Thanks for this. You're right, I gotta go ride one. The goal is to have a capable gravel bike that I can take on the fire roads around Los Angeles, which get quite steep at times. I was considering a 1x setup with a 30 or 32 in the front combined with the 11-40/42 in the rear as well.
Best,
996
If you want a 1x setup like you describe, you wouldnt want the 105 Topstone. They are totally different drivetrains.
What you describe wanting is a pretty common/modern MTB drivetrain setup.
30x34 gearing at 70rpm with 40mm tires is 5mph and 24.3 gear inches.
What you describe, a 30x42 bailout, is 19,6 gear inches. Thats super low for riding unloaded on gravel roads. Everyone is different and we all climb differently(i am certainly not fast), but the proposed setup is really really low gearing. There is no clear line for when a bike isnt good to use for a certain task, but that sure seems like its squarely in the 1x MTB wheelhouse.