Gravel / Gravé / Gnarmac / Groad / ATB

I've been riding 1x10 shimano with NW chainring and no clutch. Mostly commuting but occasional light offroading (pootling around Epping Forest with a kid on the back type of stuff). Haven't dropped a chain, and had forgotten that it might even be something I might worry about.

1x8 shimano, no NW chainring, no clutch mech, friction shift, dropped once a year on average with daily use and hammering around town

MODS can someone update the title to "commuting" please

What's a commuting? I heard people did that once, when the fridge was too far away from the desk or something.

Because gravel bikes are as useless as commuting is (currently)?

I've been having a great time on my gravel bike and haven't been hit by a car for ages.

All hail the gravel bike

Reminds me of this

Running 1x9 too, no catcher or guide, never had anything happen.

Rare sighting today, look at the distinct colouring, the presence of what historians call “not shit from a butt”

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How often do you get hit by GravelCars?

Tbh, I went for a ride at 6pm the other day and got emotional in realising I miss that commuting harassment. That's how monotonous and dull life has become..

I mean I've met some but they tend to be driven at a much more appropriate speed for the conditions and are generally friendlier. I guess that's because none of them are 1x.

Fight with colleagues over Teams/Zoom/Meet

More verbal, less physical but better than nothing during the covids

'Just get a 4x' ?

Spacesaver spare wheels cut through mud better...

1x10. Wolftooth NW with a Deore 9sp shadow mech (no clutch). Hammered down long big-gravel and rutted descents I’ll get some chain slap but that’s the least of my worries in the moment. If the frame was carbon or expensive I might care.

The chain is never coming off unless there is massive amounts silty mud stuck on the drivetrain (which has happened). The gloopy chain is then unable to sit down onto the ring. I’m not even sure a clutch would be any better there - it could make things far worse by just binding.

Tbf I’ve been using mine for deliveries, some wonderful “gravel “ locally when they resurfaced the roads. Pristine and not a dangle mug in sight.

Alll right..... it’s not a gravel bike, it’s a retro mtb....but what’s the difference....

Yeah ran 1x 105 ss/gs combos for ages before clutched road became a thing. Never an issue on or off road. In fact the only time I've had a chain come off was recently on road and on a clutched RD.

shadow

Isn't this the name of Shimano clutch tech?

Shadow refers to the mech sitting further into the cassette than previous models, out of the way of getting knocked when MTBing.

Shadow was a slimmed down MTB mech to stop you smashing them to bits on rocks in the first iteration

No

(erm ... as above)

https://bike.shimano.com/en-EU/technologies/component/details/shimano-shadow-rd.html

"The mechanism rear derailleur, SHIMANO SHADOW RD, is intended for more aggressive riding. Its super low profile design carries many benefits. Because of its low profile and single tension construction, the derailleur does not hit the chain stay in rough riding conditions. The result is smooth and silent performance."

But they also refer to the road RDs as "Shadow"
https://bike.shimano.com/en-US/product/component/ultegra-r8050-di2/RD-R8050-GS.html

"Shadow Plus" is:

"The SHADOW PLUS derailleur design utilizes a spring-loaded lower pulley cage that can be locked out with an on/off switch. When the SHADOW PLUS switch is in the off position, the mechanism moves freely, like a standard rear derailleur with a spring-loaded lower pulley cage. When in the off position, the rear derailleur offers more chain slack and is the best setting when removing or installing your rear wheel."

https://bike.shimano.com/en-US/information/news/shimano-shadow-plus-technology-.html

https://bicycles.stackexchange.com/questions/21061/why-doesnt-shimano-use-shadow-technology-on-road-derailleurs