Gravel RD Question

[rmk]

Hello,

Related to another thread, I am working on making my all-road bike more dirt focused, and one of the steps is widening the gear range. I currently have 11 speed SRAM Red with a 11X28 and 50X34. I want to rock the 38 gravel kings so want a bit more ability to spin up steep stuff with big tires.

As I understand it, I could:

1. Buy a Force RD, potentially a new chain and a 11X32 cassette.

2. Buy a Force CX RD, put on a 40 or 42 chain ring, remove other chain ring, potentially get a new chain and a 11X36 or I guess 11X40 or 11X42 cassette. Basically, move to a 1X but keep current shifters and crank.

3. Find and buy a 10-speed SRAM MTB RD, potentially a new chain and a mountain cassette (think it is 11 speed but not sure). This is perhaps the easier path to a clutch-DR.

Do people have thoughts on the best approach? I am leaning toward (3) because I already get chain slap with the 11X28 and option (1) could lead to more. But I've also heard that the chain slap problem doesn't really get solved by the clutch, and I do have a little bit of the "don't needlessly create a frankenbike" concern.

Thanks for your thoughts,

Ryan--

[CMiller]

You could also do a subcompact crankset like a White Industries

[tctyres]

I'd start with just the cassette and go from there, switch it either to a 32 or 34T max. I don't know much about SRAM, but a lot of "road" derailleurs will shift a 32 now, and squeezing a 34 out of them isn't a problem.

I tend to do things incrementally: low cost and you know what you are switching, so where the differences are.

Fyi, there was just a thread on this a week or two ago.

[unterhausen]

I use a SRAM mtb RD and road shifters on my gravel bike, which is 10 speed. Cross compatibility always confuses me.

[prototoast]

I use Force 22 shifters with a 10 speed GX 2x10 derailleur, and honestly the shift quality isn't great. Maybe the problem is me, but I just can't get it shifting as smoothly as bikes I've set up with Sram road derailleurs or Force CX 1x.

[bikinchris]

My touring bike is 10 speed and uses a XX rear derailleur with no problem whatsoever shifting an 11-36. Mix and match SRAM 10 with 10 and 11 with 11 speed all you want as long as you meet specs for wrap and max tooth, you will be fine.

[Bentley]

So some of the MTB 11 speed are compatible with Road shifters because of Direct Actuation. I have a current model XX01 and it plays nice with Force 10

[jtbadge]

My touring bike is 10 speed and uses a XX rear derailleur with no problem whatsoever shifting an 11-36. Mix and match SRAM 10 with 10 and 11 with 11 speed all you want as long as you meet specs for wrap and max tooth, you will be fine.

This, obviously with the caveat that your shifters, cassette, and chain all need to match speeds.

[Bentley]

This, obviously with the caveat that your shifters, cassette, and chain all need to match speeds.

The 11 speed is compatible with the 10 speed shifters.

[jtbadge]

The 11 speed is compatible with the 10 speed shifters.

Read the post again. You can use whatever derailleurs you want, but your shifters, chain, and cassette have to match speeds. 10 speed shifters won’t shift over an 11 speed cassette, or vice versa. Mismatching chain speds will always shift poorly.

[Bentley]

Read the post again. You can use whatever derailleurs you want, but your shifters, chain, and cassette have to match speeds. 10 speed shifters won’t shift over an 11 speed cassette, or vice versa. Mismatching chain speds will always shift poorly.

That’s not true. The current XXO works as a 10 speed with 10 speed shifters, you need to check that out