6 Reasons 1x Gearing Is Better: Why I love it and why you might too

Let me share the reasons I really like 1x gearing with six key benefits
Content
0:00 Intro
1:13 Is it fast enough?
2:56 Range anxiety?
4:19 Gaps and cadence issues
7:52 Cross-chaining
9:53 Clean looks
11:39 It’s quiet
12:11 Is 1x best then?
Dexshell www.dexshell.com/
Ekar review • Campagnolo Ekar 1x13 g...
SRAM eTap review • SRAM 12 vs CAMPAG 13 s...
That study: “It was found that chain-line offset and chain lubrication have a negligible effect on efficiency under laboratory conditions. Calculations of frictional loss resulting from offset indicate that this loss should be small compared to those produced by other mechanisms.” www.ihpva.org/HParchive/PDF/hp...
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[@covali69]

Can't tell enough how much I value you not being worried about the Pros. Makes your reviews much more valuable to me.

[@WerdnaLiten]

Exactly! Too many are hung up on what the Pros do, etc

[@ChristianBorrman]

definitely, if I hear another average rider say he / she needs close gears as if they spend their lives in fast pro pelotons...

[@pjmacgyver85]

Currently running 48T with 10-33 cassette on my Shiv and a 50T with 11-36 on my Venge. 1x FTW 😜 Though with 12+ speed cassettes you can get a bit better gearing than with regular 11 speed.

[@rondiggler1557]

@Donald Veen wtf LoL

[@michaelsigismonde7958]

Exactly. Most of us are not pros, just regular guys going for a long ride.

[@MrLuigi-oi7gm]

Best review of one-by drivetrains I've ever watched. Bravo! 👏👏👏

[@davidarthur]

Wow, thanks!

[@damo5219]

Another solid presentation, filled with clear facts, stats, and your expertise. Thank you.

[@walcottav]

Thanks again for being so rational Dave. I look forward to trying 1x.

[@PaulBeiser]

Thanks, David - another awesome video, and your experience adds so much credence to your arguments.

[@davidarthur]

I appreciate that!

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

Great points! I really like a 1x system and that is why I am now using 1x13 and 1x12 on all my bikes, road and mountain bike. I am actually designing my own gravel frame around a 1x system. Thanks for a great video.

[@joshhiggins4723]

Excellent video, answers a ton of questions I’ve been debating in my head in your usual very sound and clear manner 👍👍

[@davidarthur]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Bigsbeee]

Love my 1x on my Gravel bike - Love your vid's mate.

[@SaratMadiriInsuranceAdvisor]

The information what you have told in this video is really worthy for people like me who are in search of 1 speed crankset in gear cycles.I love the way of how these gravel bikes work even in flat roads,roughs,terrains,offroad,etc.I was having doubt in cross chaining in these types of cycles since my search.Thanks a lot you cleared most of doubts in this single video and also gave much important and relevant information about this topic.

[@TurnbuckleTrivia]

Great video. You nailed all the main points with confidence and clarity.

[@8jrs]

I know three people who bought new road bikes last year. They all went for Shimano 11-34 cassettes and 2x. The first 4 sprockets on that cassette are 11,13,15,17 - So that’s an example of a 2x system where the ‘gaps’ are no smaller than in a 1x system. 2x11-34 does have more gears, but those extra gears are grouped close together at the easier end of the cassette, where the gaps in a 1x system are small anyway. The overall range of 50/34 x 11-34 is also only marginally greater than that of 44 x 10-42.

[@chriskros8858]

44x10-42 is not for my ride for sure. I had 40 x 11-42 and no way to go many uphills. I've changed cassette in my GRX for 11-51t - the gear is lighter than in 2x drives. In general gearings are to hard in new bikes.

[@kylehudgins5255]

This is a very, very useful review. If you're an average or even above average rider, 1x makes a lot of sense, especially if you've decided to dabble in the gravel world. The perceived problems are simply not as important as most people think, and it's great to have one less derailleur to worry about in terms of maintenance and noise. I switched to a 1x setup this past fall, and I love it. I may never go back to a 2x.

[@cappy610]

Agree! Easy and low maintenance.

[@stevewebber4980]

Nice video. One way of establishing the exact gearing differentials is to divide the number of teeth on the chain ring (s) by the number of teeth on the cassette and multiply it by 2.7 The result gives you the length of travel per revolution of the crank. For example taking a 2 by: 52/34 with an 11/34 rear cassette for climbing very steep terrain will give you; 34/34 x 2.7 metres = 2.7 metres of travel per revolution of the crank. At the other end of the scale; 52/11 x 2.7 metres = 12.76 metres of travel per revolution of the crank. I would suggest that anyone considering a 1 by to simply go through their 1 by and each individual 2 by gearing and you will establish exactly the comparative differences. Cheers Steve

[@monkmchorning]

This goes back to Eugene Sloane's "Complete Book of Bicycling," the 1970 edition, and even further. But actually, since the advent of 8-12 speed freewheels, duplications and overlapping really aren't important.

[@lechprotean]

I hope one day we'll get hub gears + belt drive that are almost as lightweight as the normal stuff - no noise and grease on the outside is a huge win IMO.

[@Ferrichrome]

Alfine hub is almost as good gearing range as a regular drivetrain but maybe in the future it will get better who knows

[@highanddryful]

Priority Apollo Gravel bike is the one... Drop bar internally geared Gates belt drive system belt drive gravel bike. 409% gear range.

[@tjm160]

Another brilliant real world opinion David, thank you. I am fortunate to own a 2016 Giant TCX Advanced SX which I run as a one-bike solution with two sets of wheels; one set sporting 40mm gravel tyres for the winter and summer mixed surface rides and another with 28mm road tyres for the better weather months. The bike came with SRAM Apex and I recently upgraded to Shimano GRX (40T & 11/42). I absolutely love the simplicity of the 1x groupset and the smoothness of GRX over the entry level Apex has been more than worth the investment. I do sometimes miss the closer gaps between the gears of a 2x setup on fast road rides, but as a one bike does all solution would still choose 1x over 2x.

[@Chris-Novaboarder]

Tim do you have any trouble climbing or do you run out of gears on the downhills? I am a noob to Grave/Road riding.

[@paulclark9968]

Well after watching this and listening , you have helped me make my mind up ,my new bike for touring France when we are allowed is a 1x gearing , Thank, s for the excellent Advice .

[@djscars572]

Thanks for the video Dave, very well explained and food for thought on my new bike decisions, surprised with top end with that set up. Looking forward to your reviews on the 3T and the Revolt Advanced 0 , it would be great if you did a comparison of that two, thanks Derek

[@Mike-vd2qt]

Great vid, thanks! My first 1X12 bike is on order now. My last touring bike was 3X10, canti brakes, down-tube shifters, and tubes. I'm finally moving into the 21st century.

[@neiltruswell2122]

Must admit I’m one of those who try to stay at around 90 cadence until a big hill appears then it’s just get over it . In regards to the x chain I always change as and when it’s required so I don’t worry if I’m x chaining!! Great blogs BTW 👍

[@jamesbicknell4706]

Good honest review again. Keep the content coming.😉👍

[@nigelstanley3674]

Great analysis and glad I opted for the 1x11 GRX800 groupset. Thanks for the vid David.

[@IanTompsett]

Do you think it's worth it over GRX600? Asking for a friend...

[@nigelstanley3674]

@@IanTompsett I haven’t tried the GRX600 but my initial preference was the GRX600 cranks and the 10speed 400 rear mech but zero availability. I think they’re all so close in technology that GRX600 would be awesome. Go for it

[@philc9305]

Very good review you have covered all my questions.

[@ashleyhouse9690]

Agree with everything you said including not giving a toss about what pros do. I've been running 1x for years now and it actually used to be a bit easier years ago when you could mix-'n'-match Shimano road and MTB components. The road groupsets now are a bit better than they used to be though with 11-speed systems with bigger cassettes and compact chainsets.

[@bradsanders6954]

The reason pros use 2X? Is 100% because its what works best...........the reason most buy into 1X is due to marketing such as this video............"buy this".........repetition is what does it for selling you something you never needed.

[@petersharkey5510]

Great balanced detail once again. Thanks for posting.

[@unairamos74]

It’s been two years since I converted my road bike to 1x and there’s no going back. I’m delighted and maintenance has become much easier. And the myth of chains wearing much sooner is simply not true. My KMC 10 speed chain is still doing great after 11.000 kms!!!

[@truthseeker8483]

Did you hear that satisfying thunk as the front derailleur hit the bottom of the trash can??? ....there is no better sound.....😀

[@bradsanders6954]

How long were you spending on front mech maintenance? Must have been hours and hours. A 52X11 goes way fast. A 38X11 really doesnt...............a 34 x 34 climbs great for the average joe........a 1X abandons this idea. You dont need a low gear on hills,nobody does...................1X either has low gears or high gears, a really strong rider doesnt need low gears so they figure no one else needs them either................just like the poster of this video...........whats great for him must be great for others.

[@unairamos74]

@@bradsanders6954 front mech is always a pain in the ass, no matter how you put it. And because I don't need to win any races, 44-11 is more that enough to mantain a nice pace when descending, whereas a 44-36 takes me anywhere I might want to go. Sorry but for me there's nothing better.

[@truthseeker8483]

@@bradsanders6954 I don't need to go way fast so I have a nice spread of low gears, lighter weight, less maintenance and easy to use gears 1X for me!

[@Jchen1986]

Really great video debunking some common myths and bringing a real world perspective on bike trends. I have a 1x and 2x, and you nailed all the benefits of 1x and debunked the common complaints that I have to explain to others. Next time I’ll just send this video 😂

[@AB-zw5xx]

Excellent, concise discussion of the topic. Much appreciated.

[@chiefrocker12]

Great summary David. All your points are very much the same experience for me, in particular group rides. I swapped over to 1X about 3 years ago. Before I did this, I started to watch the gears I typically used in all types of riding. Once I knew that, I worked out the ratio and then established that I needed a 11-32 and a 42T 1X. Only gotcha to date has been in group rides. If you ride a 1X long enough, your legs get used to the variance, gears and cadence, however, depending on terrain , group rides may impose cadence that may not suit the group. What I found is that for flat groups rides, I need a 46T , whilst climbing 8-13%, I need a 38T. While this may be not for everyone, if you are into doing most of the maintenance on your bikes, then swapping out single chain ring now and then is no effort. I have also adopted oval chain rings as 1X (Absolute Black and Gabaruk). At the end of the day, I am having fun playing with all these gears and terrains. Isn't that's what "just ride bikes is about"

[@ChristopherClaudioSkierka]

Hi there, if you change the from 46T to 38T , do you not also swap the chain ? otherwise it will be too slack or tight depending which way yougo?

[@Leo-gt1bx]

What bike do you have?

[@shwndh]

Nice review. Personally, I like 2x on road and 1x on mountain. I hate having to shift across 3 or 4 gears at a time on 1x to get the ratio I want. It’s so much easier on 2x to make a wider ratio change quickly. To each their own. It’s nice to have choice.

[@nickmasters8474]

This is one reason I like friction bar end shifters. I sometimes shift like 5 gears in one super quick fluid motion (going from steep uphill to downhill, or vice versa!). But otherwise, I agree... I like having a granny ring to shift to.

[@Leo-gt1bx]

@@nickmasters8474 But is it not easier skip gears because you have no clicks?

[@nickmasters8474]

@@Leo-gt1bx Hey there, Leo - I'm not totally sure I understand your question. I'll address two possibilities: 1) It is super easy to skip over gears because of the lack of clicks. This is what I was referring to above. If I'm in a easy gear, going up a steep hill, and then I suddenly crest that hill and need to descend a steep hill, it's easy to shift the whole cassette in one quick fluid motion - no clicks! This is sweet! 2) I think you might be wondering about ACCIDENTALLY shifting past the desired gear due to the lack of a click. Yes... this is a real possibility, but it's solved with a little practice. I think you can get it pretty well down in about a week of regular riding. Every now and then you might goof up a little, but you just pull the lever back the other way a little bit. I don't think there's any shame in not wanting to use friction, but personally, I found it really fun and empowering to get it down. I'll never go back! It makes it so easy to mix and match parts, and it puts you in touch with your bike in a deeper way, and gives you a little pleasure at having learned a cool skill.

[@nickmasters8474]

@King Of Crunk While I definitely like 2x (I run 42/28 front with 11-13-15-17-19-21-24-28 in the back), I don't care for truly road oriented setups where you have 1t jumps. It's too fiddly for me. It definitely has its places for racing, but I'm not racing or even doing group rides. I ride hard and fast compared to many, but I'm on my own, so it doesn't matter if I can perfectly match a group, or find that absolutely optimal gear to try to drop someone. I just ride for my own enjoyment and health. Course there is no wrong setup - if you enjoy it, it's great!

[@richardblackburn4193]

Great video clearing up some myths. I've just bought a brand-new GRX 11x2 groupset. Couldn't get one with a single myself. But for a lot of people it'll be ideal. Love GX eagle on my hardtail.

[@richardking3681]

I’m sold! Been riding my road bikes 1x for a year and it’s a keeper for me!

[@justinwallace6043]

Great review, hoping to get a gravel bike this year and was slightly worried about a 1 x set up. The review just makes sense to a casual cyclist 👍

[@wss327]

Nice video, again! Love my BMC Roadmachine X 1x with 44 front and 11-42 back. The only problem is on some occasions, it is a bit gappy.

[@danalec4742]

I already converted my winter bike to 1x. I love it. It is very easy to clean it as well. 1x bike is lighter, therefore faster and I actually like the gaps. They give me another training opportunity and I am able to increase suddenly my muscles. And finally it is not very expensive to convert your bike. Excellent video. Thanks.

[@simon6652]

Brilliant video. You’ve sold me, as far as getting my first gravel bike is concerned.

[@donadams5094]

I am outraged that David says I should not think like a pro. I mean, when I am rampaging down the road at 22 kph, spitting out 140W for minutes at at time, I am practically Wout Van Aert! I kid, of course. I think the entire bike industry is wise to move away from an exclusively race-centric model of development and marketing. For all but a relatively small number of competitive amateurs and purists, wide tires, compliant seat posts, and other comfort enhancers are far more important than marginal gains in weight or aerodynamics. 1x may or may not be right for me, but if not it would have more to do with the general availability of 2x groupsets. I would have to customize a bike to even try a 1x setup, and that would mean some time and expense that might not produce any benefits. I like the simplicity it represents, just not sure there is any practical way to even experiment with it when all the bikes I would otherwise consider come with 2x setups. But would I if I could? Absolutely. I am neither a racer nor a purist, just a guy who wants a fun ride.

[@grahamhubbard2331]

good, sensible review on this topic. Personally i think 1x11 has some slight disadvantages when riding in a (fast) group due to large jumps in candence between 12tooth and 10tooth sprocket but I'd guess this is less of an issue on 1x12 and 1x13. Another massive issue is the cost of the cassettes and weight of cassettes

[@zimboy777]

another great practical video thanks - I did a 1x conversion on my 2019 Cannondale super 6 evo which I love. Cleaned up the look and weight of the bike and perfect around hills of S Ohio.

[@william.a.robinson]

What was your setup. I'm running a Cannondale Synapse and rather than upgrade to 2x11, I would like to try this out

[@zimboy777]

@@william.a.robinson my S6 came with cannondale si crankset 52/36 and shimano 105 groupset....12/28....i put on a praxis works b/bracket and 105 crankset with a Wolf Tooth 46t chainring - gearing is perfect for flat/undulating area of Ohio. The crankset conversion was really easy and obviously i dropped the front/der

[@william.a.robinson]

@@zimboy777 did you end up changing your rear derailleur or cassette or use a derailleur extender - thanks!

[@zimboy777]

@@william.a.robinson I used standard rear derailleur and cassette would probably have gone to a 30 on the cassette if more hills around here

[@zurichgnome6073]

@@zimboy777 Praxis Works bb because your Cannondale pressfit bb creaked? Mine did on my CAADX 105. I had to swap out for a Praxis bb or I would've gone insane.

[@jasonwarhurst2742]

You’re content and presentation are fantastic great reviews thanks jaythebrick

[@davidarthur]

Thanks Jason!

[@jimthebikeguy]

Brill video, and well done for sticking your head above the parapet. I love 1x too.... But its not there just yet. Nearly. One of my road bikes is 1x, with a 42t ring and an 11-42 out back. Its great. BUT the gaps are an issue and the lack of top end sometimes is too, and by definition the shifting is very brutal (has to be to make those jumps). Campag have nailed it, now we need sram and shimano to make it mainstream.

[@markomacek920]

Hey, my 3x10 705% range is great. But the gaps are too big for the road, so I'm considering switching back to 12-34 instead of 11-42 at the rear. For 1x I'll wait for 1x15

[@irish2200]

Completely agree about the don't worry about the pros thing! Do you, be you! I made the 1x choice on my trek road bike an I love it! Works very well for my in town riding weather it's an exercise ride or just a commute.

[@johnhilton1360]

Think you hit the nail on the head ... I run 1x on my mtb and gravel bike that I use mostly on road and love it

[@michaelsigismonde7958]

I own a 26" Montague Paratrooper folding mountain bike. The US Army uses this bike for its silence, and because it has the ability to go anywhere without fuel. It has a 3 chainring Shimano transmission. I very rarely, if ever, use the smallest chainring, which has the shortest gears for the steepest hills. Occasionally I may use the middle ring--which seems to have nicely spaced gears--but nowadays I just use the largest outer ring. Its lowest gears are sufficient for climbing, and the bike is very fast at the top. When folded, the bike easily fits in my Hyundai Elantra's small trunk. The Montague is the best bike I ever had.

[@maxlloyd3740]

Been using 1x on my MTBs for years and recently my cross/ gravel bikes are 1x. Used the gravel bike on a road sportiff with some success. 28mm tyres and 1x lead to me being in the top end most of the time which a change of chainring could have sorted. Ekar or Etap certainly have the gaps in the cassette sorted. Have got a Cervelo Caledonia on order with Force Etap. It so happens to come with a 10-36 cassette. I have a 46 tooth X Sync single ring to go on so that will be a 1x road experiment!

[@bederkaddouri5991]

I too live in the Cotswolds & I recently changed from a 50/34 - 11/30 to a 40 tooth front ring with wide narrow teeth & 11-36 cassette, absolutley fantastic, I have never ran out of gears flat out & gained a tiny amount up very steep hills. The lack of front deraileur has not held me back at all, its quieter, lighter & slicker looking, really recommended. I've got my bike down to 7.0 KG supersix evo high mod 58cm..woohooo! lets climb

[@slantedorbit]

I agree with much of your reasoning. My primary reason for preferring 2x on my all-road/gravel bike is that if I need to make a dramatic shift of gears, as when a steep grade appears unexpectedly, I can shift both front and rear and be in the gear I want in fewer clicks. In some cases this can be a safety issue, but even simply as a convenience I prefer it. And if I don’t want to shift between chainrings, modern front derailleurs have enough clearance to run through most if not all of a cassette anyway.

[@battle4dead]

Exactly my thought. In Addition when commuting through a city it's faster to dump multiple gears then accelerate super fast after a traffic light stop and jump up a bunch of gears in one go... Imagine the slow down of flipping through 4 gears when I can simply power the bike up to that speed on same gear

[@phillipk802]

Really value your videos. Well presented, informative and realistic. 👌

[@davidarthur]

Thanks 😊

[@trevorkirk413]

After having 5 new front mechs on my Canondale Topstone this year (Long story), I decided to give 1x a go and got a Whyte Friston, I will not be going back to 2x. None of the envisioned problems of lack of range, etc, appeared, just a great ride and no front mech to worry about.

[@Leo-gt1bx]

What size chain ring do you have?

[@trevorkirk413]

@@Leo-gt1bx 38 with 10-42 casette

[@Leo-gt1bx]

@@trevorkirk413Sadly 38t is way to slow for me. I can not go smaller than a 46t then I lose my 1-1 low gear.

[@zeblogo]

Remarkably educational. Thank you!

[@willspower3]

My maths says that 13 speed is the lowest limit for both suitable gearing and suitable jumps, although I would like to see a move away from sprockets smaller than 11t. The same study you linked noted greatly diminished efficiency for small cogs/sprockets. That's probably one way cross-chaining gets a bad rap. I would love a 13 speed 11-42 cassette.

[@PaulBeiser]

@david wills I agree - I would love an 11-42 cassette. I don't need the high end 9 or 10, and an 11-42 would allow closer spacing in the gears I use most.

[@willspower3]

@@aaron___6014 that's the plan, at least until 13sp reaches mid range groupsets

[@willspower3]

@@aaron___6014 yeah, ekar already does

[@jcsrst]

I love the simplicity of 1X.

[@rayr6060]

Superb review for one like me looking to reenter riding and make one purchase after decades away.

[@PedroPrego]

Classified Hub system! They do need to polish some important details but it sounds very good!

[@christopherhood9241]

I have to say I was somewhat skeptical re 1x in the beginning however on completing my ekar build I appositely love it. No issues re running out of gear nor big jumps. Wife too is taken with it, she has issues in getting her head around the gears on her 2x road bike.

[@binauppal876]

I got a 2x ultegra only 4 months old,brand new groupset on my road bike,,i recently converted my old trek 7.3fx hybrid with drop bars,new carbon forks from a 3x8 old skool gearing to a 1x10,42t upfront and a 11/36 cassette,,and can say i love it,so simple,for me i still got good. range and jumps aint too big,,love it that much wish i never bought the ultegra groupset now and considering selling my road bike,as my hybrid fits wider wheels plus a more relaxed seating position,as good as a gravel/endurance bike

[@jazzfan7491]

Great explanation. Makes total sense. I have a 2014 Trek FX 7.4 with a 3x front derailleur but 99% of the time I use the middle chainring and 9 gears in back is plenty. Plus this system is very quiet and smooth.

[@Daniel-yf9iy]

I’ve ridden both and currently riding 1x. I live in Colorado and 1x is working just fine for me. I like the simplicity and clean looks.

[@RaduCrican]

Love that you stay in the real world and ditch the whole pros thing from your videos. I am definitely an average cycling doing it for fun and when my got my 2nd bike, a Canyon Inflite which I did a couple of small adjustments too I got my first 1x groupset. I remember people telling me before I got the bike how bad 1x is in shops :)) good I ignored them. I just love it, easy, simplistic, just a pleasure. My mtb still has 2x, is okay, I can handle it, but definitely more annoying for the rides I do. I changed to my inflite to a larger cassette and well, there is nth really I miss, easy comfy gearing that just works.

[@khazza930]

I came to this video very skeptic and wondering what mis-information I would find... but I have to say it all makes sense! I'm still biased to a 2x simply because that's what I have, and I think it looks better... but getting rid of derailleur, without losing any practical function, definitely sounds tempting... maybe on my next gravel bike!

[@robmulder4047]

Love 1x setups! Building up my Isaac Boson Disc with a 42 up front and a Rotor Uno 11-32 at the back. Best of both worlds! Small steps with 11 to 16 straight on and super light weight.

[@robertcavanagh]

Was thinking about this setup how you find climbing was thinking 11 36 cassette

[@markhall2733]

I would love to try it, especially after spending weeks trying to fix my front derailleur position. I just think I would miss flipping the front derailleur every time I get to a hill. There's a tactile appeal to it somehow, and an inherent laziness of not having to frantically work up or down the casette.

[@bradsanders6954]

I never ever touch my front derailluers..........the newer stuff is fool proof to a fault.

[@gmjacobs24]

Really appreciate your thoughts on 1x! If I could get that Ekar groupset on a road bike at a price at or a little below an ultegra di2 equipped model, I would totally pull the trigger.

[@slimjim4ever]

I’m a huge fan of 9t cog. It allows you to run smaller chainring & so far it’s been quite durable for me. I’m using E13 Helix cassette 9-46t on all my bikes. Shifting is crisp & 9t gear never wore out or jumped on me pedaling at nearly 40mph (60kph). I actually prefer wider jump between gears so it’s perfect for me.

[@Anybloke]

I converted my Trek Madone over to 1x for over a year but recently changed it back to 2x. I liked not having to faff about with the front mech to get trimming just right but I couldn't get the range of gears I really wanted. It was also a bit noisy in 1x which I put down to replacing the Shimano 34-50 rings with a Stronglight 42.

[@pokie0622]

Been on a 1x road bike for almost two years. Won’t go back. Such a great ride. I started with a 48 chainring. Once i dropped that down to a 42 i find that I’m using all of my cog. Love, love, love my bike

[@antondubkov]

what cassette are you using?

[@mathewyee4800]

Great bike footage I love the 1 by 1 system

[@razcohen5590]

Thank you very much for your opinion on the matter. I know you posted this over a year ago and I am a little bit late to the party. Ever since Campy Ekar and etap AXS XPLR came out I have been contemplating making the switch to a 1x for a “gravel/adventure/mixed surface/whatever” bike. I know you have had the chance to ride both what you recommend between Campy Ekar and Sram Rival ETAP AXS XPLR (what a mouthful)? Is that one extra sprocket on the cassette worth it or is the wireless electronic worth it? Thanks for your opinions and your videos. Keep it up please very informative!

[@tomaldous5641]

As you stated in the end, give it a go. Well I've got a CX bike with SRAM 1x11 and it's great for muddy CX races as there's no front mech to clog up with mud and the gaps aren't such an issue off road. I also commute on this bike and I enjoy the lower maintenance required with a 1x set up. However, on the road a 1x11 set up with an 11-42 cassette was just far too gappy for me, I do like to ride with a high cadence and I was constantly feeling like I was in the wrong gear, also the higher gear on a set up like that was too small for the road riding I do, it may be enough for others. A smaller cassette would help with the gaps but I'd lose the range which I need as I live in a hilly area. I accept that new groupsets such as Ekar address the gaps to a degree by having 13 gears but it's far too expensive right now for me, maybe when it's roughly 105 prices then I'll have a look. When it comes to road riding for now I'll stick with a 2x set up, 1x on the road to me is a solution waiting for a problem a bit like road tubeless. I'm no luddite though, I love having disc brakes on my road bike and 1x and tubeless are great for off road riding. One thing the video didn't address was that small sprockets such as 9 and 10 tooth ones are significantly less mechanically efficient than larger sprockets as the chain is wrapped so tightly, it's a shame Campagnolo went with such tiny sprockets on Ekar. Again this isn't such a problem off the road as it would be on the road on a fast ride.

[@Leo-gt1bx]

Interesting comment. I currently have 2x9 48/32 and an 11-32 cassette. Would a 1x suit my needs? I have specialized hybrid carbon bike that I mostly use to get around. Really in need of some advice. Thanks

[@markakin3742]

Excellent content.. thank you

[@robinht7466]

What about chainring wear? On 1x mtbs I have experienced quite severe chainring wear in short time.

[@DcCock]

the 3T exploro race with the 2x grx was at the top of my list before I watched this video. I'm sold on Ekar but it's an additional $1000 over the grx

[@Mark5ive5]

The Ekar is arguably the best 1x choice right now. Ticks all the boxes. From your experience do you think a more standard groupset, GRX 11-42 for example, would be adequate on the road? Or does that make the gaps less manageable.

[@stevenfreeman7798]

Best video on this subject I have seen!. Recently your vids and views have improved loads!!. Was never a fan before but you have changed my mind well done!!.. Nice to hear a non industry driven view you are right we are not all pro cyclists.

[@kehlew0160]

Helpful review, thanks. I agree about the rear derailleur aesthetic. I've owned top end from all three main brands, and they're all poxy looking I reckon. As are most crankets, but not my current Campy Chorus ones....

[@dawudcoen]

Phew! I'm inching towards buying a Nukeproof Digger (comp?) as my first bike since my father's hand-me-down got nicked when I lived in London. I have test ridden the Digger and I really like the way it feels. Having had a little taste of speed (admittedly in a bike shop car park!), I had a bit of apprehension. Now I don't any more. An excellent review, dispassionately presented in the classic style of a humble cyclist. High five!

[@RetiredTSgtUSAF]

I just purchased my first 1x bicycle this year. I been riding bicycles since 1970. I do notice I change gears more with a 1x vs my 2x road bicycle. I ridden my 1x over 1000 miles now so I am getting use to changing gears more.

[@pshotton3752]

Thanks for taking the time to do an excellent review, I have a SRAM 1x11 setup and love it, the only down side seems to be that the gear changes are not smooth, do you think overall that 1x drivetrains are more 'clunky' and less smooth than 2x simply because changing gear involves a larger cog change due to the higher range of teeth?

[@tamasvarga67]

I like and only use 1x on my mountain bikes but 2x GRX on my gravel bike. I was debating for a while but I’m glad I went with 2x. I’m one of those who hates the bigger gaps between the gears when riding on smooth gravel roads on on tarmac. I agree about the clean look but I find the enormous cassette ugly on a gravel bike.

[@MrAnon-2024]

I also really like the look of 1x. It’s so clean, uncluttered, less fussy and just much nicer on the eye

[@mattmacpherson1033]

Thanks for the video. I am struggling with this subject. I currently have a 3x9. I ride 20-50 mi rides mostly gravel about 2-3 days a wk. except January and February. I use 2- 3 gears in the large sprocket95% of the time. When i go to sprocket 2 it is usually up a long hill and it is to save my legs or when I am starting out. I would be interested I follow up video that covers the benefits of 2x as well.

[@jonathangregory9521]

I'm definitely a 1x convert for the road after years of 1x on a mountainbike. It is also an easy switch when the cyclocross season finishes up and all I need to do is fit a bigger chainring (and maybe a new chain) to the crank to get the bike ready for the road. On top of that, and maybe this one is easier with a threaded BB as all you need are a couple of spacers, but I use an MTB crankset and I have experienced zero issues in regards to chainline - and as I ride both MTB and road the slightly wider stance of a mtb crankset across all bikes is probably a good thing right?

[@lovecycling193]

I'm not a 1x fan but! The new Ekar gravel 9 to 42 with a 40 tooth front works out at 90 rpm 31.3 mph on the 40to9 but 32 mph on the 50to11! So that Ekar cassette is in theory the perfect replacement for a 34/50 2x set up. And could in theory be used on a Road bike, what's your thoughts on this?

[@TurnbuckleTrivia]

Vielo R+1 road bike has an ekar build

[@joonlee920]

I'm doing this right now on my gravel bike w/Campy Ekar 9-42 cassette. Works perfectly!

[@michaelgoodwin593]

Noticed 1x Sram on road bikes, any use for climbing or is it more for sprinters/crits? Love 1x on my Trail mtb..... just cant see it replacing granny gears on my SL6

[@brettsta72]

Hi David, which road climbing or aero bike would you recommend in 1x, just the first one that comes to mind?

[@steveflor9942]

Will new Dura Ace 12 speed be a 1X with a 10-50 cassette?

[@brianpirrie7420]

I will say that just yesterday I lost a couple play-around sprints on a gravel group ride with 40x11 1x system. I was completely spun out going 26-28 mph. I think I may swap out to a 44t or even 46t chainring. Other than that I love the 1x setup

[@mariconor242]

I’ve ordered a 1x GRX 810 groupset for “‘my son’s” cyclocross bike. Such a pity it doesn’t come in 165mm cranks though as I have them on my other bikes and much prefer it (I ride 54 frames). My natural cadence is 70 so with the shorter cranks it allows me to spin higher cadence more easily. Bike manufacturers take note 👌

[@xavierderck3910]

I cycle for 50 years now, all over Europe. From curiosity I made a 1 x 9 of a good quality vintage steel bike. All good components. And 700 x 28 roadtyres. And I love it. So simple and does the job in my hilly area. Front 39, cassette 11-36. My most prefered bike and I've some carbon bikes

[@richcrompton6891]

My first road bike was 1x5. I dreamed of having 10 gears. 13 gears on a 1x sounds perfect! That dinner plate 40 cog does look wrong at the moment, but I’m sure I’ll get used to it!

[@Leo-gt1bx]

This is exactly what puts me off 😂

[@drewbrookes]

I have a 1x SRAM force mechanical winter bike and 2x ultegra di2 summer bike. Thoughts on the 1x are on balance positive but not without compromise. Range is sufficient but only just, gear jumps are mostly fine but there are very rare occasions when you can't get a comfortable cadence, main benefit is the simplicity and reliability of shifting which is equivalent to electronic 2x and far superior to mechanical 2x

[@nicooliveira1729]

Great video! Does anybody know what tyres he has on his bike? The non tan wall ones...

[@daryl4841]

Some people might insist on sticking to the exact same cadence all the time but I think its optimal to switch up the cadence a bit. The body gets stronger when you give it a bit of variety in the workload. 85 for me is a good average but really its anywhere from 75 to 100 depending on how my legs feel and what the situation is. Going the same cadence all the time every day sounds like a good way to plateau in skill, not to mention boring! Going 1x with slightly bigger differences in gears seems like a great way to stay versatile.

[@kovie9162]

I also have a 1x and love it, specifically a 1x10, which gives me most of the gears that I need during most rides. And for those times when it's not quite high or low enough, I pop into my big or small chainring. Yeah, I have a triple, which is basically 3 1x setups in one. No need for mammoth cogs or an 11 in the rear, I can use a tightly spaced cassette with small jumps so my cadence can stay steady, and I have bailout as well as fast gears for when I need them. Yeah, it's a bit heavier, but I'm not racing anything so I don't care. And there's absolutely no issues with the chain rubbing the other rings or derailleur, and I make sure to not cross-chain on the small and big rings, but there's no reason to so it's not an issue anyway. Perfect setup for me.

[@Ghostintheshell3551]

Awesome video !!!

[@dogphlap6749]

I've recently put together a bike but the chain alignment even with the chain wheel spaced as close to the chain stay as I could get it without the chain wheel touching the chain stay was so bad that the chain would come off the chain wheel when 1st gear (a 28 tooth sprocket) was selected. The cassette is an 8 speed on an HG freewheel hub. I noticed the sprockets were the same on an 11 speed cassette, it was just the spacers between sprockets what were thinner on the 11 speed. So I removed the thicker spacers from an 8 speed cassette and replaced them with the thinner ones from the 11 speed cassette, that made the cassette about 7mm narrower. So I fitted a 7mm spacer between the rear wheel and the 28 tooth sprocket. That was enough to fix the problem with the chain alignment, so now the chain no longer comes off the chain ring in 1st or any of the 8 gears. Of course I now have to use an 11 speed shifter and chain with the newly narrowed 8 speed cassette, which is not ideal. I could just fit an unmodified 11 speed cassette and not use the first two or three sprockets but I would like to avoid that rubbish solution if I can. The bike is still a work in progress but it is in daily use.

[@randymonster4105]

Yeah, I'm using a 10 speed 36-26 crank and 11-42 t cogs. I was planning to switch to a 12 spd 1 by. That is until I went for a ride on one of the most difficult mountains in our area. I was planning to only use the big crank to test if I can switch to 1-by. When I was at the steepest parts, I was forced to switch to the smaller crank. I plan on riding up mountains and 1-by falls short, I think even if I have a 50t cog. Until I get stronger, 1-by ain't for me.

[@deadreckoner5276]

I live in a very hilly part of New England and went 1x for a season. Felt like I wasn't having as much fun spinning out while descending. That's the only reason I switched back to 2x.

[@KoenMiseur]

I still prefer 2x on road and gravel, you just deal with so much different gradients and surfaces (gravel) and speeds (road) that the right cadence is still important. On MTB I use 1x12 as I try not to go on the road much with it. And don't forget the spacings with 12 and 13 gears is huge in gear jumps AND to get the shifting just right.

[@njm3211]

Built up my Wilier ND10 as a 1X. Gearing: 34x11-36 for my mountainous terrain.

[@andymaniwa9560]

any issues with chain drop in the front? or does a narrow-wide chainring simply alleviate that risk?