Which Groupset?

If you intend to sometimes use it a bit like a road bike, the jumps between gears will be more of a problem with 1x 11-42t than the gearing capacity.

Ok, thanks, that’s worth considering. Might be cheaper to go 2x as well….something like 105 maybe?

Yeah. Or spinning out on the descents if using a 40t chainring..?

You don't need to pedal on descents.

Well, y’know what I mean, lacking gearing at the top end then

Spin to win, I get really excited the two or three times a year I get enough of a tailwind to use my 48/11, I don't use the 48/13 much more often and a 42/11 is a harder gear than that, 40/11 is only minutely easier than 48/13.

Sram direct mount derailleur incoming.
And not like shimano's direct mount which is really just using a different shape mech hanger.

i dont understand how thats an improvement, it looks like its part of the mech so replacing will be pricier?

i dont understand how thats an improvement

A lot of MTBs are SRAM Universal Derailleur Hanger (UDH) compatible, which will make them SRAM Direct Mount derailleur compatible, but not Shimano derailleur compatible. It’s the Apple approach.

Someone save me a Google hole.
Is there a flat bar shifter that will work with a road GRX 11spd shifter?

I want to swap road bars for flat bars on my wife's bike.

Did you mean:

Is there a flat bar shifter that will work with a road GRX 11spd shifter (rear?) derailleur?

Shimano SL-RS700 should work, since the cable pull between Shimano 11 speed road and GRX is the same.

Yes thank you.

Spendy!

When looking at a (sub compact) double chainset, are there preferred chainring combinations that have the best shifting?

Let's say I want a 26t small chainring, which large chainring would suit this best? Would 42t work?

I think 16t jump is the standard. I think grx is 17th. So if you want 26 small you'd need 42 max big. So yes.

That’s just the jump though. I’m more thinking about the chain falling neatly on the other chainring.

Aren’t there optimal combinations for that kinda stuff?

This is what I want to avoid:

You'd be looking at matched rings with the ramps in the right place for that.

That's my question: what are matched rings?

I'm looking at a crankset which lets me choose my own ring combination.

What are my options for a 46/36 chainset that works with Shimano Claris 8 speed? I want to make my own 46/34 chainset which generally doesn't exist, so I usually buy a 46/36 and switch out the 36 for a 34.

I usually use a cyclocross chainset (a CX50 I think) but I've just remembered that's for 10 speed groupsets - I presume that will be a problem for 8 speed?

that IRD one?

I normally take a standard Compact crankset or ringset and then just swap the 50T big ring for a 46T.

Don't see why you couldn't do that with a Semi-Compact (36T).

Thanks both - so there's no big problem using a nominally 10spd chainset on an 8sp groupset?

Ae Microshift MTB groupsets available anywhere?

Thanks both - so there's no big problem using a nominally 10spd chainset on an 8sp groupset?

No problem :)

I see some parts available in Decathlon, at least in Poland.

Taya ONZE-111 chain, any good compared to Shimano/KMC?