So once again I want to lower the gearing on a gravel bike, this time with GRX 105 2x11 on it.
FSA cranks with 46-30
Rear mech is RX-810 (official max of 34T biggest cog).
Currently it’s running an 11-34 cassette, 11-40 will apparently happily run on it too so probably going to do that.
Before I buy anything, is anyone running this setup and how is it working for you?
Can someone point me to the correct cassette to buy, it currently has HG-700-11 11-34, which I think is a road cassette? There’s another set of wheels involved so I think sticking with a road cassette for the new one would help with swaps?
Or would it be a better option to change the crankset and if so is there anything available much smaller than 46-30? Don’t want to lower the top gears and capacity of the front mech is apparently 17T so don’t think that it’s a good option.
And why aren’t there default lower gearing options out the box for gravel bikes? It can’t just be us that climb hills?
Cheers, I’d just about got my head around my SRAM options and not quite sure with Shimano yet.
I'm running 50/34 and 11-40T Shimano. That's an XT cassette. Rear mech is an Ultegra RX. Shimano are notoriously conservative regarding rear mech capacity so I'd definitely try that first. 30-40 should surely be low enough for you??
with a rear mech extender you could run bigger than 11-40 but with a double up front you'd run into chain length issues on either end of that 46-11/30-42 etc
happily running 38 x 11-51 and 40 x 11-51 0n my 1 x set ups without extender or issues (GRX 812 rear mech)
with a double up front you’d run into chain length issues on either end of that 46-11/30-42 etc
Not necessarily. I can fully cross-chain on mine and shifting is good right across the range.
I’m running 50/34 and 11-40T Shimano. That’s an XT cassette. Rear mech is an Ultegra RX. Shimano are notoriously conservative regarding rear mech capacity so I’d definitely try that first.
Cheers. This cassette? https://bike.shimano.com/en-EU/product/component/deorext-m8000/CS-M8000.html
30-40 should surely be low enough for you??
For wife with a loaded bike, but yes hopefully.
42 would be a bonus but it looks like goat link needed and then probably set up issues with the 11-34 on her road wheels.
Yep - that cassette. Likely you'll need a longer chain too - and it might then be too long for the small cassette. Best to get a spare 🙂
happily running 38 x 11-51 and 40 x 11-51 0n my 1 x set ups without extender or issues (GRX 812 rear mech)
This is what I hope to do on my SRAM Rival setup
@scotroutes thanks, I think I’ll get that & a chain ordered 👍
If you want give it a go cheap first, I'm about to swap my 11-40 Airbike cassette for an 11-46. Just waiting for delivery. So could sell my 11-40 to you for £20 if you like. It's literally been on the bike for a few weeks, probably done about 50 miles.
I can fully cross-chain on mine
ooof, never cross chain it really affects chain wear, anyhow 46-51 would need a silly long chain and putting it into 30-11 would be a 1st class ticket to saggy chain city
I'm running a 46/30 GRX Chainset and front mech (both swapped from Ultegra) with Ultegra shifters and rear Ultegra rear mech. It is faultless with the original 11-34 cassette but my other wheels have an 11-40 cassette. It does work well enough but it's very tight on the 40 sprocket and there's a lot of chain slack on the smaller cogs. I also have to unbolt the rear mech to get the wheel off.
I'm running a FSA 46-30 with ultegra rear derailleur and 11-40t on the rear with no issues, though I have had my chain drop on the rear occasionally if I've dropped from big to small chain ring when in a high gear at the rear, so must be just a little too much slack for the derailleur to catch fast enough.
IIRC my 11-40t cassette is just a sunrace and has been fine.
MTB double chainset is what I did, XT 40:28.
That HG700 cassette is like an MTB cassette, in that it requires a spacer on an HG hub. (I forgot to add the spacer initially and things were Not Happy). So I think you can be quite flexible with your choice of 11-speed cassettes out back.
You won't easily find a smaller double than 46-30. You're into 1x chainring territory then.
I missed previous attempts at this but: is there a reason to not lower the top end? Extending range just leads to a wider gear spread, which isn't really what that setup was designed for; the point of 2x is to keep those ratios tightly packed. But a 40t or 38t 1x setup could get you a way bigger cassette out back, and 40x11 is, for many people, quick enough before gravity coasting kicks in.
I missed previous attempts at this but: is there a reason to not lower the top end?
previous attempts were my bike with Rival 1x - I’m sorted on that now. This is the wife’s, she wants to keep it 2x and doesn’t want to lose the top end for the road.
If you want give it a go cheap first, I’m about to swap my 11-40 Airbike cassette for an 11-46.
cheers but I think it’s tried & tested enough that I can just get the bigger Shimano cassette and be pretty sure it’ll work.
I'm running 50/34 on the front which has the same differential as Mrs Phil's so ignore for this discussion (beyond you'll need a shorter chain than me).
I'm using a 105 GS rear derailleur with a copy goatlink.
On the back I have an 11-40 XT cassette on road wheels with its spacer. No sag/binding in all gear combos.
I also have an 11-42 and 11-46. Both introduce sagging on small/small/smaller. I don't build in binding as this can be damaging and I don't use either the compromised combos or big/big little/little (old school).
Unfortunately, when pushing capacity, sometimes you just have to try it.
Specialties TA chainrings also worth a look.
Right 11-40 SLX cassette and new chain ordered. Hopefully this will sort her out on the hills.
Specialties TA chainrings also worth a look.
Looks like they do a 28 that is GRX compatible. Not sure what we’d need for her FSA cranks though? And will the 105 front mech cope with 18T capacity (it’s rated for 17T and is currently running 16).