GX Eagle 12s for gravel build...Yea or Nay?

[559Rando]

I'm planning a gravel build and this deal from The Bikesmith looks like a killer price:

https://www.thebikesmiths.com/products/9487-13645-13646

I hadn't planned to go to 12...but I got shorted by the framebuilder and want to finish this build on a shoestring.

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[bigbill]

The challenge would be the shifter which you might be able to bar-end. 1X is pretty common in the gravel world. I used to do gravel events with a guy who rode XTR 1X11 with a shifter below the bar tops. He could have used an STI lever but decided to go on the cheap plus gravel routes for the most part don't have a ton of shifting.

[mtechnica]

Flat bar or drop bars? 1x is dumb for drop bars but good on flat bar MTBs IMO

[bikinchris]

SRAM parts go back and forth between MTB and road because the shifters and derailleurs use 1 to 1 pull ratio. However, only AXS is currently 12 speed on the road.

[559Rando]

I'm planning to use some Nitto Albatross bars.

Also am I a daggum fool for wanting to use a grip shift? Should I just use a trigger shifter?

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[Jaybee]

I can't say for sure if gripshift plays well with the hand position of Albatross, but I sure like it on my fat bike.

I also really like the 50t big cog. I thought I was fine with 46, never really noticed a need for 50 bit now I would never give it back.