always worth a mention on threads like this:
https://www.gear-calculator.com/

Allows you to compare 2 setups which is dead handy!

For info, I run 42t with 11-40 and find that great, but I agree I'd probably want to go a bit lower if 'towing'!

I’ve been using 42t ring on 10-42 cassette for a while. Its fine for the majority of my riding (old railway line type cycle routes), but I’ve found it just a bit too high when I ride on hillier routes. Swapped to 40t chainring a few weeks ago and it seems a much more useable range on undulating rides.

For context, I’m late 50’s and legs are definitely weaker than 30 years ago! I guess if you’re a fairly regular rider and reasonably strong of leg, 40t will be spot on for towing.

2x just worked.

Remember the days when you could ride up any hill in your small cog at the front and then knock the chain onto the big ring and overtake roadies when you are on the road on your way home?

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/gear-calc.html says that swapping the 46T chainring for a 38T gives you a top gear close to 46/13 (94.4 vs 96.7 gear inches), while 38/37 is just a bit harder than your current 46/46 (28.1 vs 27.3), so you effectively gain a single easier gear of 38/46 (22.6GI).

My Voodoo Wazoo, when it has the rear mech cable running, has 24/38T chainrings with 8-speed 11-30 cassette. This gives me approx 22.9-98.7 gear inches range with 4" Jumbo Jim rear fitted.