Mech Gravel group with cable brakes

[merckx]

I am considering cobbling together a drop bar gravel bike with mechanical shifting and a single chain ring. I also am considering using Paul Klamper cable actuated brakes.

Are there any mechanical shift levers that are also brake cable actuated?

The bottom line is that I want a wide range gear selection, preferably with a single chain ring, but I don't want batteries or fluid.

Thoughts?

[shoota]

You mean like most every group except for di2 and AXS?

But most any Sram 1X group would work too.

GRX is probably your best bet here. <- nvm

[Wattvagen]

Yes, this describes any mechanical rim brake group.

[spoonrobot]

What chainring and how big cassette?

Originally Posted by shoota

You mean like most every group except for di2 and AXS?

GRX is probably your best bet here. But most any Sram 1X group would work too.

GRX is only hydraulic

[jtbadge]

Originally Posted by shoota

You mean like most every group except for di2 and AXS?

GRX is probably your best bet here. But most any Sram 1X group would work too.

GRX only comes with levers for hydraulic brakes, so you’ll have to substitute 11 speed DA/Ultegra/105 levers

[veloduffer]

SRAM AXS comes in mechanical and hydraulic versions. I set up two of my bikes with Yokozuna and Juintech mechanical calipers with SRAM eTap AXS. They work great.

At BikeTiresDirect: SRAM Force mechanical ; looks like they have one left. They also have RED level set as well.

Edit: I didn't see the "no battery" in the OP. But SRAM is one of the easiest to set up since it doesn't have any wires. The shifters work with their XPLR and Eagle derailleurs if you want wide range.

[Turkle]

My winter/gravel bike has 11-speed mechanical SRAM Rival 1x with cable-actuated TRP Spyre disc brakes. The groupset has been bomb-proof for 3 years and happily eats a 42t cassette.

It's certainly not the fanciest, but it works really well!

[Philster]

You could use SRAM 11 speed double tap converted to 12 speed using the Ratio kit. Combined with a SRAM mountain rear derailleur, this provides the range you need. I haven’t done it, so that’s all I know.

[Philster]

Originally Posted by spoonrobot

What chainring and how big cassette?



GRX is only hydraulic

You could actually use any 11 speed Shimano road shifters with a GRX rear derailleur. As a 1x, you’ll have a non-functioning left shifter. I have it on one of my bikes and it’s not a problem.

[spoonrobot]

Originally Posted by Philster

You could actually use any 11 speed Shimano road shifters with a GRX rear derailleur. As a 1x, you’ll have a non-functioning left shifter. I have it on one of my bikes and it’s not a problem.

If he wants a 50t cassette GRX isn't a good option.

[Alistair]

Depends on cassette size.

Shimano - GRX rear der is a 42t capacity. Works fine with any 105-DA 11 speed shifters. As noted, left shifter is there but doesn't do anything.

SRAM - Force 1 long cage is also 42t capacity. Force 1 levers are available with a non-shifting left lever. Or, the shifting parts are easily removed from a Force 22 lever.

SRAM 12s + Ratio - Rival 1, Force 1, Rival 22 or Force 22 levers with a 11s rear der and Ratio conversion lets you run a 12s AXS road 10-42 cassette.

SRAM+Ratio mullet - Rival 1, Force 1, Rival 22 or Force 22 levers with a 12s mountain rear der and Ratio conversion lets you run a 12s AXS mountain 10-52 cassette.

SRAM/Ekar + Ratio - same as above, but with 13s Ekar cassette.

Personally, I'd go full Force 1 with a 10-42 11s mountain cassette. Or, if I had a 12s bike in the stable already, I'd go Force 1 + Ratio to keep all bikes with same chain and XDR freehub.

[merckx]

Thank you for the replies.

I am not up to speed regarding anything after Mavic SSC.

I went to Shimano GRX first and only saw wet brake lever options. Then I went to the SRAM website, and jees, what a mess. There are a bazillion trinkets scattered across every page I opened. I really couldn't make sense of it.

Here is what I want:

Single ring crank. Ring around 38, 40-ish

Cassette up to 42 or greater. Probably greater.

Cable shifters.

Paul Klampers.

Drop bar machine.

Mid level components like Force, Ultegra or Chorus.

What ya got?

[merckx]

Alistair, thank you for that. The Force 1 option seems to be the easiest to me.

[mstateglfr]

Originally Posted by merckx

Here is what I want:

Single ring crank. Ring around 38, 40-ish
Cassette up to 42 or greater. Probably greater.
Cable shifters.
Paul Klampers.
Drop bar machine.
Mid level components like Force, Ultegra or Chorus.

What ya got?

Shimano 810 1x GRX crankset in 40t
Shimano r8000 mechanical shifters(Ultegra) or R7000 mechanical shifters(105)
Paul Klampers
Your favorite drop bar.
Shimano GRX 812 rear derailleur that is made for 1x and can handle a 42t cassette
11-42 cassette
11sp chain by whichever company you want.


You will have a left shifter that doesnt do anything. The good news is that once you tire of 1x, you can easily change to 2x since the shifters are the most expensive part!

One option to consider is the crank- if you want a Praxis crank they have the Alba in 40t.
https://praxiscycles.com/product/alba/

[AgilisMerlin]

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