Going from 1x to 2x (for gravel and in general)

[benadrian]

Apologies if this has been asked or discussed. I tried searching, but I got error for using too many common words.

In this thread I talk about putting Di2 on my road bike
https://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=311396
I'm really liking it, and I'm specifically appreciating being on 2x for road riding.

Before I got my road bike, I'd been using a Salsa Warbird with SRAM XPLR (1x) as a road and gravel bike. I swap wheels and it has worked pretty well. For gravel, it's fantastic. For road, it's fine. Now that I have 2x on a nice road bike though, the 1x road limitations are becoming more apparent. I feel like the extreme chain lines, the bigger cog jumps, and the narrow/wide front ring is a notable detriment now that I have a comparison. I don't know how much is real and how much I'm imagining.

So I'm wondering if anyone has switched back to 2x for gravel after being on 1x for a while? If I went 43/30 and 10-36 for front and rear, I'd have more range on both ends. I suppose the only worry would be complications from rugged terrain on a 2x setup. What are your experiences with "switching back."

Thanks!

[Jcgill]

I still prefer 2x for gravel, especially if it will pull double duty as a road bike. I think i would be ok with 1x if I exclusively used my gravel bike for single track type adventures.

[fa63]

I tried 1x for a little while but didn't care for it for similar reasons. I currently ride the combo you described (43/30 chainrings with 10/36 cassette) and have nothing but positive things to say. I have never dropped a chain and some of the gravel rides I do are on the more "rugged" side

[tellyho]

I only do 2x for any bike that will be moving over 14mph.

[biker72]

All of my bikes are 2X. Never got the 1X bug.

[XXtwindad]

Originally Posted by benadrian

Apologies if this has been asked or discussed. I tried searching, but I got error for using too many common words.

In this thread I talk about putting Di2 on my road bike
https://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=311396
I'm really liking it, and I'm specifically appreciating being on 2x for road riding.

Before I got my road bike, I'd been using a Salsa Warbird with SRAM XPLR (1x) as a road and gravel bike. I swap wheels and it has worked pretty well. For gravel, it's fantastic. For road, it's fine. Now that I have 2x on a nice road bike though, the 1x road limitations are becoming more apparent. I feel like the extreme chain lines, the bigger cog jumps, and the narrow/wide front ring is a notable detriment now that I have a comparison. I don't know how much is real and how much I'm imagining.

So I'm wondering if anyone has switched back to 2x for gravel after being on 1x for a while? If I went 43/30 and 10-36 for front and rear, I'd have more range on both ends. I suppose the only worry would be complications from rugged terrain on a 2x setup. What are your experiences with "switching back."

Thanks!

1X is great for an MTB where everything is either up or down (at least where I live)

Road or gravel bike = 2X. Hands down.

[benadrian]

Originally Posted by XXtwindad

1X is great for an MTB where everything is either up or down (at least where I live)

Road or gravel bike = 2X. Hands down.

Most gravel rides in the L.A. area are basically MTB rides on the utility truck trails; still either up or down. However, I also use this bike for brevets and centuries, where I just want a nice 'n' easy road bike that feels more like a highway cruiser rather than a sports car.

Also, I don't go above 45mm for tires, so I think I can get away with the SRAM 2x wide.

I'm feeling a 2x.

[Alistair]

I went back to 2x after trying 1x on gravel. Much prefer the 2x for the riding I do (East coast gravel, with lots of pavement thrown in).

If I was on the west coast riding forest roads and not much pavement, 1x might be better.

I tried 1x with a 40x10-42, then a 42x10-42. For road segments, sometimes in faster groups, the gaps were annoying and top-end wasn't there.

Now my all-road bike has 33/46 x 10-33. It sees 90% pavement, with some light gravel thrown in.

And the gravel bike has 30/43 x 10-36. It sees 70% gravel, with 30% pavement riding to/from the fun stuff.

Both are used in group rides/events regularly. If I was rolling solo most of the time, or bikepacking, 1x would likely be fine (maybe even preferable).

[Duvivr6]

I'll echo what other have mentioned.

I tried 1x on my GRX gravel bike with a 40 or 42 up front and a 11-42 out back. It was alright, I live in mountainous terrain where we can do 3k to 4k ft in a 50 miles ride.

Much prefer the 2x 48/31 and an 11-40 cassette. It's just more flexible and better geared for gravel IMO. 1x is good for simplicity but I'm happy with 2x.

[prototoast]

I really like 1x with a 48t front and a 10-52 rear. Chain lines aren't perfect, but range is great.

But barring that, 2x is fine too.

[hkgmatt]

Originally Posted by XXtwindad

1X is great for an MTB where everything is either up or down (at least where I live)

My MTB from the 90s is still 3X. Don’t know how I could live with less.

[thwart]

Originally Posted by hkgmatt

My MTB from the 90s is still 3X. Don’t know how I could live with less.

There’s a lot to be said for triples. This 46/36/26 triple (with a 12-27 cassette) allows me to climb little used fire roads like this, tackle some tamer single track… and yet not have my wife drop me on the paved roads when we get to a longer downhill stretch. And I love those nice small gaps in gearing.

[tellyho]

Originally Posted by thwart

There’s a lot to be said for triples. This 46/36/26 triple (with a 12-27 cassette) allows me to climb little used fire roads like this, tackle some tamer single track… and yet not have my wife drop me on the paved roads when we get to a longer downhill stretch. And I love those nice small gaps in gearing.

I like taking the triple and dropping the middle ring - 46/26 x 11-28 is a great setup.

[rothwem]

I really enjoy the simplicity and ease of cleaning that comes with a 1x setup, so it’s better for getting dirty. I agree about its downsides on the road though, and I much prefer 2x on the road.

I’d probably go 2x on gravel if the terrain I rode on somehow didn’t get my bike dirty. As it is though, my gravel bike is filthy after each ride and being able to just derail the chain off the front ring and let it hang while I do a quick scrubby scrub is really really nice.

[prototoast]

Originally Posted by thwart

There’s a lot to be said for triples. This 46/36/26 triple (with a 12-27 cassette) allows me to climb little used fire roads like this, tackle some tamer single track… and yet not have my wife drop me on the paved roads when we get to a longer downhill stretch. And I love those nice small gaps in gearing.

I'm glad it works for you, but it's crazy to me that one can have three chainrings and still such a low min/max range. This is basically the same range as a 42 chainring with an 11-42 cassette--which is standard on stock builds, but something I find a little lacking.