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we definately all ride totally different stuff...
Very much ^^this^^, and basically why I started this thread.
I wasn't really looking for a 1x bashfest, (but the same old suspects need to vent I suppose), I was actually interested in how people have found going 'back' to 2x and why they chose to, specifically on gravel bikes (Drop-barred on and off-road type bikes) I don't really care about people's MTBs or road bikes in this context.
The bike in question has a relatively basic 1x10 setup, and has been run 1x since I assembled it several years ago, the overall gear range is currently 95-26 'gear inches' while that is a modest range by current standards it's actually not bad for doing my local loops and a bit of distance (say 100 miles in a day) and could probably do more but it's limitations start to become apparent the further I go and the more luggage I mount on it...
I have options of course, 2x isn't the default (Hence this thread):
I could simply fit a smaller ring up front (the cheapest, easiest option) but I'd lose the taller gears for chopping along on the flat/roads.
I could opt for a wider range cassette but the increments get bigger and potentially more annoying as I'm still on 10 speed and don't really want to buy new levers as well.
And I could buy more sprockets (go to 11 or 12 speed) but that's even more cost and I might as well buy a new bike at that point TBH (Maybe I do need to consider a new bike further).
I've worked up a basic range comparison spreadsheet (there's always a spreadsheet 😉 ) and on that basis the various 1x10 options don't look terrible (changing ring and/or cassette sizes to eek out more range), but at the same time a relatively narrow range cassette (say 11-32 or 11-34) with a 'sub-compact' 2x setup looks quite good too, and I could start using Road mechs too if I wanted, it broadens my possible component choices if I don't need a mech that can stretch across a monster cassette.
So I still find myself mulling the idea of going 2x10 on my gravel bike due to my slowly changing use over time, I don't absolutely need to, I have viable, easier, cheaper options which would cost less and be simpler to reverse, But I can at least see the merits of the 2x option.
i'm a little dissapointed the singlespeeder's havent been onto say you only need one gear for all conditions.
I’ve went back to 2x on my gravel bike.
not to get bigger gears, although i did,
not to get smaller gears, no change there,
but to reduce the gaps between in between.
on my mtb, I still use 2x, but geared such that I would spin out at 19/20mph, and i have plenty of low gears.
20 might not sound that fast, but it works really well For Me.
Same as above, range was never really a problem on my old Boardman CX even with a 42 to 10-42 on the back. I just never felt in the right gear. I also vowed never again to Rival as I simply couldn't get the shifting to work smoothly for any length of time.
Now on 2* GRX800 and it's just a better experience all round. Getting the front mech set up nicely couldn't really be much easier either, certainly far better than sodding around with Rival.
Some bikes are 1x, in order to achieve greater chainstay clearance, for bigger tyres.
Check that a 2x chainstay doesn't foul the chainstays
I just cannot get my head around what 1x is trying to achieve.
To be fair, it is less maintenance, lighter, cheaper and simpler…Simpler, yes. Fact. I can't see the first two, though. For there to be less of something doesn't there have to be an amount of it to start with? Opinion is divided on here about weight, but that's not something I particularly trouble myself with. My bikes are dominated by payload 😉
Some bikes are 1x, in order to achieve greater chainstay clearance, for bigger tyres.
Check that a 2x chainstay doesn’t foul the chainstays
I'm halfway through changing my gravel bike to 1X, because although you can nominally ride it with a double, and there's no fouling, I got horrendous chainsuck.
Anyone know if a cervelo aspero can take a 2x standard rival dub (double) chainset? Looking at getting one, but probably want to convert to to 2x as I have a spare rival power crankset and do a fair whack of road stuff too, so 40/10 is a bit too easy (and soon will have some spare bits of rival axs)..
Guess there's two questions there: Anyone know if the aspero takes a "wide" crankset or normal? And then if it's normal, will it fit a 48/35 chainset? Quite niche questions, but a total pain to figure out googling! I see you can get a 2xGRX aspero, so it must be able to take a double, just not sure sram 48/35..