Jumping back onto a geared gravel bike so I can start stretching out my rides again. Been a few years. Last bike was Shimano Ultegra 11-36 (I think) and 50/34 up front. I greatly prefer SRAM and their double tap system. Plus...I already have a SRAM long cage r/d and 11-40 (or 11-42, can't remember) cassette. Anyways...I'm building the bike from a frameset. Ordered a Jamis Renegade Escapade. I'd really like to go 2x for closer gear ratios and so that I can avoid spinning out on downhills and flats but still be able to do the huge climbs common in my area. So I was thinking if I could...I'd love to go 46/34 and 11-40(42) in the rear. I don't even mind if I have to go 2x10 as long as I get the high and low hearing I need.
Anyone know if this is possible with a SRAM setup? I don't want to invest in the front shifty bits if I can't use them as I want.
Getting to the point, one option is to use a Sram Force 22? crank with the removable spider and swap the spider for the Engin Cycles spider 110/74. Pic:- https://www.cyclingabout.com/low-climbing-gears-road-bike-crankset/ Sugino chainrings are in that shot, however I'd like to think TA Specialites rings would also work.
If you did go 10 speed setup you might also consider using a Sram mtb rear clutched derailleur, which works with Sram 10sp road shifters.
I have been running 52-34 rings with an 11-32 on an Ultegra Di2 drivetrain for almost a year and it works like a champ. My point is to be open to trying combinations that may not be officially approved as they just might work for you.
That won't work for me. I know that for a fact. I'm too heavy and out of shape to try any climbs around here with a 34/32. And not much need for 52 either. My last bike was 50/34 and 11-36 and I still had issue with the bigger climbs and I was in better shape then. Until I get back in better shape...I know I'll need at least bigger in the rear or smaller in the front...if not both.
Yeah...definitely too low even for me...lol. That's mountain bike gearing. Praxxis has a crank with a 48/32 so if I can pair that with an 11-40 out back....heck...probably even just a 36...I should be good to go. I could climb pretty much anything a few years ago on a compact crank with a 36 out back so 2 teeth difference while not HUGE might make the difference. I do think I want to make a 40 work out back though...at least until I get my weight back down and my climbing legs in batter shape.
The simplest thing to do is to use a SRAM 10-speed MTB crank, which you can find in various combinations down to 36/24 (IIRC, they also made a 42/28 and a 40/26). That gives you the option to run a variety of close-ratio road cassettes like 11-25 or 11-28. An additional advantage is that if you dig around online, you can find these cranks and matching front derailleurs dirt cheap.
I have the FSA carbon 46/30 crank on my gravel rig currently, with a 12-32 cassette. If I needed to, I could go as low as a 36 in the rear. It's Shimano Di2 11-speed, but I don't see why you couldn't assemble a SRAM combination like that.
There's also the Bikingreen 30-46 chainring combos on eBay for about $70. The chainrings are offset inwards and use a 6mm bolt instead of standard chainring bolts to fit the 30 tooth ring on a standard 110mm BCD.
Some front derailleurs might not have enough inwards throw to handle the offset, so you might have to add a spacer to the crankset/BB to move the rings back out. For my combo of Shimano cranks and R7000 front derailleur I added a 1.5mm spacer. Sram front derailleurs seem to work fine without one. I'm not sure about older Shimano designs, and I would expect that the GRX would have problems since it's designed for a wider chainline.
I’m running an FSA Omega 46/30T in front, paired with 10-speed SRAM GX 11-40T out back. No hanger extension needed. It’s been great.
Sounds good, but I know I'd need an extension on my ultegra short cage. But the good thing about short cages is they seem to minimize chain slap (not a problem with a clutch derailer).
27/40 in the front and 11-36 in the back. Race face spyder on Easton SL cranks. 64/104 gives on lots of options. Even found Rotor Q rings in this combo.
Ended up with the FSA Gossamer 48/32. I ran the numbers through a calculator and the difference between a 30 and 32 up front and 40 in the rear was pretty small so I opted for the 48/32 so I'd have a little taller gearing for flats and downhill. Before...I was riding a 50/34 with a 36 out back and I could climb pretty much anything in my area...it was just slow and painful. So hopefully with a 32/40 combo it will still be slow but maybe a little less painful. At least until I get my legs back.
Crank came in yesterday and I got my RWC bottom bracket as well so it's all installed on the bike. Just waiting for the brifters and seat post and I should be good to go. Super excited to get back out on some longer rides that I was missing out on only having a single speed gravel bike.
