The Case for 1x Drivetrains

In this edition of our blog, we plan to answer a question we get in-store all the time “What is the advantage of a one-by (1X) setup, won’t I lose range?”. 

Like it or not, the bike industry is moving more and more towards one-by gearing setups. This trend started years ago on mountain bikes and now is being introduced on commuters, gravel bikes, and even some road setups. 

In short you won’t lose meaningful gears at either end of the spectrum (although you might have a slightly smaller high gear depending on the bike).  

The main “loss” you will experience will be in the jumps between gears. While the range often stays similar to an equivalent multi-chainring setup, the jumps between gears are often bigger especially at the low range of the cassette. For commuting and leisure riding this isn’t too much of an issue, however, road riders who want to stick to a constant speed at a constant cadence often dislike this trade-off, hence the continued use of two-by setups on road bikes. 

The benefits of one-by setups are numerous; firstly, the simplicity. The lack of a front derailleur decreases overall cost and need for maintenance. If you’ve never been stuck on the side of the road with a dropped chain from a bad front derailleur shift, consider yourself lucky! With a one-by setup, the need to tune, maintain, and align a front derailleur can save you money and time in the future.  

One-by setups are also lighter as the weight of an extra chainring or two, derailleur, cables, and shifter can add up quickly.   

In conclusion, the use of a one-by setup for most bikes is a net positive and will only disadvantage you if you prefer the small and precise tooth differences offered by smaller range cassettes or you feel you need both an extreme climbing gear as well as one for all out speed. 

If you want to get really nerdy about gearing, check out bikecalc.com to input your own numbers and obsess over marginal gains.