cassette advice gravel bike
Hi All
I have a Merlin Malt G gravel bike currently setup with a SuperStar 40t narrow/wide chainring and the stock 11-32 cassette. I have swapped out the Tiagra mech to a Shimano gravel specific GRX400 allowing me to run 1x without fear of chain drops.
I am tempted to swap out the rear cassette for something with a lower gear, Officially the GRX400 supports up to 36t but I have lots of videos of people running 11-36 with 105/ultegra road mechs without issue (way beyond Shimano max)
My question is that given the GRX400 is a long cage mech do you think if I wind in the B screw I could get a 11-40 to work?
On a side note I note that my current 11-32 with 40t chainring has yet to be overwhelmed by any hills so wondering if in reality a 40t 1:1 gear (40/40t) makes that much more of a difference over a (40/32). Based on the gear inch calc a 40/32 is pretty much the same as a 34/28 .
Just wondering if I am better off saving the cash and accepting that on occasion I have to use the ultimate low gear (2 feet/walking)
Anyone out there running 40/32t on their gravel bike.
I have a Merlin Malt G gravel bike currently setup with a SuperStar 40t narrow/wide chainring and the stock 11-32 cassette. I have swapped out the Tiagra mech to a Shimano gravel specific GRX400 allowing me to run 1x without fear of chain drops.
I am tempted to swap out the rear cassette for something with a lower gear, Officially the GRX400 supports up to 36t but I have lots of videos of people running 11-36 with 105/ultegra road mechs without issue (way beyond Shimano max)
My question is that given the GRX400 is a long cage mech do you think if I wind in the B screw I could get a 11-40 to work?
On a side note I note that my current 11-32 with 40t chainring has yet to be overwhelmed by any hills so wondering if in reality a 40t 1:1 gear (40/40t) makes that much more of a difference over a (40/32). Based on the gear inch calc a 40/32 is pretty much the same as a 34/28 .
Just wondering if I am better off saving the cash and accepting that on occasion I have to use the ultimate low gear (2 feet/walking)
Anyone out there running 40/32t on their gravel bike.
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Comments
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I'd give it a go, Shimano are pretty conservative with their derailleur guidance. Also you're not exceeding the total capacity of the derailleur.
In my personal experience a 1:1 lowest gear is great to have off road but not so necessary on the road, it depends where you're riding.0 -
How gnarly are the hills you've climbed? I have a double Sora with 34/34 as the bottom gear on my gravel bike. I use 1:1 quite a bit on hills, but that's probably down to my age, and protests from my knees. I also use it through winter mud on the canals and trails. It's always easier to ride a low gear at walking pace than to push a bike up hill.0
