I've got a Transition Rapture CX bike, set up in singlespeed. I'd like to put a 1x drivetrain on it and would plan to use it for gravelling. I'd need new drop bar shifters/brake levers, a cassette, a mech, a chain, and crankset. There are half decent cable brakes (TRP Spyres) on there that I can keep. Rear wheel has a HG freehub on it.
Looking to see if there's a viable way of doing this for a couple of hundred quid or so, but not interested in a crap setup. Any thoughts on whether this might be viable, or what might be required to get a decently performing setup? Not wedded to any brand in particular.
I've plenty of mtb knowledge but virtually nothing when it comes to drop bar bikes.
Cheers!
Depends what gear range you want, I think SRAM are still the only show in town when it comes to 1x groupsets. The only other setup I think works is older Shimano 10s shifters, even older Shimano 9s MTB mechs, an mtb 'goatlink' hanger extender, and a wide range 10s cassette from sunrace, ztto or others. Obviously it's a lot easier if all you want is 11-34 then the 12speed Empire group set claims to work with that size cassette.
The Chinese groupsets available on aliexpress seem to get favorable reviews, ranging from being "good for the money" to "why would you pay 3x as much for 105?". There's "Empire Pro Carbon" for 12s mechanical, or Ltwoo RX for 12s mechanical with hydraulic brakes, and Ltwoo now do an eRX version with shimano style semi-wireless electronic shifting.
Having tried a few Chinese cassettes, I'd probably still go with a 105 cassette and chain as that should give the biggest bang/buck. Budget wise that probably means the empire shift levers and mech, the sunrace stuff is fine, I've got one at the moment, but it's a massive step down from shimano even when paired with old-but-excellent Dura ace shifters and mech,
The Chinese groupsets available on aliexpress seem to get favorable reviews, ranging from being “good for the money” to “why would you pay 3x as much for 105?”. There’s “Empire Pro Carbon” for 12s mechanical, or Ltwoo RX for 12s mechanical with hydraulic brakes, and Ltwoo now do an eRX version with shimano style semi-wireless electronic shifting.
I've not long ago taken delivery of an Ltwoo 'GR7' rear mech which amazingly enough talks to a Tiagra 4720 lever allowing me to have a cheapo wider range 1x10 setup, it's alright the mech is solid enough, and does use the shimano road cable pull the AliExpress blurb said it did, however I'd changed the stock Jockeys for a pair Deore 5100 before it left the workstand as the stock N/W Jockeys kept getting a bit snagged up with the chain.
The mech design is clearly cribbed from SRAM's older designs but with a different rear lever arm to adjust it's cable pull and elongated so it can (allegedly) stretch up to a 50t sprocket, I'm only using it on 11-40 and it's certainly got capacity to go much further.
Have a peruse of them on AliExpress (their product naming is a bit confusing), they do a variety of cheap Mechs and levers and I think I'd be tempted for the OP's application to go for their 'A7' 2:1 rear mech with a corresponding old Shimano 9 or 10 speed 2:1 lever (4500, 5700, etc) or even try Ltwoo's 'R5' (9 speed shimano compatible) levers, you'll find various "groupset" options, especially at the cheaper for cable brakes.
But yeah to hit the stated budget I'd go for either 2nd hand shimano levers with a compatible LTwoo mech or give a cheap full Ltwoo "Groupset" a go, probably with a Shimano, SRAM, Microshift or Sunrace Cassette as many of the really cheap AliExpress ones are still a bit hit and miss...
I'd also be tempted to try their 'GR9' (1x11 speed available with hydraulic brakes) offering a go as it's well below equivalent GRX or Rival prices, but there's still a bit of a question mark over finish and Quality there for me...
Bar end Shifter? Microshift do a 10sp MTB shimano compatible one - or you could put a flat-bar shifter on the top of the drops ?
You need a cassette, a rear derailleur and (gasp) a bar end shifter. And some cables. I would not bother with integrated shifters whilst you are just trying gears. A used 10/11 speed bar end shifter will be cheap. Could do the lot for £100.
actually Your other option is a barend shifter and an old 9 speed (2:1 cable pull) MTB mech, keeps braking and drivetrain separated so removing it would be simple to go back to SS, you should be comfortably able to cover an 11-36t cassette with that, possibly an 11-42.
Edit: What Tired said
Obviously it’s down to preference but I found bar end shifters to be awful things.
How about a set of the cheap Force 11 speed shifters from Planet X?
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/GLSRFO22XYZ/sram-force-11-brake-lever--shifter
Then see if you can pick up a rear mech and cassette cheap somewhere.
BTW I run 1x11 with a Gevenalle shifter set up. Cable to mini-Vs and a thumb shifter mounted on the brake lever. Works fine and would be in budget. For cross duties I use their dedicated rear derailleur. That copes with sufficient range but some large gaps are inherent. You'll get lots of CX cred too 😉
https://www.bikemonger.co.uk/gevenalle-326-c.asp
BTW I run 1×11 with a Gevenalle shifter set up.
Yep I was using an older Gevenalle on my 1x10 Gravel bike, but finally decided I wanted 'Brifters' on that bike so went down my current Tiagra/LTwoo rabbit hole.
I have to say despite being a fan of Gevenalle levers, Sti jobs are kinda more intuative/comfortable to use. Thing is Gevenalle, despite being basic, ain't a cheap option really...
My CX bike is just 1x9 4500 Tiagra lever/mech (with a Tektro LH lever) using an 11-34 SRAM Cassette BB5 Road disc, which cost relative peanuts (half the parts were already in my spares bin, the rest are cheaper on eBay now everyone wants 11 and 12 speed) and is perfectly adequate for Fat Dad winter racing...
I've also got 1x10 using friction shifting and a Rapid rise XT mech with a bodged "Gevenalle-esq" lever on my commuter which works well (as in there is no indexing to worry about so it's technically as maintenance free as a derailleur setup could ever be), however I have been tempted to swap this for an indexed barend shifter, to that end I have a pair of 2nd hand SL BS79 levers (DA 2x10 barcons) in the garage, that I should really do something with...
Basically there's lots of ways to do drop-bars and gears on the cheap but you ned to pick a set of compromises if you can't afford modern 11/12 speed and hydraulic discs.
At 11 speed SRAM MTB and road are interchangeable. Cable disc shifters are peanuts second hand. You'll need an inline cable adjuster if you use a MTB rear mech.
Microsoft Advent 10 speed is about £200 for cassette, mech and brifters, 9 speed a bit less and if you go bar end shifter less than £120.
I guess bigger brands and more gears will cost a bit more, using mechs without a clutch probably a bit cheaper. Lots of choices.