Naturally its different for everyone. Spinning can be the key to keeping stress off the knees during a nasty climb, particularly important in the latter half of a big day. We believe travel by bicycle has the power to encourage conservation, inclusivity, and respect for all people and cultures. A better option may therefore be to use a what is occasionally called a super-compact crankset, but is more often referred to as a gravel or adventure crankset. Friday Debrief: Singlespeed Eskers, 2023 ATB Challenge, Gear Sales, and More. I think youll like them, but you can unsubscribe at any time. If I calculate the gear ratios for each of those 20 possible combinations and plot them, I get the chart on the right here: The most important thing to notice here: all that overlap! Selecting parts to reduce gear ratio : r/bikepacking - Reddit We visit a lush valley in British Columbia, a historical park in Italy, and the Oregon coast in today's installment of Weekend Snapshot. In addition, if you prefer SRAMs DoubleTap lever mechanism to STI shifters, as I do, this solution is the bees knees. Due to odd choices of cog sizes, the only 12-speed cassette that outperforms the equivalent 11-speed cassette in terms of spacing is the Campagnolo 11-29. Jokingly referred to as the 'dinner plate', the wide-ratio cassettes found on today's MTBs (this Shimano cassette runs from 10-51T, for a 510% ratio . Thanks to trickle-down technology, however, they are no longer restricted to the top-of-the-line group sets. I hadnt considered the need for that kind of speed (especially for bikepacking, as you say) but a 2x would certainly be needed. Hello! I usually log a few thousand loaded miles each year, a majority in the US but Ive had the privilege of traveling by bike on five different continents. In the last four months Ive put about 1300 loaded bikepacking miles on Stella with her Shimano SLX 112 drivetrain: roughly 700 miles of gravel and dirt roads, 300 miles of singletrack, and 300 miles of pavement. Being able to run tires past 45c is superb. But, then again, $615 is nothing to blink at. The lower high gear doesnt bother me because Im usually riding rougher surfaces and dont need to be going screamin fast. If you do a lot of riding in developing countries, your odds of finding replacement parts are better with an 8, 9, or even 10 speed cassette. I must admit, this is hands down my favorite mechanical drop-bar drivetrain Ive used to date. A crash is often the benefactor of such turmoil. If youre thinking about a 1x but want to know more before making the switch, I hope this post will help you navigate the decision. Most of my city riding and commuting is done on a 48-19 gear ratio. Most, but not all, of the 1x benefits and concerns Ill explain below apply to setups with newer wide-range cassettes. The Local Overnighters Project is a unified effort to document and map one-night bikepacking routes all over the worldby locals, in their own backyards. By adjusting this pull ratio at the derailleur and adding another speed to the shifter ratchet, Ratio was able to make this work with a variety of SRAM components. I'm on a bike with vertical dropouts so I'll be using DMR spacers, an Absolute Black 18t cog, Paul Melvin tensioner, SRAM 850 chain and my current 30t Blackspire chainring. I routinely buy a smaller small chainring than comes with the bike to better enable comfortable climbing. In addition to derailleur gears, internal hub gears are also an option. Best 1x gearing options for gravel - 3T Blog I havent talked much about 3x drivetrains in this post. Recently I acquired a beautiful new bike, my Chumba Stella Ti. More modern and technologically advanced: You may or may not appreciate the engineering that goes into modern drivetrains, but even if you dont, its nice to know the bike industry is invested in developing and improving the parts you need. I've been doing single speed bikepacking . Is this just a fad thats going to go away? If the rider wants to maintain a more comfortable cadence of 60 rpm on such a climb then the chainrings, cassette or both should be changed to have a lowest ratio of no more than 0.92:1. If you're just getting into cycling, understanding bike gear ratios can be daunting. The frame geometry is much closer to a touring bike, with a long . Best 1x vs 2x piece Ive ever read. Please keep the conversation civil, constructive, and inclusive, or your comment will be removed. Thus its hard to make definitive statements about 1x versus 2x without knowing more. We have over 300 original and curated bikepacking routes in our global network spanning nearly 50 countries. The Ratio ratchet is stainless steel so it wont corrode in wet conditions, unlike the SRAM version, but generally looks quite similar, aside from the now-ubiquitous and recognizable 3D-printed texture. The conclusion from the example above with someone who can sustain 200 watts / 800 vertical meters per hour at sea level and is planning to ride up some sustained 10% gradients at over 1500 m elevation and has a total weight of rider, bike and gear of 85 kg is that they would need a gear ratio of no more than 0.92:1 to maintain a cadence of at least 60 rpm in that situation. When we talk about 2x or even 3x drivetrains, on the other hand, the cassette choice is more ambiguous. Our bike gear calculator can show the ratios for the range of chainrings and cogs teeth so that you can check your bike gear ratios and gear inches in different settings: Choose the minimal value of the teeth in the chainring. Shimanos GRX (gravel) rear derailleurs can be used with shift levers from other groups and are compatible with much larger cassettes than road rear derailleurs. Some people see an aesthetic or fashion advantage to having only one chainring and no front derailleur, but those aspects have zero influence on my gearing decisions. Of course they are always different, and while this isnt exactly accurate, heres a simple chart with diameters in millimeters and inches. Great content as always! As mentioned, the biggest potential issue is stripping the cover screws. The GRAN FONDO bikepacking mindset Bikepacking is an excellent opportunity to get to know a country and its people. Frame geometry improvements: Without the need for multiple chainrings and a front derailleur, frame designers can create bikes with shorter chainstays, wider tire clearance, and other nuances of bike geometry that improve handling, especially in the gravel and MTB categories. Pay attention to the bike I'm riding, the bikepacking bags I'm carrying my belongings in, the clothes I'm wearing, the bike tools I'm traveling with, and my notes on the various items I'm carrying with me . The easiest way to answer this is to go through an example. The Shimano Alfine IGH Shimano Alfine 8 vs. Shimano Alfine 11 1. The term gear ratio comes up a lot when discussing drivetrains. However, MTB cranks have longer axles than road cranks to give more clearance due to accommodating wider MTB tires and rear axles. Since this would be a pretty limited range with a 1x, youll probably want a 2x drivetrain. Some rear shifters have the ability to shift multiple gears at once. Bikepacking With A Backpack: When is it a good idea? We have over 300 original and curated bikepacking routes in our global network spanning nearly 50 countries. A standard 210 drivetrain from five years ago, for example, might have a similar range to a modern 112. This was a great summary and shed some light into drivetrains. My 2019 Fargo, named Shadowfax, has a 210 drivetrain with 38/24 tooth chainrings and a 10 speed cassette ranging from 10-36 teeth. To summarize the above advice, a range of gear ratios from about 0.8:1 to 1.0:1 up to about 3.8:1 to 4.0:1 is reasonable. If steps are too wide, shifting will feel awkward and jerky. Therefore, I strongly recommend using two chainrings when riding mostly on paved roads, which is the type of riding that this site is focused on. I get it. As someone with a 1x, 2x, and a 3x in my garage, I think our bodies and brains are remarkably good at adapting to whatever system were working with at the moment. The most robust chain guide is the K Edge Cross Double XL (braze-on mount: Amazon or clamp-on mount: Amazon) and there is also the SRAM Chain Spotter (Amazon). The granny gear would be 18.15 and the high gear would be 100.1. As mentioned above, Miche and IRD sell 11-speed, wide-range cassettes that have a 12-tooth smallest cog. Using a hanger extension should only be done as a last resort. Please use the Contact Form to inform me of any missing or incorrect information. After deep-diving into gear ratios and ranges and talking with the folks at Chumba, I finally came to the understanding that a modern 112 drivetrain would probably be better for trail riding, and could be equally good for gravel and doubletrack. I think well see continued innovation in cassettes as manufacturers figure out how to extend the range even more and bring down the prices of current 12 speed components. Im Alissa, your virtual guide, here to help you make your biggest, boldest adventure dreams a reality. Price depends on many factors, but all other things being equal, yes, newer 11 and 12 speed cassettes and chains are more expensive. As explained in the Cassettes section below, using a larger cassette may not be ideal because it would have larger spacing between the gears and may not be compatible with the rear derailleur. The Fastest Bikes of the Tour Divide Ultra Race (4,400KM Non-Stop) They are still found on some touring bikes, city bikes, and occasionally mountain bikes. Thus 1x is shorthand for any bike that has a single chainring in front and some number of cogs in back, most often 110, 111, or 112. Now I know I want 1x . Follow These Steps, 18 Bikepacking Tips and Tricks For a Smoother Ride, Bikepacking in the Rain: Tips for Riding and Camping in Soggy Conditions, 210 has a wider range (but both ranges are pretty good). He also said his lowest gear of 34-32 (1.06:1) wasnt quite low enough on certain climbs during the race, even for him. The downside is that you cant convert these bikes to 2x if you decide youd prefer it. Should You Use A 1X, 2X or 3X Drivetrain For Touring and Bikepacking? I can still make good progress but I dont feel like Im getting full efficiency out of my pedaling. Firstly, because large chainrings can be 55% bigger than small chainrings (e.g., on a 46-30 crankset), a cassette with a gear range of at least 260% can be sufficient to obtain a complete gear range of 400% when two chainrings are used. What Is A Granny Gear On A Bike - And How Should You Set One Up? - BikeTips This is ignored here because generally the cog sizes and shifting ramps are identical across all versions, so shifting should be very similar. VAM (in vertical meters per hour) can be turned into cycling speed (km/h) at a certain gradient (in %) using this formula: Using the numbers from the 2016 TCR route gives: 800 / (10 * 10) = 8 km/h. Campagnolo bodies have been the same for everything from 9- to 12-speed road cassettes. Yes, it can be. Using a 30-46 crank with an 11-34 cassette gives a reasonably low gear of 0.88:1, a top gear of 4.18:1 and thats a range of 474%. The measured difference is very small, and I challenge any bikepacker to notice it in a blind test. The efficiency difference is not huge, but it is far larger than the very marginal effect that the small difference in weight between the two setups has. As most of you know, neither SRAM nor Shimano allow their DoubleTap or STI road shifters to interface with their 12-speed MTB drivetrains. As you can see in the photos above, the install went fairly smoothly, all things considered. On mountain bikes, having only one chainring has significant advantages because it gives better chain retention on rough terrain, rear suspension works better if the chainring size doesnt change and it eliminates the need to make clunky shifts between chainrings under power. How easy or hard a gear feels when pedaling is a function of how many teeth are on the cassette cog (rear) and chainring (front). At a cadence of 90 rpm (which is very comfortable and most people can handle significantly more), a 50-tooth chainring and a 12-tooth cog gives a speed of 47 km/h. The ECR/Rohloff combo has the lowest gearing. Subsequent sections address the options of how to obtain such gearing, but I first need to address what total gear range is needed by assessing what are the fastest gears that are likely to be needed for this type of cycling. The extra weight for the chainring, front derailleur and shifter is very marginal at around 200 grams. For instance, like James Hayden did when he won the 2017 TCR, Ive taken an 11-32, 11-speed Shimano cassette and replaced the first four cogs (11-12-13-14) with the first four cogs from a 12-25, 11-speed cassette (12-13-14-15) to obtain a custom 12-32 cassette with only the final jump between gears being 14% and all other steps being less. For example, a modern road rear derailluer officially rated for up to a 32-tooth cog almost always works with a 34-tooth and often with a 36-tooth cassette. We inspire and inform through original bikepacking routes, stories, and coverage of the gear, news, and events that make our community thrive. Thats a gear ratio of 4.17:1, so a highest gear ratio of around 4:1 should be sufficient for ultra-distance cycling. This might be true, all other things being equal, but its also true that derailleurs and shifters continue improving in terms of design and materials, which could cancel out that effect. $100 Ratio 112 Upgrade Kit Obviously we could have picked another arbitrary constant, but it makes sense to make our kit as cross-compatible as possible, Tom adds. Bike Gear Gear Should You Use A 1X, 2X or 3X Drivetrain For Touring and Bikepacking? Perhaps you plan on racing on your gravel bike? Know what gearing works for you and make a note of it to have as reference when purchasing a drivetrain or fine tuning your existing setup. Dangle things like a coffee cup or flip flops off any setup with a carabiner. Bikepacking combines elements of trekking, camping and cycle touring, opening up the world to two-wheeled exploration, fun and adventure. Unbeknown to me, on the day we posted the news release back in late October, he ordered one, installed it, and has already put a fair share of miles on it. The Blackburn Grid Handlebar Bag is a must-have addition for any bike setup with its low-profile and fuss-free access to your phone, snacks, tools, gloves . The big advantage of these systems is that they cannot easily get damaged like derailleurs. We have over 300 original and curated bikepacking routes in our global network spanning nearly 50 countries. Thank you for your reply, I normally run a 48X17 for my rides and like to average around 25kph. TOTAL: ~$850, $225 X01 GX Derailleur The simplicity and durability are still benefits, but there are times when I wish I could cruise a little faster to take advantage of a smooth descent. 1x is fine for unloaded singletrack but give me both my chainrings for the Great Divide! Our guide covers everything you need to know to make that bikepacking trip a reality. Note that the wheel diameter in the above equation isnt really the rim diameter; its the actual diameter of the mounted and inflated tire. Still, I was nervous when taking Stella for her first ride. Simpler mentally: No need to think about what gear youre in up front, and fewer shifts needed (in some cases) to reach your desired gear. Cassettes with 9-tooth cogs were not considered because they are too inefficient and not durable (which is why there are not offered by any of the 3 main brands). About 1300 miles ago I switched my primary bikepacking bike from a 210 Salsa Fargo to my new 112 Chumba Stella. Hello! Remember that a longer chain or at least a couple of extra chain links is often needed when installing a larger cassette so that the chain is not too short when you inevitably shift into the large chainring and largest cog. On long sections of consistent grade, especially gravel or road, wider steps can force you to choose a slightly less efficient gear; you may feel that your cadence is slightly too fast or the resistance is a bit too stiff. In conclusion, the advantages of single chainrings are far less important when cycling mostly on paved roads than when mountain biking on trails. The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route: Essential Q&A, Preventing Bike Theft While Bikepacking or Touring, Tubeless Bike Tire Not Holding Air? But that isn't with the extra gear so I know it will be slower. Exact Actuation is used on road and older mountain bike components, and X Actuation is employed on the newer 1x mountain bike components. Although originally designed for flat handlebars, shift levers do exist for drop handlebars. Fixed gear ratios. : r/bikepacking - Reddit Sustainable power can be turned into speed at a certain gradient using this calculator. Bikepacking & Ultra-Distance Cycling Advice, Gear Ratios for Bikepacking & Ultra-Distance Cycling, Avoiding Bike Crashes & What To Do If You Crash, Environmental Effects on Cycling Speed: Wind, Elevation & Air Temperature, The Actual Effect of Weight on Cycling Speed. 1x10 drivetrain bikepacking in colorado? Bike Gear Gear The Incredible $199 Internal Gear Bicycle Hub: Shimano Alfine Explained by Alee Denham June 2, 2022 Table of Contents What are the advantages of internal gear hubs? My 1x is something like 80 while another 3x bike that doesnt limit me is about 120. to support us + get The Bikepacking Journal. So you can think of gear ratio as a way of quantifying the highness or lowness of any gear. Copyright 2023 Exploring Wild, All Rights Reserved, : No need to think about what gear youre in up front. Help with lowest bike packing gear ratios for bikepacking flanagaj Free Member My lowest gear on my 3 x 10 29er with Maxxis 2.4 Ikon tyres is 22 / 36 which equates to 0.68 Fully loaded and on. If you choose a chainring small enough to make climbing easy, youll limit the high end of your gearing and may not be able to power through flats and gradual downs as quickly. The Ratio 112 Wide Upgrade Kit allows you to easily hack an 11-speed SRAM road shifter to work with a 12-speed Eagle MTB derailleur. Pick the maximum number, 48, for example. None of them are perfect. So, I got one of my own to resurrect some very well-used Eagle X01 parts and modify my Rival 1 DoubleTap shifter. In practice, mountain bikers and others who ride undulating terrain arent likely to be bothered by 1x step spacing, since the terrain is always changing underneath us anyway. Like hydraulic vs mechanical or clipless vs flat, its one of those issues that tends to inspire debate. Of course, in a 1x setup there is only one chainring, and its number of teeth influences how easy or hard all the cassette cogs will feel. $100 Ratio 112 Upgrade Kit The first thing to consider is your own weight. Simpler mechanically: No front derailleur or shifter to maintain, adjust, or replace. Everyone has their own preferences, but if youre still on the fence here are some general guidelines based on what youll be using your bike for. The Bikepacking Journal is our biannual printed publication. But a modern 212 drivetrain that includes a wide-range cassette can have an ultra-wide range, larger than both a new 112 and that old 210. However, riding long hours with a heavy load can also wear on your knees if not immediately, over time. Wider steps (benefit on certain types of terrain): This one is either a benefit or drawback depending on the terrain. What's the gear ratio? You need to be logged in to use these features. Its also worth adding that there arent too many dangers in the install process. The largest cog size that a rear derailleur can handle is an important consideration when choosing a cassette, so that is covered in the next section. Mountain biking and singletrack, loaded or unloaded: 1x, Rough gravel and dirt roads, loaded or unloaded: 1x, Gravel and dirt road touring: 1x if youre leisurely about it, 2x if you enjoy sometimes pushing for speed and/or want to sometimes race your bike unloaded, Long-haul international touring: 210 or 29 to maximize parts availability, Touring with extra-heavy load: 2x for the ability to have a lower low gear and still get a reasonable range. You can work this out by dividing the first (front) number by the second (back) number. 1x Basics Quick primer: Bike drivetrains are described as AxB, where A is the number of chainrings up front and B is the number of cogs on the cassette in the back. Whereas 11-speed cassettes from different manufacturers have the same spacing between cogs and so are cross-compatible, Im not sure whether this is true for all 12-speed cassettes. This translates into at least a 1.5% difference in speed for a given amount of power, which can add up to a lot over a very long race, see the Mechanical Resistance page. No more annoying front derailleur chain rub! Gear Steps 3. Let us know how the swap to 112 goes! Will the parts be more expensive? BIKEPACKING.com is dedicated to exploration by bicycle. If youre used to 2x or even triple chainrings, switching to a single chainring bike can inspire fear: fear of making the wrong decision about an expensive and critical set of components. Eventually I took the 1x drivetrain leap.