timacn

I've been trying to educate myself on gearing (with the help of Sheldon Brown's excellent site.). I have seen a few "touring bikes" with really impressive low gears (equal to or less than 20 gear inches). Most machines classified as "gravel bikes" don't get down that low. Could anybody recommend any gravel bikes with good "granny" gears?


If a bike does not come stock with a good granny gear, how complicated/expensive is it to add one?

Thanks for your help!

gus6464

For starters, what do you consider a "good" granny gear?

Elvo

46/30 with 11-40T gets you close to your 20 gear inches without having to resort to a triple or MTB gearing

timacn

Yeah. I guess "good granny gear" is subjective. As I mentioned in my question, I was thinking that "equal to or less than 20 gear inches" would be good.
Twenty inches or less seems to be considered as highly desirable for a granny.

TimothyH

Not many gravel bikes come with sub 20 inch gearing.

34 front with 42 rear is about 21 or 22 inches. That's pretty standard for 1x setups.


-Tim-

mstateglfr 

Touring bikes often times have a wide range triple mated to a moderately wide cassette because when carrying 20-40# of gear the low and high range is really helpful when going up and down hills.
A 26t ring with a 34t cog and 32mm tire is 20gi.

Remove that 20-40# and the same rider wont need such easy gearing on the same roads. Now gravel is tougher than pavement, so it needs easier than pavement but not as easy as touring.

All that is a generalization based on experience and observation of a wide range of riders. Only you know how strong or capable you are, so adjust accordingly for that.

I haven't found the need for 20gi on any of my gravel riding before. 24 would be the lowest I could want, and thsts slightly lower than what I have. I've only wanted that maybe 5 times in 5 years.

pbass

Very simple on a 1x rig to swap out the front ring for a smaller one. My Kona came with a 40 in the front (11-42 out back) and that simply does not get low enough for where and how I ride (SoCal mountains, TONS of climbing, steep rocky dirt, etc.). I put a 34t in the front and I'm a happy camper now.

TimothyH

30 front, 42 rear with 700c rims and 38(ish) mm tires is 19.5 inches.

Canker

The 46/30 crank is what you are looking for, sub compact. Not very many gravel bikes come stock with a sub compact crank YET but shimano just announced their gravel groupset and it might finally make them more common when they actually get released in 6 months. If the bikes you are looking at now come with a regular compact shimano crank Absolute Black makes 48/32 and 46/30 oval chainrings that will fit and give you easier gearing but they aren't cheap. I bought the 46/30s a few months back for my road/gravel bike because I needed easier gearing for the nearly vertical gravel climbs around here but didn't want to give up the closer spacing of my 11-32 cassette when riding on the road. When those chainrings wear out I'll have to see how much shimano 48/31 gravel crank costs.

gus6464

You could do something like 38t in the front and 46 in the rear for 1x. 38-46 is a pretty low gear.

fietsbob

When you buy a bike it has the crankset they , the factory , bought in bulk from the crank manufacturer ..


if you want a smaller granny gear than that, your bike shop staff can make that happen ...

to the one bike you are paying to own.

sputniky

What you fail to understand is that many folks don't buy bikes with cranks that have been chosen by the factory. This is basic stuff.

fietsbob

I have assembled new bikes .. over and over again , for years..


I have built my own up from the frame (& built a couple frames from scratch)

you work on computers.. and play cyclist in your spatr rime


wade through the Marketing do as you see fit..





party on Garth

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sputniky

So why did you post your nonsense above? "When you buy a bike it has the crankset they , the factory , bought in bulk from the crank manufacturer .."

Nope and nope. More nonsesne. Where do you come up with this stuff?


Can you please translate this into English? Thanks.

fietsbob

"best " BF speak is an opinion/.. go shopping your self ..




wank on..

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mstateglfr 

You didn't even come close to helping or adding to the discussion in a meaningful manner.

xroadcharlie

The Giant Tough road has an 18.4 - 114 gear inche range and I believe 700 x 50mm tires.

Their Roam 3 has a 22.6 - 120 gear in range with 70 x 38mm tires, Should be good for most gravel, and quick on pavement.

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/ca/roam-3

You may not need that low a gear. Every situation is different. I have some moderately steep hills near me on trails with some soft gravel and stones. Low gears of 20, 25, and 30 gear inches are very useful for me. 20 gear inches is almost walking speed at reasonable cadence, But I think it is still easier then pushing the bike up.