Gravel Gearing

[Cat3roadracer]

Good Afternoon,

I question for the folks who know much more about this topic than I do.

I have a new to me gravel bike that I like very much, Mosaic GT-1.

Here is what it came with - Force AXS XPLR, 10-36. Single ring 42T.

While this is nice on the paved bike path, climbing on loose gravel is difficult.

My question - bigger cassette, or smaller ring?

What would your ideal set up be, assuming I am only replacing front or rear.

Thanks, Dave

GO RED STORM!!!

[prototoast]

42 is the smallest I would ever go for a chainring for gravel. I actually like 44 or 46 more.

But definitely a bigger cassette. 10-44 minimum and 10-50/52 is even better.

[snguyen268]

With XPLR, you can go to 44T max, I believe. I would definitely max out on that and switch to 10-44T. Your easiest gear would then be 42/44 = 0.95, which is ~20% easier than your current 42/36=1.16.

For reference, I am running eagle rear derailleur so 10-52 in the back, 46 in the front.

[GregL]

That answer we all hate: it depends. I'd definitely recommend a wider-range cassette. For climbing steep, loose gravel, a 1:1 or even small gearing will likely be needed. If you're racing, you'll likely want to keep a 4:1 or greater large gear. Since I like both options AND reasonably close gear ratios, I (shudder...) continue to run 2X chainrings (46/34) and a medium-wide cassette (11/34).

Greg

[Dave]

A 10-44 works with the xplr RD. Any bigger requires a new RD and cassette matching chain.

The 10-44 loses the 12, the 36 becomes a 38 and the 44 is added. Still needs 2 inch longer chain. You get a lot lower gear with the 10-44. The new 1251 model has the smallest 4 sprockets machined from one piece of metal. I found some on sale for under $130.

https://www.excelsports.com/sram-xpl...BoCuAYQAvD_BwE

[rowebr]

As you get into more “epic” rides and climbs, having a really low bailout gear is great. Not much downside to it.

you can also work on your technique for climbing out of the saddle without the rear wheel slipping out. I learned by necessity on my single speed, but then found myself grinding slowly uphill out of saddle on my geared gravel bike as well. There’s more than one way to ride those steep gravel climbs!

[Alistair]

Yep, 10-44 XPLR cassette with a new chain (assuming the current one is sized correctly) is the easiest change. You should still be able to run the 10-36 on your road wheels (if you have a second set).

Alternatively, if you want really wide gearing, swap the RD for a GX or X01 AXS and run a 10-52 cassette (and keep the 42t ring or possibly step up to a 44 or 46 if you need more top end speed). This is really only needed for bikepacking or when your gravel is closer to mountain bike terrain. And it obviously gets costly.

[Dave]

If you want really low 2x gearing.

https://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=300474

[Cat3roadracer]

Originally Posted by Dave

A 10-44 works with the xplr RD. Any bigger requires a new RD and cassette matching chain.

The 10-44 loses the 12, the 36 becomes a 38 and the 44 is added. Still needs 2 inch longer chain. You get a lot lower gear with the 10-44. The new 1251 model has the smallest 4 sprockets machined from one piece of metal. I found some on sale for under $130.

https://www.excelsports.com/sram-xpl...BoCuAYQAvD_BwE

Thanks very much for this info. Cassette and chain ordered.

[AngryScientist]

I use 38tF and 11-42 rear.

[tellyho]

My low gear is generally a little lower than 1:1. 34/36 on 2 bikes, 24/28 on another. I have 32x11-50 on a hardtail and I almost never use the 50.

[tellyho]

My low gear is generally a little lower than 1:1. 34/36 on 2 bikes, 24/28 on another. I have 32x11-50 on a hardtail and I almost never use the 50.

Edit: forgot I have GRX on one bike, so 30/36

[raisinberry777]

It will always depend on how hilly the area you're riding is and your preference for cadence.

On my previous bike, my gearing was a 34/46 front and 11-36 rear. 46/11 is enough of a high gear (and same as 42-10 if you're running 1x). 34/36 was not enough of a low gear - if I was doing it again, the inner ring at the front would go down to a 30 (if I was running 2x), or if I had a 1x with 42t at the front, I'd use a 10-50 cassette at the rear.

Here's a comparison of 2x vs 1x for the same range (46/30 with 11-36 vs 42 with 10-50):

https://gear-calculator.com/?GR=DERS...42,50&UF2=2220

[Hilltopperny]

My XPLR set up is 40t up front and 10-44 cassette. My Mosaic is set up with a 44t up front and 10-50 rear with Eagle RD.

Sent from my Pixel 6a using Tapatalk

[mattscq]

Originally Posted by Hilltopperny

My XPLR set up is 40t up front and 10-44 cassette. My Mosaic is set up with a 44t up front and 10-50 rear with Eagle RD.

Sent from my Pixel 6a using Tapatalk

I also had 40T x 10-44 (until I swapped it out for a 9-45 when there was a used deal for an e-thirteen which I mostly did out of vanity because it looked cooler and was more lightweight). Gearing wise I don’t notice a huge change since I never go that fast on gravel and if I’m spinning out on a tarmac descent I’m spinning out anyway. I did D2R2 on 40 9-45 and was able to stay out of the 45t for most of it and I probably would’ve been fine with 44.

Weird they shipped you Xplr with a 10-36. 42 is rather large and presumably your bike was more geared as a 1x road or trail? Long story short, a 10-44 cassette probably isn’t that much more than a new sram or wolftooth chainring and it would give you more range right away and you don’t really need such close spacing off road anyway. It’s annoying that you may need a new chain though if it’s not long enough for the 44.

I would get a 10-44 first and if it’s still too tough, then start playing around with the front. Maybe 40 or 38