SRAM XPLR 1x or 2x 46/33t x 10-36t?

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andy4g63
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Joined: Wed Mar 18, 2020 7:02 pm

by andy4g63

maurice1 wrote:
Thu Jun 08, 2023 5:35 pm
andy4g63 wrote:
Thu Jun 08, 2023 1:35 pm
ps786 wrote:
Mon May 22, 2023 8:56 pm
I am building my first bike and is debating between SRAM XPLR 1x 40t x 10-44t or 2x 46/33t x 10-36t. I know the difference is top gear ratio of 4 vs 4.6 and gradience. But what does -0.6 gear ratio translate to real world application?

The gravel bike is going to be 70% gravel (horse, ATV, hiking trails with moderate climb) , 30% road (bi-weekly group ride). I am leaning toward XPLR 1x but is afraid I might not be able to keep up with a group ride.
To be honest I don't know how people say 44-10 as high gear is OKAY...

It is NOT... In most cases when you are on gravel is mixed surface:about 50-50, or 60-40; pavement and gravel...
I am cautious descender, but still many times running over31-33 mph easy.. That's not the limit but I don't like to spin at 100+ cadence on descents... It isn't stable...

On the other hand in most cases 33-36 is OK as low gear on gravel but not perfect.
I'm never going to believe you people. I would already be rolling eyes if you told me you were spinning out 44-10 on the road. Is your FTP in the 700s or do you value a downhill KOM more than your collarbone?
Yes I am spinning out even on 48-10,
Second. I do value a downhill KOM's at all. My life is priority.

Third my FTP is noote than 4W/kg. But that doesn't matter it matters what I see and feel . Stuff that work for me

plrww
Posts: 31
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by plrww

I'd go for a triple if such was available on the gravel bike. 3x12 with 20-36-52 front and 11-34 rear. This would give pretty close gearing and also a good 800% range with no compromises. Most people are not even close to pro W/kg so short gearing is needed. On faster group rides/tailwind/downhill long gearing is great.

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ultimobici
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by ultimobici

This idea that one can have one’s gearing cake and eat it is absurd.

If you want a bike that can do everything you have to compromise somewhere.

1X systems will require either sacrificing top end gearing, climbing gears or accepting massive gaps somewhere. Even swapping out the cassette and/or the ring is a faff and limits you if you stray from the trail.

2X address some of the issues with 1X but adds weight and complexity.

3X allows you to have all the range you want with few, if any, gaps but is complex and limits you to old 10 speed parts. No manufacturer is going to indulge a tiny fraction of a minority by producing it.

As for the idea that you need to pedal a huge gear on a gravel descent - really? A 44x10 on a gravel bike with 700x42c is actually higher than a 50x34 with 700x28c.

plrww
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by plrww

When you go for a mixed surface ride, it can easily be mostly asphalt. 50-11 at 90 rpm is about 50 km/h and on a group ride even on a low gradient downhill this speed is easily exceeded. You can of course spin 90+ rpm, but why not put in more gear range? Triple is an obvious solution. From old days we know it works well and would work even better with electric.

urostasa
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by urostasa

It depends on what kind of terrain you drive. We have many climbs longer than 8km, with intermediate gradients of 15-20% and more, so I have 48/32 front and 11/42 rear on my Revolt. And after two hours of driving and a 20% incline, the 42t sprocket is the law 😉

warthog101
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by warthog101

urostasa wrote:
Fri Jun 09, 2023 5:36 pm
It depends on what kind of terrain you drive. We have many climbs longer than 8km, with intermediate gradients of 15-20% and more, so I have 48/32 front and 11/42 rear on my Revolt. And after two hours of driving and a 20% incline, the 42t sprocket is the law 😉
48/32 and 11-36 on my Revolt.
Yep, zero interest in going 1x.
How does the grx810 rear derailleur do with the 42?

satanas
Posts: 315
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by satanas

So, my takeaway here is that few if any posters on this forum can spin...

FWIW, I'd very rarely use 44x10 (or 44x11) on paved road descents unless the surface was good and the corners weren't too tight (Alps or Rockies), and never on dirt or on dodgy English lanes; 46x12 is enough for 80km/h if one can spin.

Off-road ~90" is usually more than enough IME; the problem with most gravel gearing is getting a low enough gear with >28" diameter tyres, especially if carrying any gear.

ice29
Posts: 51
Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2020 9:15 pm

by ice29

satanas wrote:
Sun Jun 18, 2023 1:08 am
So, my takeaway here is that few if any posters on this forum can spin...

FWIW, I'd very rarely use 44x10 (or 44x11) on paved road descents unless the surface was good and the corners weren't too tight (Alps or Rockies), and never on dirt or on dodgy English lanes; 46x12 is enough for 80km/h if one can spin.

Off-road ~90" is usually more than enough IME; the problem with most gravel gearing is getting a low enough gear with >28" diameter tyres, especially if carrying any gear.
Fully agree with you, with 50x34 cranks on the road I was 100% happy with 12-27 cassette, 50x12 at 120-130rpm could also get me down alpine descents in groups going like crazy... But I have lots of friends around not being able to live without 52/36 even for hobby riding :)
Now I ride 46/33 + 10-33 on the road bike, many friend laugh at the gear but when we go up 16-20% climbs and I can still spin 70rpm they don't laugh anymore :)

I went through similar exercise, I have a cheaper gravel bike with 40x10-44, and I definitely need an easier gear to ride up longer 15-20% climbs on loose gravel (super steep stuff more suited for MTB). I do not really like 1x, so thought about 46/33 + 10-36 but find 33-36 still too hard (for me who likes to spin). I just built a new gravel with 43/30 on non-wide Force crankset and 10-36 at the back.. Just a pity that getting a normal PM is a pain for these chainrings. I wanted a Red crankset but then I have to go for pedal PM (do not want on trails), or 4iiii post-install... Or just take the new spindle-based Force crankset and live with additional weight..

spdntrxi
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by spdntrxi

My gravel bike is 47/32 with an 11-40 out back. It's very nice on the steep dirt sections in my area that can reach low 20s%

Easton Cinch w/power for the front and XTR Cassette in the back. The 47/11 lets me keep contact in group rides and be semi-competitive in sprints.
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urostasa
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by urostasa

warthog101 wrote:
Sat Jun 10, 2023 12:52 am
urostasa wrote:
Fri Jun 09, 2023 5:36 pm
It depends on what kind of terrain you drive. We have many climbs longer than 8km, with intermediate gradients of 15-20% and more, so I have 48/32 front and 11/42 rear on my Revolt. And after two hours of driving and a 20% incline, the 42t sprocket is the law 😉
48/32 and 11-36 on my Revolt.
Yep, zero interest in going 1x.
How does the grx810 rear derailleur do with the 42?
When we adjust the screw on the rear derailleur, it shifts nicely. Otherwise, I don't use the 42 gear very often, but sometimes it comes in handy.

warthog101
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by warthog101

urostasa wrote:
Fri Jun 30, 2023 7:21 pm
warthog101 wrote:
Sat Jun 10, 2023 12:52 am
urostasa wrote:
Fri Jun 09, 2023 5:36 pm
It depends on what kind of terrain you drive. We have many climbs longer than 8km, with intermediate gradients of 15-20% and more, so I have 48/32 front and 11/42 rear on my Revolt. And after two hours of driving and a 20% incline, the 42t sprocket is the law 😉
48/32 and 11-36 on my Revolt.
Yep, zero interest in going 1x.
How does the grx810 rear derailleur do with the 42?
When we adjust the screw on the rear derailleur, it shifts nicely. Otherwise, I don't use the 42 gear very often, but sometimes it comes in handy.
Good to know, thanks.

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imajez
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by imajez

satanas wrote:
Sun Jun 18, 2023 1:08 am
So, my takeaway here is that few if any posters on this forum can spin...
I can spin no problem. However spinning an easy gear uphill is very diffrent from spinning at very high cadences going downhill. At high speeds I prefer a lower, more stable cadence.
Then there's the fact that regardless of being able to spin, folk have different cadences they find most comfortable. Higher or lower gears are used to manage that. No one size fits all. Plus 1x setups have clunky gear gaps that 2x can avoid.

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