Gravel / Gravé / Gnarmac / Groad / ATB

That's a better one.

42 x 11-42 isn’t plenty though in reality for a gravel bike.

That I agree with, I’m talking mountain passes rather than towpath, even 46/30 with 11-34 wasn’t enough.

11-50 with a 40t chainring just about work.

32 x 10-51 and that’s ok but only because getting over 16-18mph on the flat is more effort than it’s worth.

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I'm hoping compact crankset with 11-40 will do for the alps next summer. I mean, if it isn't, I'll only find out when I'm there so it will have to do :)

Oh it will be, road riding is a bit much but then again YMMV, some like to spin, some mash.

I think the issues is simply that a 1-1* ratios may not be enough for gravel/off road, as they might as well have 50/34 with a 11-34t.

*42 w/ 11-42t.

I'll be doing the Torino Nice route with a bit extra to begin so a fair amount of offroad climbing with bags on the bike. But... well... can only ride with what I turned up with.

Not really worth it. Drop bars wont suddenly make it faster or better, perhaps worse. Just get some bar ends or something if you want different hand position.

Plus I think either bar end shifter or electronic. Not cheap really.

Microshift barend shifter and TRP Hylex brakes is probably going the best the cheapest and easiest way of converting it...

https://www.microshift.com/en/product/bs-sr-m12/

Ooh good shout! I can run 12 speed on the tourer!

Problem is, MicroSHIFT don’t have the greatest track record on bar end shifter (not great with internal hubs).

Probably better with derailleur, hub gear so fussy with cable pull.

Humble brag but I live in the Alps, so most of my gravel rides have 700+ m elevation. I find 11-40 x 40 fine. ( no luggage except the organic stuff)

It's not the elevation, it's the horrid surfaces you need to climb in sunny England

Probably better with derailleur, hub gear so fussy with cable pull.

That’s true, have to be 100% exact with the Shimano shifting.

( no luggage except the organic stuff)

You know it’s doing a shit that helped, not taking it, right?

You won't be able to get a new one until Feb / March 2021 so ebay it is...

yea for sure i use both. 50 x 11 isn't really necessary per say but i like ripping descents. particularly will use it to sprint into them or on flat sections in the middle of one. this is on a bike that does lots of big mixed surface rides, so can have steep unrelenting gravel and also loads of road. 48/31 x 11-34 maybe would be slightly more optimal but that'd mean grx fd, crank (not available in my preferred length), new pm, etc.

or if you ride really "extreme" terrain. like miles of pavement and then steep or technical dirt. i'm most bothered by drivetrain efficiency when i am on pavement, so being able to sit mid cassette with a 50t big ring is nice. for me at least unless i had a good bit better w/kg i'd be really grinding on some of the harder dirt climbs in my area with a 1:1 low gear. obviously fitness dependent.

i'm most bothered by drivetrain efficiency when i am on pavement

Exactly, I'm not at all bothered by this. I'm just trying to say there is a benefit to 1x for certain types of ride / rider. For the type of riding I do, 1x is the better choice. For others, for sure 2x is better.

What’s the overall conclusion on the gearing chat? Who won?

no idea but here is a new one; why 27.5 for gravel? why not 29er? 27.5 is pretty much dead in MTB right @BareNecessities ?

I’ll refer you to Instagram’s first suggested post of the day.

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I've been thinking about this. I think maybe 29 is good for rollover, but gravel/mud doesn't really have big lumps, so why carry the extra weight. I don't think you get that much extra cushion necessarily and a big 29er tyre is much heavier than a 27.5.

Maybe? I would be interested in what people with more experience have to say.

650b with 48mm is noticeably lighter, and brakes well (don’t need big rotor for a 29ers).

The main issues is geometry, which is very tight with 29ers (meaning harder to make into a road-going gravel bike like a Checkpoint, not pictured).

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650b bc plush, much air - many comforts

As I just put 700x47 tires on my bike I can confirm weight being one good reasons going 650b. But looks pretty cool. I get some toe overlap, but its not an issue.