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

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ps786
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by ps786

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.

spdntrxi
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by spdntrxi

40t I would be dropped in my group ride. Every ride is different.
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ps786
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by ps786

spdntrxi wrote:
Mon May 22, 2023 9:46 pm
40t I would be dropped in my group ride. Every ride is different.
Any disadvantage of going 2x? Weight and cost aside, it seems the only "real" downside is clearance issue with the wider tires.

Is gravel XPLR 1x more rugged or durable compare to Force etap AXS 2x?

stoney
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by stoney

I'd go XPLR with a 42 tooth chainring on the front. You still have a 44 tooth cassette on the rear for the steep stuff.

ps786
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by ps786

stoney wrote:
Mon May 22, 2023 11:19 pm
I'd go XPLR with a 42 tooth chainring on the front. You still have a 44 tooth cassette on the rear for the steep stuff.
Thank you for your input. It looks like majority of people here are running 2x despit 1x is marketed for gravel. So I wonder if I missed anything?

robertbb
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by robertbb

ps786 wrote:
Mon May 22, 2023 11:55 pm
stoney wrote:
Mon May 22, 2023 11:19 pm
I'd go XPLR with a 42 tooth chainring on the front. You still have a 44 tooth cassette on the rear for the steep stuff.
Thank you for your input. It looks like majority of people here are running 2x despit 1x is marketed for gravel. So I wonder if I missed anything?
I'd go a 40t ring with the XPLR 1x cassette. I think a 42:44 may be a tad underdone for a mixed surface bike. Not "easy" enough. I've found a 4t difference below 1:1 is the sweet spot personally. And a 40:10 is a surprisingly "fast" gear (almost equivalent to a 50:12).

I had trepidations running a 38t chainring with an 11-42 cassette but to my surprise found I never, ever needed a harder gear. ESPECIALLY so when you're running 35mm+ tyres

spdntrxi
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by spdntrxi

how fast are your groups rides.. anything more then upper 20's on a 40/10 is going to be a struggle.
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robertbb
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by robertbb

I hear this repeated a lot but it's not borne out in reality, in most cases.

Of importance as well is crank length (it's a key part of the equation and it's almost never discussed in these types of conversations)

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flashpunk
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by flashpunk

I'm running a 2x 36t cassette on my crux and am very happy. Only suggestion I'll make is make sure you have a chain catcher for the front derailleur.

ps786
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by ps786

robertbb wrote:
Tue May 23, 2023 4:51 am
I hear this repeated a lot but it's not borne out in reality, in most cases.

Of importance as well is crank length (it's a key part of the equation and it's almost never discussed in these types of conversations)
Sorry for not provide that information. I am relatively short so my crankarm length will be 170 at most

ps786
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by ps786

flashpunk wrote:
Tue May 23, 2023 2:22 pm
I'm running a 2x 36t cassette on my crux and am very happy. Only suggestion I'll make is make sure you have a chain catcher for the front derailleur.
Thanks. I will definitely include that on my list.

ps786
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by ps786

spdntrxi wrote:
Tue May 23, 2023 3:33 am
how fast are your groups rides.. anything more then upper 20's on a 40/10 is going to be a struggle.
Around 25km/h average speed is what I heard.

I will probably going 2x. 46/33 and 10-36 should cover everything XPLR 1x 10-44 and addtional higher gears. There is also the possiblity of swapping cassette or chainring combination if situation changes. With 1x, my options are somewhat limted.

42 tire is the maximum I will run on my Crux so tire clearance doesn't benefit me. Not sure what other benefits 1x has over 2x :?:

spdntrxi
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by spdntrxi

ps786 wrote:
Tue May 23, 2023 5:43 pm
spdntrxi wrote:
Tue May 23, 2023 3:33 am
how fast are your groups rides.. anything more then upper 20's on a 40/10 is going to be a struggle.
Around 25km/h average speed is what I heard.

I will probably going 2x. 46/33 and 10-36 should cover everything XPLR 1x 10-44 and addtional higher gears. There is also the possiblity of swapping cassette or chainring combination if situation changes. With 1x, my options are somewhat limted.

42 tire is the maximum I will run on my Crux so tire clearance doesn't benefit me. Not sure what other benefits 1x has over 2x :?:
I'm mainly commenting on your worry about not keeping up on group rides. 25km/h is not an issue, but dont know how your rides are organized.

I for example have drop rides where 40/10 would have me riding by myself rather quickly. What is the fun in that. Other group rides are no drop, but many sprint points. Some with uphill finishes which a 40/10 would be enough, but with a flat 30+ mph run in to said sprints I would be dropped before the sprint. ....again no fun.

I tried to do the one bike quiver briefly (again I dont know if that is what you are trying to accomplish) I simply was not strong enough to make it work on a 1x bike, even with multiple wheelsets. Steep gravel climbs on my local ridge, practice crits, drop and no drop group rides.. I need 2X and 2x bikes.
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rothwem
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by rothwem

What is your local area like? I thought that for sure I'd need an easier gear than 1:1 for my gravel bike here in the NC mountains, but I've been fine running an 42t front with an 11-42 rear for my off-road pursuits. It does suck for group rides though, I ended up buying a cheap CAAD8 to use for group rides because I didn't like riding my graveller on the road. Now i guess I can get a 40t, but I probably won't, at least until this chainring wears out (which basically never happens on NW rings).

Anyways, I much prefer 1x for something that will primarily be on gravel,its easier to clean, more simple, no chain drops, etc. So in your case since you're 70% gravel on this bike, I think I'd be inclined to run a 44 x 10-44. Or, maybe if you're using a second wheelset, put a 50t chainring on when you put the road wheelset on and use a tighter cassette on that wheel to avoid having to change the chain.

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ultimobici
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by ultimobici

I'm running a Shimano XTR based 2X system for gravel. 44/30 with a 10-36 cassette gives me a low enough for off road but without compromising top end gearing on the road. Have you considered the Wide 43/30?

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