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The trouble is finding a cassette with incrementally larger gearing. From 34 Shimano jumps to the GRX with 42 and your derailleur is unlikely to handle that. Sunrace may make a 36 or 38 but that doesn’t buy you a lot. Next step would be a GRX rear mech.
The rear is max'd at the 34 with the shimano 105. Talk me through the GRX - what does that look like... new cassette and rear derailleur and new, slightly longer chain? Does going to a 1x up front with GRX components offer anything? The goal here is to keep this bike a 1-2 punch that can swap back between road and trail.
Congrats on the build! I dunno... my guess is 34x34 will be fine to get you up just about anything even weighted. What's the smallest you could go on your small front ring, as another alternative to getting a more spinny low gear?
Huh? No way no how, 1:1 is not gonna do it
I wouldn’t want to do any VT bikepacking routes with that gearing but a 400 mile rail trail shouldn’t be bad with 1:1 even with luggage attached.Quote:
Originally Posted by buttahflake
grrrm - Between custom wheels, a new drivetrain, and lord knows what else, it may be time to reconsider if just buying an actual gravel bike is a better use of resources.
Them 38's are skinny for loaded gravel off the smoother track. I run 52/36 w/10/40, climb some big hills/underbike a fair bit, no packing, wasn't happy with 36/36.
I'd go with a 46/30 crankset. And if that isn't enough add a Wolftooth Roadlink and an 11/40 casette.
46/30 crankset FTW. 1:1 is definitely not low enough for hilly loaded riding unless your FTP is 5+ W/kg. A rail-trail is the likely exception since IIRC they top out at 3% gradients.
FWIW, I run an 11-42 Chinese cassette on 2 bikes, one has GRX Di2 and the other has Ultegra RX Di2. Both shift fine without any special links. 11-40 would perform even better.
Yea, Haven ridden the KVR a lot, that gearing should be more than enough, even fully loaded. Pretty sure you can go with some bigger tires with that frame, but I have done a good part of that ride on 28s 45 would be Ideal on that one. Definitely worthwhile trying out a few rides with some weight and go from there...
Concur, I run 34/48, 11-40, with an Ultegra rear D that shifts perfectly with no goat link.
I ended up replacing the 42t w/ a 44t combined w/ 10-50 cassette, I’m happy with this decision
Rideit just mentioned the same, but an XT/XTR 11-40 cassette works just fine on my Ultegra 34/50 + old Ultegra RX rear derailleur. Your 105 would be the same with any Shimano 11-40.Quote:
Originally Posted by grrrmountainman
FWIW 11-40 11 speed XT cassettes are on sale.
I have a 44T cassette that clears just fine with an Ultegra RX derailleur. Shifts kinda poorly though, I can see why the recommendation is 40 max.
Todays update:
Put a 30/46 Grx crank up front and changed the stem for a bit of rise just to give it a more civilized feeling on trails. Took it for a 35km ride this afternoon on gravel and the gearing I think will be a decent compromise. The wheel set I have being built will be in i25 rims so the thought is they should be able to transfer over to any other bike I end up therefore I don’t feel like I’m committing TOO much into this one to make it a gravel ride. I was thinking the same with the tires but muddy sections today/mud buildup wise the 38’s are probably the right choice. I figure if I get into anything too chundery/loose I’ll just walk the bike (thinking past rail trails)
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Next update when the wheels and or bags come in.
Thanks for the advice and comments re: gearing
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Recently started looking into Gravel bikes as the weather gets nicer and I'm planning to commute to work 2-3x a week. Hoping to get some insights from the mag collective as I venture into another gear obsessive interest.
For context: The commute route entails 6 miles of a lot of shit roads and twists and turns. Also interested in using it for getting around town (Seattle, hilly) and taking it on some longer 20 mile fun bike path rides. 6'4, 220lbs and 35" inseam.
Currently on an 2000s 61cm Bianchi brava frame w/ Sora components that struggles with the commute.
Was hoping to keep it under $1500 but a lot of "best deals" are just north of that. It sounds like hydro brakes and grx400/600/800 would make things a lot more enjoyable, but there's so many elements to research and understand (tires, forks, tubes, seats, etc) that is pretty overwhelming and hard to tell what's actually a solid deal and what's sneaking shit in. Would want to put some racks for panniers on the back at least.
Top options so far:
State 4130 CL bike - $1000 obo, mechanical disc brakes, 2 sets of tires
https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/b...738304571.html
Mulekick 4130 - doesn't ship til summer, $1500, hydro brakes, steel frame + carbon fork
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products...-grx-crank.htm
Mulekick 853 - $1700, scuffed cranks and drop outs, allegedly worth $5k, everything the 4130 has but better
https://bikeisland.com/cgi-bin/BKTK_...ls&ProdID=3630
Or I could get a super entry level but maybe? more solid canyon, polygon, all city bike for ~$1500
Thoughts? What am I missing on the current options? I know bikes direct/bike island aren't known for their super modern frames/geometrys but I don't really know the difference
My reco in this range is usually the Jamis Renegade S2. I bit out of your budget at MSRP $2400 but very well spec'd for the price and you don't need to f around with guessing on used condition.Quote:
Originally Posted by eSock
Colorado Cyclist / Planet Cyclery is going out of business, probably worth a look at their inventory clearance.
Whoa, Colorado Cyclist is dunzo? Didn’t expect that.
Brodie Ronin or Romulus?Quote:
Originally Posted by eSock
Brodie Elan 2.0 is steel with GRX
The Lauf Seigla seems like a decent value, especially when it's on sale.
Lynskey has a sale going on: https://lynskeyperformance.com/grave...-grx-600-2x11/
I bought three bikes during the pandemic so my view on bike values may be somewhat skewed...no ragrets
Also worth noting: Lynskey selling Ti gravel frames under $1k...I went with Microsoft AdventX and a cheap used WTB ST i23 wheelset from Craigslist, you can upgrade over time. Got new wheels this spring, maybe revisit drivetrain next year.
I want to build from frame up a size 49 Gravel bike for my wife (I can't figure out how to post photos :fmicon: )
Do I go:
Giant Revolt Advanced
or
(Fawk) Specialized Diverge?
Love my Revolt
Just upgraded the OEM ramblers on my rig to 48c Tufo Thundero HD’s. Supposedly lower rolling resistance despite the extra beef. Wanted something faster for Wild Horse next month.
First I’d heard about the Walmart gravel/touring bike: https://gearjunkie.com/biking/ozark-...el-bike-review
I swapped out a cludged together ultegra xt microshift 10sp 2x for a more legit 1x. Force 11sp shifter and brake lever and rival 1 rd, a SLX cassette, and a 40t crankset. Bike rides nice and silent now with sharp gear changes.
Ended up ordering Marin Gestalt 2.5 thru LBS. Should be arriving by the end of the week. Definitely fell into the 'well this feature is only a little more expensive...' spiral and ended up maxing out my budget but I'm stoked to start getting around the city by bike a lot more (and hopefully it not getting stolen).
From this evening, West Hill Shop gravel night.
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Got out for a shakedown ride this weekend and overnighter. Wheel set is a nice upgrade (dt swiss wheels and 350 Hubs) , 30/46 front chainring was adequate and bags (restrap) are working well. 96km/1,150m elev over two days and grades up to 20% - this is a ride from my door in Jasper with a nice lake for an overnight camp and return the same way. Tires (38c) are able to handle loose chunk put no doubt become pizza cutters when it’s soft or sandy, but it’s the best I have to work with so kind of like the gearing, it’ll just be what it is.
Off to the oakanagan to spend a few weeks Bikepacking - lots of different route options. Stoked!
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Nice--strong first outing!
I know that spot. It's part of the Roundabout Brattleboro - https://bikepacking.com/routes/roundabout-brattleboro/Quote:
Originally Posted by buttahflake
Good eye, it is indeed.
A couple from yesterday in Keene, NH.
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Need to change gearing on my new Otso Fenrir for fully loaded bikepacking. Comes with 34t chainring and 11-40 cassette. Works fine unloaded, but my knees...I'm at the age where the muscles are fine but the joints are unhappy. Front chainring is going to a 32 or a 30.
GRX 812 is on the bike
Option A: Goatlink 11 w/sunrace 11-46 or 11-50
Option B: Garbaruk long cage swap w/sunrace 11-46 or 11-50
Anyone done either? Youtube demonstrates that both work, Garbaruk a little more expensive. They have a nice cassette as well but its almost 3x the sunrace cost and I've had good experience with sunrace so far. Not worried about the cassette weight penalty.
Ideally you would use a double like 34/24. I know it’s not popular but the 1x drivetrain for loaded touring is woefully inadequate.
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bravo grrmountainman!
I replaced my wife’s 11-42 with a SR 11-46 on my wife’s Sram Rival 11speed. Other than adjusting the derailleur, it works like a charm.Quote:
Originally Posted by milestogo
On a GRX you may need some extra chain links.
x2. Great pics.Quote:
Originally Posted by chaka
Nice work. I'm guessing you know where to go here in the OK, but if you have any questions, let me know.Quote:
Originally Posted by grrrmountainman
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After 3 years of putting up with Apex 11 speed gearing 11-42, finally made the jump to Shimano 12 speed with a full bike rebuild. This is my road, bike, gravel, bike, and cross-country mountain bike and was worried about the big gearing jumps on the road but after a couple of road rides, have yet to wish for tighter gear jumps. Everything about the Shimano grx 820 has been amazing. 44 t Wolf Tooth chain ring, 10-51 cassette is amazing on the road and gravel. Still a bit of a grind on steep technical single track but much better than the old SRAM apex. Super smooth, shifting and amazing braking. So nice having the left lever controlling the new One up v3 dropper post as well. Very excited to see where this bike can go.
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Did you piece the groupset together yourself or at your LBS?Quote:
Originally Posted by alive
If you are looking for this group keep your eye on the Planet Cyclery website. They have been dropping prices on their GRX 820 components recently. I suspect it may drop more before they finally shut their doors in JuneQuote:
Originally Posted by johnnyg82