1x or 2x gravel bike set up?

CJay1

Anyone have any opinion/experience of this?

Trying to decide between the shimano 800 1x or 2x. Would be using the bike probably 50/50 on/off road.

I really like the look and idea behind the 1x but is the 2x more practical?

Whatwicklow

X2 for x2

If you were racing cx then 1x is fine you dont need the range,

CantGetNoSleep

Will it be your only bike? If yes I'd go 2x.

I have a 1x GRX gravel bike and find it great but I have other bikes I use on the road. The 1x is manageable on a slower solo road ride (but can be annoying to find the right gear) but not really workable at all for a group ride.

2x on a gravel bike gives you huge versatility of what the bike can do, particularly with a second wheelset.

I'd also consider if you need GRX 800 or if 600 would do. They are meant to be comparable to Ultegra Vs 105 but it is even closer. Derailleurs are the same, performance not much different, & weight penalty probably barely noticeable on a gravel bike. I'm looking at a new build and will possibly go for just the crankset as 800 as I prefer the 48-31 ratio.

jamesd

If using on road I'd go with 2x.

CJay1

Yeah it's going to be my only bike and I'll be using it on roads for a good bit. Will check out 600 . Probably don't need 800 at my level.

Thanks all

wersal gummage

Also interested in this, as someone thinking of dipping toe in the water and maybe light off road stuff, 2x seems to be the way to go.

Just wondering if anyone recommends any particular brands strongly? Probably around the 2.5k mark. Canyon has nothing in stock, and seems 10 to 11kg stuff anyway.... Halfords has a nice bike for around 2k but out of stock for months, likewise decathlon has a nice titanium 1x but out of stock a long time.

wersal gummage

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118323701#Comment_118323701

Cjay,

Any chance you'd be willing to set out your shirt or long list of bikes you've been considering and any big pros or cons? I've been wasting a lot of time online looking at different bikes but not settling on anything...

DaveyDave

I have 1x11 GRX on my commuter bike, if it was anything but commuting I'd want 2x. 1x is less maintenance but the gear ratios aren't great for road use in my opinion. I have 42-11 cassette with 48 chainring and while it's capable for climbing and has enough speed on the road I just find the jump between gears just doesn't feel great sometimes.

CJay1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118325638#Comment_118325638

These are the bikes I was looking at:

https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/bikes/gravel-bikes/ Need to get it sent to a GBNI address and April 2022 at the earliest

https://www.rosebikes.com/bikes/gravel/backroad Told me they wouldn't deliver to Ireland. I'm sure there are ways around this though.

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBTIRRCAMEKAR/titus-roadrunner-campagnolo-ekar-gravel-bike Again, GBNI address required. I think I was put off by max tyre clearance (think it was 35)

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBTIGRFORCE1/titus-goldrush-sram-force-1-titanium-gravel-bike looked at this one also

I'd advise caution with Ribble at the minute having seen this yesterday https://road.cc/content/tech-news/ribble-responds-customer-concerns-over-bike-delays-288505

And since when did Rose not deliver to Ireland?

Breezer

I bought a Rose Backroad earlier this year and had it delivered no problem. I also bought some accessories from them a few weeks ago, delivered here 🤔

On that, I think it’s a great bike. I have it in 1x12 (40 chainring, 36/10 cassette). I find it fine on the road, but I mostly cycle at my own pace, rather than in groups. Also that setup is at the pricier end of things and may not be worth it to you. But I love the simplicity of it.

CJay1

They told me they wouldn't deliver BR Ekar to Ireland.

"Thank you for your request.

 

We do not deliver a bike to Ireland because we only produce in series and therefore the brake on the front wheel is always mounted on the left side.

 

Sportliche Grüße aus Bocholt / Best regards

Markus"

ARX

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118329321#Comment_118329321

In that case, why are they listing bikes on rosebikes.ie?

They give the price of shipping bikes to Ireland at https://www.rosebikes.com/shipping.

Is it possible that Markus is confusing Ireland with the UK? I was thinking of getting a Rose Pro SL so I'd be interested in this.

CantGetNoSleep

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118325638#Comment_118325638

I'd take a look at Cube Nuroad (similar in price to Canyon's alu gravel bikes but you can find stock at a bike shop - takes a bit of looking around though) & Giant Revolt

wersal gummage

Cjay1,

Did you consider cannondale at all? They seem to be available, to a greater extent than other brands at least.

nilhg

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118329321#Comment_118329321

Every bike I have here has the front brake on the left, I had to swap a few of them over myself, when I got back into cycling the first bike I bought, a Trek, came that way and I got used to it. Did you specifically ask for the brake setup to be switched to the front on RHS?

CJay1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118329900#Comment_118329900

No, didn't mention braking. I would've been happy switching it over myself.

The only Rose Gravel bike priced on the .ie site at the moment is the aluminium one, which didn't interest me. That's why I contacted them. Maybe they would have agreed to post if I pursued it, but I left it there.

CJay1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118329674#Comment_118329674

The .ie site seems to have feck all stock, unless I'm missing something..which is very possible!

There could be ways of getting bikes not listed there too.

CJay1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118329884#Comment_118329884

I didn't really. Not a fan of Cannondale, for no real reason. A friend has the Topstone though and is very happy with it.

Macy0161

Happy with my AL Topstone (Tiagra, I think they're GRX now though). I swapped out the FSA crankset for GRX, but that was mainly so I could fit a power meter I had. One of the lads has the 105 version, and then someone else in the club has the carbon version. Can't say I deliberately searched it out though - lbs was a cannodale dealer, having previously been giant. If they were still giant I'd probably be on a revolt!

Breezer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118329674#Comment_118329674

That seems to be exactly what’s happened. He’s thinking of the UK, where a bike’s front brake has to be on the right, legally. In Ireland (and basically every other country as far as I know), the front brake goes on the left.

During the pandemic, Rose cut costs by cutting down configurable options, which also meant they weren’t swapping brakes over anymore, so they can no longer sell to the UK. I think Canyon are the same. It doesn’t affect other brands because the bike shops just swap them before sale.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118329929#Comment_118329929

Stock is a different issue alright. My Backroad (carbon) took 16 weeks and it had gone to something silly like 50 last time I checked. It is indeed lovely, so it’s a real pity.

Would you consider a Canyon Grail? Numerous carbon options in stock, depending on your size:

https://www.canyon.com/en-ie/gravel-bikes/all-road/grail/cf-sl/

If SRAM Rival eTap is anything like as nice as Force eTap, and you can stretch to it, that 1x model at the top looks sweet, I think! Few 2x options as well.

ARX

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118329966#Comment_118329966

Well, this is odd. If you look at the Pro SL on the .ie site, it shows nothing: https://www.rosebikes.ie/bikes/road/endurance/pro-sl

But it's there on the .de site: https://www.rosebikes.de/rose-pro-sl-105-2693206

You can however buy an X-LITE Four: https://www.rosebikes.ie/rose-x-lite-four-105-2674412?product_shape=UD-Carbon%2FPiano-Black%2FPure-White

2,479.63€

Price incl. VAT plus €68.00 (for delivery to Ireland)

Weepsie

Rosebikes have a dedicated .ie site now and all.

Anyway, I have this condundrum myself. Have a croix de fer frameset and an ultegra double with FSA 46/30 and 11-36 cassette or SRAM force 1x (42 or 38T) have both, and a slightly larger cassette.

I appreciate this is a nice problem to have. I have readily available the chance to do either. I'm leaning toward the Ultegra groupset.