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

[@covali69]

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

[@Andy_ATB]

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.

[@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.

[@SignorLuigi]

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

[@davidarthur]

Wow, thanks!

[@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.

[@walcottav]

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

[@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!

[@Bigsbeee]

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

[@duncan1724]

why is 1x better for gravel

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@damo5219]

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

[@jcsrst]

I love the simplicity of 1X.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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?

[@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 .

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@PaulBeiser]

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

[@davidarthur]

I appreciate that!

[@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.

[@richardking3681]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@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 😂

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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 👍

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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

[@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!

[@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

[@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

[@simon6652]

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

[@colingsk]

I'm sold on 1x, so simple and efficient especially for MTB and gravel bikes..cheers!

[@davidarthur]

👌

[@TurnbuckleTrivia]

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

[@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?

[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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!

[@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!

[@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.

[@PedroPrego]

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

[@Chef-Chad]

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.

[@AB-zw5xx]

Excellent, concise discussion of the topic. Much appreciated.

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@alanchappell4845]

Have converted a 3 X8 Giant MTB to 1 X10 with an 11 X 42 cassette and a 52 tooth chainring which just clears the chain stay tube, has a high top gear now similar to a road bike and still has a reasonably low gear at 1.2 wheel revolutions to 1 pedal revolution as I never go up very steep inclines, just want a strong bike with 60mm slick tyres to cope with the reality of rough urban roads and curbs and keep up with lycra clad heroes.

[@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!

[@rogercmerriman]

The gaps/range become less apparent, once you have more gears, my old commute bike was 3/9 which drove me nuts, on the commute. And now is 1/9 which is much better simpler, though do occasionally get between gears, tends to be heavy beast. My other two Gravel/MTB are 2/10 and just work to be honest, no real desire to change. This said agree with your points, I cross chain the doubles now and then doesn’t seem to worry the bike, or cause wear, it’s all logged.

[@philc9305]

Very good review you have covered all my questions.

[@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.

[@jamesbicknell4706]

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

[@mmurmurjohnson2368]

I ride a 1,2, and even a 3x road rig, my heaviest bike is the 1x and it's fast, but you do notice the gaps, and you have to coax speed, you can't bully the drive train like you can in the 3x. 1x favors an even semi tempered cadence, whereas the 2x and 3x seem to leave more flexibility for varied cadences and better for dogfight style racing over rapidly changing road grades.

[@mattwilliams3104]

Upgrading my stock 2019 giant revolt advanced 2 shimano 105 to some iteration of the sram eagle and im so excited

[@upgrade7865]

Still riding my 3x9 giant ac3 26er..and loving it when I still can outrun modren 27.5 or 29er mtb

[@tristramcharnley2581]

I much prefer 1x . I think narrow/wide chainring teeth also help keep it quiet. Mine is silent like a belt drive!

[@peterbaskind9872]

Love 1x. It's so much simpler, especially for a novice bike mechanic like me. I just built what was basically a parts bin bike for riding in the rain. I built it out with MicroSHIFT Advent 1x9 with drop bars (40T in the front 11/40 in the rear). Yes. I do occasionally notice gaps. But it's a very minor issue and, as you point out, I am not racing in the Alps. I am a middle-aged lawyer. I can spin it out; but again, that's pretty rare.

[@JamieTec]

"1x looks so much cleaner!" Me casually looking back from the chainring: "but what about..." "No. No. No. Nothing to see back there. Eyes forward. It's very clean looking. Very clean." 1x is functional for sure but not what I would call "clean". To each their own, it is an opinion after all.

[@davidarthur]

Ha ha that made me smile. You can't see the cassette when you're riding ;)

[@JamieTec]

@@davidarthur I can get behind that. I'm still looking down at a horror show of cables coming out the sides of my shift levers as I ride. Now that's ugly. The aesthetic loving half of my brain has been warring with the cheap half for years. Cheap half is still winning😔

[@foxy1706]

moved my commuter bike to 1x for ease of maintenance, as it got lot of abuse plus i always struggled to index front mech didnt need much gears as commute was flat. the look and ease of it pushed me to research and then move the weekend bike to a 1x and i havnt looked back. Run a 50t and a 11-36, and gearing has been fine havnt felt the hills near me being harder then when i ran 2x. Like with the 2x towards the end im always looking for one more gear but think everyone feels that no matter the setup. 1x hasnt stopped me or forced be to walk up anything yet. as for top end speed, yes i notice i spin out earlier now but talking around the 50km/hr + mark, im no pro so that only happens on a steep downhills, so not really an issue. i think everyone should try it an 11-36 paired with either a 46 or 50t depending on ability is great. also useful for people new to cycling and cant get hand of the 2x setup. 1x dont have to think its all just straight up and straight down on one shifter

[@jasonwarhurst2742]

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

[@davidarthur]

Thanks Jason!

[@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.

[@xosece]

lovely video. Found my perfect bike, the Canyon Roalite 6 (5 is fine too). It has the best of both worlds, 1X drivetrain, 46T chainring and a 10-51 cassette, and flat bars! When I found it by sheer chance I couldn't believe my eyes! (I wanted to cry) It seems to be designed by me. It almost has the speed of my 48-34T road bike (I can get up to 54Km/h or so, 11-34T cassette), and the easy gears of a MTB with the simplicity of 1X. It accepts 32mm slick tyres or more. Also it looks gorgeous. Plus it weighs 10,06Kg. Superb. Why don't we see more bikes like that?? On my road bike with a 48-34T chainring and a 11-34T cassette there are some hills on my region that I can't climb without issues, something that on my 22-30-40T 11-34T MTB with the middle 30T chainring-34T sprocket, I can climb basically almost everything, which is one tooth less than the Roadlite 6 on the 46T-51T gear so it's perfect for me

[@Sills71]

NOT for the ROAD. It is NOT about SPEED, it is about close ratios. I run a 11-25 on the road (and YES I live in the mountains) with a compact. LOVE the close spaced gears. NOT possible with 1x.

[@rayr6060]

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

[@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.

[@stephencolbran4389]

I much prefer the simplicity and ease of cleaning of 1x on my winter commuter, but for me, 2x on a summer bike feels more performance orientated with the closer ratios. For the winter, definitely 1x. Maybe do a video cleaning something like a 105 2x crankset after a few months of UK winter riding. So much crud inside, mashing its way round your nice clean chain!

[@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

[@jazemkrzysio]

The most important thing you said in last minute: different people, different needs. Personally I can ride 1x only on my short winter rides - least important for me. Normally i'm able to compose 2x11 cassette to not ready existing 11, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23, 26, 30, 34 - making me acceptable happy. But I'm waiting for 2x13 to be 100% happy. But time is ticking, as I'm already well in my 60s. 🥴

[@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.

[@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.

[@markymarknj]

I used to be against 1x drivetrains; as far as I was concerned, nothing was better than a good, old fashioned 3x7 or 3x8 drivetrain. Then, I tried, and ultimately got, a bike with a 1x drivetrain, and I changed my mind. My LBS had a Marin Kentfield 2; it's a delightful hybrid/city bike. I liked the looks of the bike, so I tried it. When I tried it, I thought that maybe, just maybe, a 1x drivetrain might work; I thought that maybe I need to rethink my opinions of 1x drivetrains. The gear choices seemed to be well thought out, and I liked them. I ended up buying the Kentfield 2, and it's now part of my fleet. As I've ridden it more, the more I like it; the more I like the 1x drivetrain it has. The gear jumps are just right, particularly when going uphill; by the time I downshift, the speed and momentum I've lost perfectly match the new gear-WOW! Cadence hasn't been much of an issue, either; I just have to spin a little bit faster before upshifting; with downshifts, the jumps are perfect, as the lower gear matches my cadence at the end of the downshift.. My Kenfield 2 has a 38 tooth wide-narrow chainring up front, while there's a 10 speed, 11-48 tooth cassette out back. The gear ratios were well thought out; they're well suited for the riding I do. The more I ride with a 1x drivetrain, the more I like it. For those who say that you don't have the same number of gears as you do with a 3x7 or 3x8 setup, this is true. HOWEVER! However, many of those gears will be duplicates of one another. Even if they're not mathematically equal (a gear on the small ring might be 26 gear-inches, while one on the middle ring might be 27), they're functionally equal; i.e. in terms of effort, in terms of what my legs feel, there's no difference. There are a lot of functionally equivalent gears with a 3x or 2x drivetrain, which doesn't offer you anything more than a good 1x setup does. You get more complexity, yes, but in terms of function? No, not really. Let me put it another way: the high and low gears on my Kentfield 2 are almost exactly equal to those on my Fuji MTB with a 3x8 drivetrain. On the Fuji, I spend the vast majority of my time on the 32 tooth middle ring. Guess what? The jumps there are only slightly less than those on my Kentfield 2. I'm seeing why 1x drivetrains are becoming popular. So, what's the moral of the story here? Don't knock a 1x drivetrain until you've TRIED one! Don't be so quick to dismiss them. My newest bike has one, and I like it; it's quickly growing on me... 😁😁

[@paulrattew]

My experience of 1x has been mixed. I’ve always found 1x11 really limited - I do really feel the gaps in the cassette while on the road (interestingly, off road it doesn’t bother me). Personally, 1x11 on the road is a big no for me - it’s just too compromised. Ekar’s 1x13 though is a complete revelation. You have good enough range, and the extra two cogs fill in some of the cassette gaps to make on road riding feel so much better. Campag have done a great job on Ekar. It’s not perfect, but for me it solves the issues with 1x.

[@KoenMiseur]

He forgot to mention that shifting 1x13 is a lot harder because the gears are so much closer, the room for error is very small. He probably has a lot of experience and maybe even has a mechanic that he knows really well also don't forget you would need special wheels and a big budget!

[@gerard45gh]

I've just gone to 1x on my computer # Gravel bike love it I'm running a 40t front I'm loving it..

[@MrAnon-2024]

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

[@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....

[@robertandrews3055]

Converted my Sram Red mechanical shifting (Cannondale CAAD12; 10 speed). So simple. One click up or down and I'm done. No more multiple front/rear shifts just to find the correct gear. Let's face it, a front chainring shift is almost always accompanied by a corresponding rear cassette shift that may or may not initially put you in the next easiest or hardest gear combination you were looking for.

[@jevgeniardassov]

With one-by time goes by... Went for it a year ago. Have absolutely zero problems with it. Don’t get what all the hate is abou and like Arthur don’t care what PROs think. They can buy whatever they like with the sponsors money. I am not sponsored so I use what I like.

[@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.

[@twatts4436]

Admittedly, I've never ridden 1x. I live in a flat region and an 11-25 with 2x gives me more than enough range. I have 11-32 on the winter bike, but find even those relatively small jumps annoying on road, tending to stay in a harder gear for longer than necessary to avoid a gap. Off road is another story, and where I really see 1x working - shifting is easier and the jumps don't matter as much. All in all though, it's good to have options for different riders.

[@danfresca8033]

I have sram apex, I think it’s great. Rear mech seized up if it gets dirty so remember to spray gt85 or similiar on it to keep it working smooth. I have a 40t chainring. Use it commuting and very happy with it. Ratios are great 99% of the time 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 👍

[@ianfranklin9482]

Another great benefit of 1x is that, no matter how claggy and horrible the riding conditions - NO chainsuck! That has to be a huge win for gravel / cx type riding. No one wants chunks taken out of their stays or jammed up chains bringing them to a halt.

[@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

[@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.

[@richscorer]

I think GRX Di2 is the best (2x) as it is the best at covering all basis for a normal ride / gravel or road. But that said it is mighty expensive way of covering the mid range with loads of gears.

[@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.

[@Repiiv88]

I got rid of the 3x crankset on my cheap hybrid bike and replaced it with a 1x 44T crank, keep the 7 speeds 14-28 cassette in the rear. Best decision, I can now race around the city with the same speed as other vehicles (cars, mopeds, scooters...) with perfect cadence. And if I ever struggle going up a hill, that's because I'm weak and need to get stronger.

[@clintjones9848]

Great video! Very intelligently presented. Good job saying this isn't a video about pro needs. People always use that argument against 1x. The pros this, the pros that. Mofo, are you pro? No. Then what's the issue? Lol. Another point I'd like to make is that a 2nd chain ring adds about 3 gears to the range of a cassette. This means that the new Campy ekar 13 speed is equivalent to 2x10 speeds which were standard up until the early 2010s. That's a pretty stupid idea if someone is going to try to say that a little over a decade ago and before, 2x drivetrains were inadequate because of lack of range or gear gaps. Get real. I use Sram 1x11 on my 1 gravel bike. I went for max range just for fun. It's 38t with an 11-52 cassette. I put an extension cage on my Force 1 derailleur and it works great. Super fun.