Groupset for all-road: Ultegra or GRX?

[nonprophet]

I have an All Road on the way from Pursuit and I can't decide on a group. This will primarily be a road bike (probably 70/30 paved/dirt) and I have other bikes in the quiver that are better suited to the technical stuff, so I don't really think I need the burlier components, larger hoods or other features of GRX. Ultegra checks all my boxes EXCEPT gear ratio. I worry about being overgeared with the 34 as my smallest ring and 34 as my largest cog (unless I go up to 36 with the 105 cassette which I understand isn't officially supported).

Has anyone else here had a similar dilemma? Either way, I'm going 2x12 Di2. It seems silly to base this decision on easier gearing alone but maybe that's the right thing to do.

[saab2000]

Originally Posted by nonprophet

It seems silly to base this decision on easier gearing alone but maybe that's the right thing to do.

That doesn’t seem silly to me at all. I have a first gen GRX groupset on a gravel bike that’s also at home on roads and I don’t regret at all the low gearing options. I’d opt for GRX in your situation. People here are always asking how to get lower gears, but never how to get higher gears.

[Gsinill]

https://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=308466

I decided to go Ultegra DI2 on my Crux and love it.
Probably depends on where you ride but here in relatively flat Chicagoland, 34x34 is perfectly fine, at least for me.

[gravelreformist]

All-road for me means I want road components. I already feel under-geared on the road at 50x11. And I've never felt particularly limited by it off-road.

[banananutz]

I have Grx600 (mechanical) and it sees more road miles than gravel. Its been perfect, and the clutch is nice to have. I turn it off when strictly road. Thats likely the biggest difference? I'd vote grx for an all road bike, no question.

[Baron Blubba]

We’re currently building an Ultegra 12 speed di2 bike, 52-36 cranks, with a GRX 12 di2 rd so the rider can have the wider range in the back without going all-in gravel low up front.

[reuben]

You'd have to check the Shimano compatibility charts for the specific components you're interested in, but I've mixed and matched Ultegra R8000 and GRX 810 with no issues, notably the GRX rear derailleur (wider range, on/off clutch) with 8000 components.

[AngryScientist]

I’m not a racer type rider; but ive never regretted having lower gearing. I have regretted not having a low enough gear; and when you need it, you need it.

[harblhat]

I have 2x12 Di2 using an Ultegra FD and crank with a GRX RD. The GRX RD max rear cog is a 36 while the Ultegra is a 34, so it doesn't officially buy you that much more gearing.

I think the GRX RD with the rest being Ultegra is a good option if you want to move to a 36 rear (or more, unofficially). But that only gets you to 34-36 as a lowest gear. Otherwise you're better off going GRX all around to use the 48-31 crank and give up some top end.

[blakcloud]

My goal was one bike to do it all but the Dura Ace 12 speed Di2 is too much of a compromise on gravel. I am old and falling apart, I need the gears. If you are strong, then the road group will work just fine.

I thought about GRX but it's ugly, doesn't have the aesthetic of Dura Ace which I love. To the OP, I would get the road group set and see how it works for you. If it doesn't work, a change of cassette and smaller TA chain rings could be made.

[Dired]

I’m running two wheelsets on my all-road bike—one with an 11-34 cassette and the other with an 11-40—paired with a compact and an 11-speed Ultegra RX derailleur. This setup gives me the versatility of a one-bike. The rotors/cassette on the wheels are shimmed out to be plug and play. I realize that you're going 12 speed but if you're curious about the finer details, I’ve shared more insights in a previous post.

[NHAero]

Wouldn't getting a different crankset that allows lower gearing solve the issue? My all-road bikes:
Bingham - Praxis Zayante carbon, Engin spider, 44/28 x 11-34, Dura Ace 9100
Habanero - Praxis Zayante carbon, SRAM 120/80 spider, 44/28 x 11-34, Ultegra 8000
both with TA chainrings
My pure road bike:
Supersix Evo Hi-mod - Hollowgram 46-30 x 11-36, Dura Ace 9100 with Ultegra 8000 RD

[jacrider]

I just went through this same dilemma. We are rebuilding our all-road/gravel bikes right now. We ended up selecting a mix of Dura Ace and GRX. All the Di2 components are pretty interchangeable. We have DA shifters, cassette (11-34), chain, brakes and rotors. GRX derailleurs. Rotor carbon cranks with 48/31 rings. We also ordered the 105 11-36 cassette for certain rides.

[Turkle]

I'm running GRX 2x 820 mechanical on my gravel bike and I love it.

[zap]

Originally Posted by Turkle

I'm running GRX 2x 820 mechanical on my gravel bike and I love it.

Same......but I don't care for the GRX hoods. Would prefer Ultegra's. I also went with 11/32 cassette for better high end gearing.