BikeRadar Podcast | What's the best gearing for gravel?

Is 1× really the be-all and end-all for gravel?

Matthew Loveridge / Immediate Media

Published: February 8, 2021 at 7:00 pm

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Gravel is the hottest riding niche right now and there's never been more choice in components designed for drop-bar bikes that blur the lines between road and mountain.

In our latest tech-focused podcast, Matthew Loveridge and Jack Luke discuss what makes good gravel gearing, and revisit the perennial debate – is 1× always better than 2×?

Shimano GRX offers some great options for gravel riders but it's 1× offering isn't as generous as it could be.

Meanwhile, Campagnolo Ekar offers arguably the best ready-made mechanical 1× option, and SRAM's eTap AXS groupsets offer wide 2× gearing and the option to mix road and mountain bike components for a so-called mullet setup.

For more on speccing your next ride, don't miss our buyer's guide to gravel bike setup, and check out our latest gravel bike reviews including Canyon's excellent Grail 6, the versatile Specialized Diverge Comp Carbon, and the keenly priced but curiously specced Van Rysel EDR CF Carbon Gravel.


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