I have this feeling that 1x is great for SOME applications. I rode the whole summer in Öland - flat as a pancake. I hardly used the small chainring at all, and sometimes I could even stay in the same gear for hours. I would have been flying on a Strada 1x. But then, there are other times when I'm really happy that I can drop down to the small chainring, and I use an 11-36 at the back!
I loved this review and the honest appraisal of the bike and gearing. I have to add that I come from an MTB background and have found the transition to 1x far easier than my pure roadie friends, however when it comes to fast group rides or racing the limitations in gearing are highlighted quite clearly. So for me it's 1x for MTB and gravel but I'll remain true to 2x for road until viable 1x 13 or greater become more widely available.
Clearance for 32mm may be very tight and not fully integrated cables, like in Ridley Kanzo Fast, are disadvantages. Otherwise with Ekar bike seems exceptionally good.
The thing I would miss with the one X is the loss of optimum chain line options. At one time I had a TT bike set up with a 56-53 on the front so when using the lower gears on the rear sprockets I could shift to the 53 for the best chain alignment. Worked great on most courses and shifted amazing well on the front rings 😀. Thanks for the video.
I have succeed to convert the wheels to tubeless. You have to use tubeless rim tape and then two more wheel rim tape. This way you force the tyre to bead more easily. Of course you need a good compressor.
I agree with the assessment of the wheelset, 50-60mm deep wheels are too much for the average cyclist, when 30-40 are aero & light, responsive, & better in crosswinds.
I guess most people will get used to the odd gear ratios of 1x, but I agree that group rides are an problem. It would be fine if everybody in that group would ride 1x, but when you are the only outlier it becomes complicated. The same problem also applies to disc brakes...
Exactly, several fast roadie group rides were made difficult with the inflexibility of the gearing. I would love to ride the Due / 2x version of this bike.
@@JakubSliacan In case you are the only one with discs in the group, you have to be careful that you don't brake too hard because the person riding behind you doesn't have the same stopping power. This problem is exaggerated in wet conditions.
I noticed mountain bike cassettes have a more linear spread of gear ratios and road cassettes have smaller increments lower on the cassette for smaller jumps 3/4 of the lower cogs. Either way, 2x is the way to go.
3T cassette is available on 3T’s website and several others webshops. I’m saying that because those 3t cassettes are solution for anoying gear jumps. You CAN’T ride 28 mm high performance race tyres on gravel! They are not design for that.(from my own expirience)
Gravel Cyclist I didn’t find it fun at all. To get to tarmac road i have 800 m of gravel road. I ride zipp tangente 28 mm tubeles,which measured almost 31 mm on zipp 303 nsw rims.
1. Why is it that 3T does not kink their fork on both sides... 2. They should design them so that 34 mm tires fit. ....3 They should design them so that 14 rear cogs can be fit with their existing non Front Derailleur design.....
Slap a Absoluteblack 50T oval on that , and GO! and Yeah change those wheels out for a 38-40 deep wheel with a tubeless compatibility. Maybe the GP5000 tubeless.
of course I often ride a single speed with an absoluteblack 50t oval to a 17t freewheel. I'd be at home with a 50t oval paired to a 11-28 cassette. on a 17 lb bike. My singlespeed is like 20 lbs with a 2100-2200 gram fixie flip flop wheelset.
It seems most people don't understand the math behind gear ratios. Pairing a 52t chainring with a 11t cog is one of the dumbest things anyone can ever do. 3T should have never shipped their bikes with such gears. Nobody needs a 52/11 combo, even if you are doing time trials or are a sprinter. A 52/11 combo gives you a 4.72 gear ratio. To put things into perspective, Victor Campenaerts just broke the hour record with a gear ratio of just 4.20 using a 14 or 15 cog. Only pros doing monster climbs can justify having higher ratios for the descents, and even then, the time spend descending is so short, it may not be justified. Any cogs below 14, put an exponential strain into the chain, create a lot of friction, and are highly inefficient. The lowest cog in the 3T cassete should have started at 14 and worked its way up. I've done mathematical analysis of triple mtb chain-rings combos and most of them have only around 12-14 real gear combinations, so if you can't use a 1x 11 road bike in relatively flat terrain, you should seriously consider working on your physical fitness.
sometimes it's just about what you like and not necessarily what is the smartest or most efficient. especially for people who never race and just use bikes for exercise or to go out on leisurely rides, which is what i suspect most people use them for
Please don't take this the wrong way, but every time I hear a cycling youtuber refer to their audience with their own "catch phrase" name, it makes me want to click away from the video. Maybe I'm too sensitive, but I truly want to watch the content without having to be part of a goofy named fan club.
Trendsetters... a fun name, nothing more. You're reading too much into it. I like to keep my reviews and videos somewhat fun and interesting. Thanks for the comment.
@@GravelCyclist As I said, I'm likely too sensitive. :) Trendsetters isn't nearly as cringe-worthy as "supple life"... Anyway, keep up the great work and content!
All good Adam, no worries, appreciate the kind words, makes my efforts worthwhile! As for the "supple life", I'm not familiar with who is saying that. I focus on my own content, I'm not up to speed with what my fellow cyclist content makers are up to.
Love the honesty
Jesús Cruz agreed. Your honest review is appreciated.
Thank you guys, I really appreciate the feedback.
I have this feeling that 1x is great for SOME applications. I rode the whole summer in Öland - flat as a pancake. I hardly used the small chainring at all, and sometimes I could even stay in the same gear for hours. I would have been flying on a Strada 1x. But then, there are other times when I'm really happy that I can drop down to the small chainring, and I use an 11-36 at the back!
Aweh bro thanks for the honesty was literally gonna take 1 by option🙌🙏
I loved this review and the honest appraisal of the bike and gearing. I have to add that I come from an MTB background and have found the transition to 1x far easier than my pure roadie friends, however when it comes to fast group rides or racing the limitations in gearing are highlighted quite clearly. So for me it's 1x for MTB and gravel but I'll remain true to 2x for road until viable 1x 13 or greater become more widely available.
Rotor made your wishes true
Clearance for 32mm may be very tight and not fully integrated cables, like in Ridley Kanzo Fast, are disadvantages. Otherwise with Ekar bike seems exceptionally good.
The thing I would miss with the one X is the loss of optimum chain line options. At one time I had a TT bike set up with a 56-53 on the front so when using the lower gears on the rear sprockets I could shift to the 53 for the best chain alignment. Worked great on most courses and shifted amazing well on the front rings 😀. Thanks for the video.
Wow... a 56-53 chainring combo!!! I still have my TT bike but mine is a 53-42... so, you must have been smashing it!
@@GravelCyclist it pretty flat where I live : )
Great review!!!
This bike would be best suited to the soon to be released 13 speed rotor groupset or just get the double version.
Troy, agreed wholeheartedly. The 2x / double version aka the Due would be fantastic. Thanks for chiming in!
I have succeed to convert the wheels to tubeless. You have to use tubeless rim tape and then two more wheel rim tape. This way you force the tyre to bead more easily. Of course you need a good compressor.
Thank you, good to know.
Any issues with your tubeless setup over time? Keen on making mine tubeless, some websites say the wheels are tubeless ready and some not.
None, no.issues other than the inflation process which I do every spring (new sealant).
Good evening, please how tall are you and what is the size of this bike you tested? Thanks
I agree with the assessment of the wheelset, 50-60mm deep wheels are too much for the average cyclist, when 30-40 are aero & light, responsive, & better in crosswinds.
I guess most people will get used to the odd gear ratios of 1x, but I agree that group rides are an problem. It would be fine if everybody in that group would ride 1x, but when you are the only outlier it becomes complicated. The same problem also applies to disc brakes...
Exactly, several fast roadie group rides were made difficult with the inflexibility of the gearing. I would love to ride the Due / 2x version of this bike.
+Norman Zielke, I see the problem with using 1x on a group ride. Agreed. How are disc brakes a nuisance if others in the group don't have them? Thanks
@@JakubSliacan In case you are the only one with discs in the group, you have to be careful that you don't brake too hard because the person riding behind you doesn't have the same stopping power. This problem is exaggerated in wet conditions.
But what if you have the legs to push a 50t chainring paired with a 11-30 cassette?
Well, you wouldn't need to swap the ring on the review bike I had.
Gravel Cyclist what about 50. 11 32
I noticed mountain bike cassettes have a more linear spread of gear ratios and road cassettes have smaller increments lower on the cassette for smaller jumps 3/4 of the lower cogs. Either way, 2x is the way to go.
Couldn’t agree more on the 1x
Thanks Brian, life is too short to compromise!
They seem to be selling it with 13 speed campag EKAR 9 to 36 and 40 chainring, may be this is fixed now?
I still prefer a 2x, but 1x13 may work for some on the road.
3T cassette is available on 3T’s website and several others webshops.
I’m saying that because those 3t cassettes are solution for anoying gear jumps.
You CAN’T ride 28 mm high performance race tyres on gravel!
They are not design for that.(from my own expirience)
You can ride 28mm high performance tyres on dirt and gravel roads. It isn't optimal or recommended but it can be fun and I did it in the video!
Gravel Cyclist
I didn’t find it fun at all.
To get to tarmac road i have 800 m of gravel road.
I ride zipp tangente 28 mm tubeles,which measured almost 31 mm on zipp 303 nsw rims.
Great review.
Pls use Ekar for the gear setup
That would require me having an Ekar group to review...
@@GravelCyclist please please please...
Hey there I ride a 56cm which would I get med or large ?
Hello there, you really should visit a bike shop / qualified fitter to have this question answered.
1. Why is it that 3T does not kink their fork on both sides... 2. They should design them so that 34 mm tires fit. ....3 They should design them so that 14 rear cogs can be fit with their existing non Front Derailleur design.....
What does 3T stand for?
It's a confusing italian name.
Tecno Tubo Torino - 3T
Slap a Absoluteblack 50T oval on that , and GO! and Yeah change those wheels out for a 38-40 deep wheel with a tubeless compatibility. Maybe the GP5000 tubeless.
of course I often ride a single speed with an absoluteblack 50t oval to a 17t freewheel. I'd be at home with a 50t oval paired to a 11-28 cassette. on a 17 lb bike. My singlespeed is like 20 lbs with a 2100-2200 gram fixie flip flop wheelset.
btw I am with you on the 2x thing too, Especially gravel. 46/30 Oval is where it's at.
Hey Tim, I rode the absoluteBLACK 46/30 rings at the 2018 Dirty Kanza 200. If you didn't catch it, I did a review of those rings here on the channel.
@@GravelCyclist I did catch that. thanks for the reviews
Solution in search of a problem...how much!
I'll stick 46/30; or 40/27 q rings which still gives 98 inch top gear n small ring for climbing
Love the 46/30 combo!
It seems most people don't understand the math behind gear ratios.
Pairing a 52t chainring with a 11t cog is one of the dumbest things anyone can ever do.
3T should have never shipped their bikes with such gears.
Nobody needs a 52/11 combo, even if you are doing time trials or are a sprinter.
A 52/11 combo gives you a 4.72 gear ratio. To put things into perspective, Victor Campenaerts just broke the hour record with a gear ratio of just 4.20 using a 14 or 15 cog.
Only pros doing monster climbs can justify having higher ratios for the descents, and even then, the time spend descending is so short, it may not be justified.
Any cogs below 14, put an exponential strain into the chain, create a lot of friction, and are highly inefficient. The lowest cog in the 3T cassete should have started at 14 and worked its way up. I've done mathematical analysis of triple mtb chain-rings combos and most of them have only around 12-14 real gear combinations, so if you can't use a 1x 11 road bike in relatively flat terrain, you should seriously consider working on your physical fitness.
sometimes it's just about what you like and not necessarily what is the smartest or most efficient. especially for people who never race and just use bikes for exercise or to go out on leisurely rides, which is what i suspect most people use them for
@@abdust I have a 48t chainring and i rarely touch my 12 cog, i do all my sprints using a 14. I don't see any leisure rider ever using a 52 /11 combo.
I believe it's a 50T not 52T.
In a race i use 53-11 for a fast pacing after a sprint of 53-14
2x this thing
I agree 100%. The good news is they did, and called it the Strada Due.
Please don't take this the wrong way, but every time I hear a cycling youtuber refer to their audience with their own "catch phrase" name, it makes me want to click away from the video. Maybe I'm too sensitive, but I truly want to watch the content without having to be part of a goofy named fan club.
Trendsetters... a fun name, nothing more. You're reading too much into it. I like to keep my reviews and videos somewhat fun and interesting. Thanks for the comment.
@@GravelCyclist As I said, I'm likely too sensitive. :) Trendsetters isn't nearly as cringe-worthy as "supple life"... Anyway, keep up the great work and content!
All good Adam, no worries, appreciate the kind words, makes my efforts worthwhile! As for the "supple life", I'm not familiar with who is saying that. I focus on my own content, I'm not up to speed with what my fellow cyclist content makers are up to.
I wish I had fewer gears. Said no one, ever! I really hate 1x.
Hey Stuart, I'm with you, I love all of the extra gear options.