More (changing) bike plans

[spacekraken]

Some of you might remember yesterday I was plotting and planning about building out a second rigid gravel/touring bike. Oh how quickly plans change... I'm finding that my repeated rides of local dirt/gravel trails and the stock Claris 2x8 road derailleur on my current Rove aren't really agreeing-despite a fair bit of tuning hitting bumps often unseats the chain on the rear gears.

The front derailleur is more of a pain-if the rear isn't in one of the middle gears it will frequently drop the chain shifting to the big cog-but adjusting the limiter inward means it won't shift up all. Lots of mud and rain don't help either with the big 34-50t jump.

Generally finding the gearing also is a bit high for all the hills I ride, so this all has me thinking any new bike funds should be put towards a 1X swap and I'll live with a bit less ability to spin down hills at speed. This also gives me an excuse to get slightly lower gearing like a 38t turning an 11-42t or the like.

Any suggestions on fairly cheap 1x systems? Was looking at SRAM Apex/Rival since that's what the fancier Roves use, but open to anything that gives a slightly shorter than 1:1 low gear and works with drop bars. and mechanical disk brakes.

Thanks all! Dirty bike for your time:

[SilentbutnotreallyDeadly]

My suggestion is Gevanelle shifters that talk to a Shimano clutched MTB rear derailleur. It works for me! They work fine with the SRAM Rival front derailleur that the bike (Niner RLT) already has...

[This is what we'll show...]

Clutched derailleur and a roller guide.

[Highlander]

11 speed shimano GRX or SLX on the rear and use 11 speed road levers? Mate that to a 40 or 42 single ring on the front.

[benjrblant]

Ditch the claris for sure. I'd go for an ultegra clutched rear derailleur and shimano 105 brifters if you're doing drop bars. GRX if it's in the budget, or I'd run an XT derailleur if you're going flat bars.
-Another Ben that bikes

[spacekraken]

Thanks all!

@Highlander or @benjrblant can you run mechanical disks and old school quick release axles with the GRX? I'd rather not re-do the brakes entirely just to swap one shift lever to get a 1x11 up and running. Cause otherwise a GRX setup with a road lever (no need to mess with the right side brifter I think) sounds good.

[Highlander]

@spacekraken yes you just use a cable actuated brake lever, Avid bb7's IIRC or Paul's if you have the coin.

[spacekraken]

@highlander Oh aftermarket brifters work with those derailleurs?

[Highlander]

@spacekraken It has to be an 11 speed shifter indexed for shimano if you are using a shimano rear derailure. If you are using a sram rear derailure it gets a bit more complicated I don't recall if GX is cross compatible with say Force shifters...

[spacekraken]

@highlander Oh ok thanks for explaining. That was kind of my concern-would definitely match a shifter to the derailleur, but would really rather keep my stock brake system (Hayes CX) to save on costs.

I think @SilentbutnotreallyDeadly suggested the genavelle shifters-those can be bought to fit either brand's derailleurs and mechanical cables for brakes right? That sounds like a good way to run a wide range gravel/mtb derailleur and casette without a full rebuild haha.

[benjrblant]

@spacekraken Unfortunately GRX brifters are for hydro discs only, but IIRC the pull is the same as other Shimano road components, so you could run some mechanical 11spd 105 levers and be just dandy.
Shimano doesn't make a 1x 105/ultegra/DA lever, so you'll have a dead left shifter without a cable.

[SilentbutnotreallyDeadly]

@spacekraken Gevanelle shifters generally suit Shimano rear derailleurs. So I run a 10 spd XT Shadow Plus medium cage which deals with an 11-32 cassette. Front derailleur is a SRAM Rival and the brakes are AVID BB7 cable discs. The entire combination has worked faultlessly for the last two years.

The advantage of the Gevanelle system (as I see it) is that because they are thumbies, the rear derailleur lever can be operated either in an indexed format (click to change) or friction format (you control the change). The latter means that the shifter can be effectively used with ANY 9 to 12 speed rear derailleur regardless of pull ratio. The only caveat is that the friction required to overcome the clutch in a clutched derailleur can be... excessive. But it can and does work if required. The front derailleur shifter is friction only so it will manage any front derailleur you care to name...

[azw123]

I've got a bike set up with a Rival 11s rear derailleur, 10-42 GX cassette, Rival mechanical levers, and an NX crank (so I can run a 32, but you'd probably want something bigger, so maybe go with a Rival crank). Brakes are TRP mechanical. Paul brakes are good, too.

I think this has been said, but an awesome setup is GRX for derailleur, crank, and whatever cassette makes you happy, with 105 / Ultegra mechanical 11s levers. Won't break the bank, will work well.

Remember with SRAM that if you go to one of the one-piece cassettes you'll have to use their XD freehub body, which can also be a can of worms depending on what hubs you're running.

[spacekraken]

@benjrblant thanks! Duly noted. I think I could keep the stock Claris brifter on the left since it would just be pulling the brake?

@SilentbutnotreallyDeadly Ok makes a lot more sense now, looking at options and will put together a little list.

@azw123 thanks, will keep in mind since the bike only has 400 miles on it, trying to keep as much existing hardware as possible.

[benjrblant]

@spacekraken Probably so, if you're OK with the differences. I think the shape/feel is a fair bit different but if you just want a brake lever, that'll do.

[spacekraken]

Alright, think I''ve mostly pieced together a couple of options here. If folks have any suggestions on this I'd love to hear! It seems like it's not as expensive as I thought to rig up a different drivetrain, which is really encouraging.

Derailleurs/shifters:
Shimano XT M8000/M8100, supports 1x11 11-46T or 1x12 11-51t, $80-120
Gevanelle shifter, $169 for L/R, step or stepless, works with XT in 11/12sp config: https://www.gevenalle.com/product/gx/
-Or-
Shimano GRX 812, 1x11 11-42T, $120
Shimano Road shifter, same shift controls, $180 per side, works with GRX? https://www.jensonusa.com/Shimano-Ultegra-ST-R8000-11SPD-Shifters

Hub: existing
Cassete: XT 11-42 or 11-46 $100 here: https://www.jensonusa.com/Shimano-XT-CS-M8000-11-Speed-Cassette
Cranks: could I use existing FSA tempo with a new front cog (36t-40t)? Or better to go matched?

[azw123]

@spacekraken You could use the existing crank with a new ring. I believe that's a 110 BCD crank, so it's likely that Wolf Tooth Components or Race Face makes a 38 or 40t ring. Go for a narrow-wide chainring, which will eliminate the need for a front chain guide. Those chainrings are probably $60-$80.

[spacekraken]

@azw123 Fantastic, will look into it! Thanks.