Hahaha! Great ending! With Blackheart gravel bike I’ve ordered I decided to equip with the SRAM Apex mechanical 1x with the 10-52. If I want to go fast, I’ve got my Blackheart Road Ti with the SRAM Rival AXS group, a great road bike. Btw, I’m 69 yo, and as you noted in this video, it’s hard to get my heart rate over 155 now. But my endurance is getting better! Thanks for confirming my decision for my gravel bike.
Great video. I have a Mullet setup on my Specialized Creo SL, running a 46T chainring and a 10-52 cassette. Force up front and X01 in the back. I pretty much agree with your assessments - nothing is every perfect, but I feel like this gives me what I need and can work wiht it. At the end of the day, I prefer both SRAM and 1x.
I've recently switched to a mullet (Rival 1 mechanical up front, 11-51 with a Apex Eagle + rival cable fin in the rear). I come from a mountain biking background so the jump in gearing doesn't bother me most of the time, and I really appreciated that 51t in a recent ride I did (Grinduro PA). It's the difference between *just* making it up a climb and comfortably making it up a climb, at least compared to my 11-46 setup. I'm running a 42t front for context too. I found a similar situation with descending, where I'd be spun out around 33-35mph but I rarely want to go any faster then that anyway.
I'm a big fan of 3x7,,, ive done alot of off road and pulled off a few century rides... bull low of climbing and long legs for flying... $57 bucks for a complete gear set change less the shiftes... Western Canada Don
I find myself having the 1x vs 2x debate again. 1x looks so much better and is notably simpler. But 46/30 with an 11/34 or 11/36 cassette does everything i need. I think the 11/40 cassette would be the best if the derailleur can handle it. In the end cost is the biggest factor and since the bike came 2x, I'll just try to make out the cassette.
I think 2x 46/30 and an 11-40 cassette is fabulous, but I could not run that combo in a SRAM world. If I could have, then I might have never done 1x mullet. gg
It took THIS video to really "drive home" just what a mullet was for me apparently. I just today had to get off my compact gravel bike when I hit an incline I could not manage and "needed one more gear" and was forced to do "the walk of shame". I DID take some solace from the fact that the chartered school bus that overtook me as I walked up the footpath, "got stuck" on the incline when the driver had to unexpectedly come to a stop. Even though it was an automatic transmission coach, they rolled back every time they tried to move-off forward due to the steepness of that road. They eventually had to roll backwards down the hill to a flatter spot before they could then go forward again. (Bad driver, right?) Anyway, your background picture looks like the Santa Ynez valley to me with Lake Cachuma in the background. Where are you in So Cal? GREAT video!
I’m in the Santa Clarita Valley, in general terms, so not far from the area you mentioned. But the background pic is looking north over Liebre Mtn in the Angeles Backcountry. gg
I ride Xplr and went to a 36 front to get the low I needed but then I end up coasting downhill at about 30 mph. Your mullet is the way to go. The gearing, less sure on the hair 🤣
Yeah...if I was a stronger rider or lived in flatter terrain, the 10-44 would be pretty good with a 40T front. It would solve most of the bigger gaps for sure. gg
I love the fact you can mix and match SRAM's road and MTB components. In fact, I seriously considered doing the same thing on my new CX1 SLATE, but the cost was just too much to justify. On the plus side, the mechanical CX1 works fine, so I'm going to save the cash to buy a powermeter (BTW: Any thoughts on GARMIN Rally XC100 pedals?) But if/when the drivetrain wears out, who knows. Cheers
I have never been interested in a power meter. All it would tell me is I do not produce any! SO I cannot help you there. Keep in mind that you can do a budget mullet with Apex 12 speed mechanical as well as an 11 speed conversion to 12 speed with Ratio Technologies stuff. gg
I have a 52/36 Sram up front and recently swapped out my cassette from a SRAM to the GRX mountain bike set up that you mentioned. Seems to work pretty well. What are your issues with Shimano shifting? It seems the same to me so far.
I did not build the bike so I’m not sure but I don’t see why it would. I think the chainring has a lot to do with the chainline but I’m just speculating. It’s a SRAM bb and matching crank. gg
I think 2x 48/30 11-40 is the perfect gearing for gravel, and you can just buy road and mtb parts that are way cheaper than these gravel specific groupsets. Not sure why you think a 1x cant fit big chainrings, on my bike i could just remove the smaller chainring and the 48 would stay in the same place, i cross chain with the 2x all the time anyway
I agree that the 11-40 and like a 46/30 is a killer set up and will work on GRX even though shimano does not bless it. The issue with bigger 1x rings is that it makes the chain angle more acute when in the upper cogs. And some bikes can only take so big a 1x ring anyway gg
Nice to get a fair and balanced assessment of 1x vs 2x.
Yup, I got an MTB rear cassette for my road bikes. I'm 79 yo and needed lots of help for SW Colorado. Nice video, thanks!
Respect! You do whatever it takes to keep riding!
gg
Good for you, keep it going!
Hahaha! Great ending! With Blackheart gravel bike I’ve ordered I decided to equip with the SRAM Apex mechanical 1x with the 10-52. If I want to go fast, I’ve got my Blackheart Road Ti with the SRAM Rival AXS group, a great road bike. Btw, I’m 69 yo, and as you noted in this video, it’s hard to get my heart rate over 155 now. But my endurance is getting better! Thanks for confirming my decision for my gravel bike.
A couple of great choices! Go ride your bikes, Old Guy!
gg
Great video. I have a Mullet setup on my Specialized Creo SL, running a 46T chainring and a 10-52 cassette. Force up front and X01 in the back. I pretty much agree with your assessments - nothing is every perfect, but I feel like this gives me what I need and can work wiht it. At the end of the day, I prefer both SRAM and 1x.
Discovered your content a week or so ago. So well done. Both accurately informative and entertaining. Well done.
Thanks so much!
gg
Great ending, glad I watched to the end!
Just letting my hair down a bit.
gg
I've recently switched to a mullet (Rival 1 mechanical up front, 11-51 with a Apex Eagle + rival cable fin in the rear). I come from a mountain biking background so the jump in gearing doesn't bother me most of the time, and I really appreciated that 51t in a recent ride I did (Grinduro PA). It's the difference between *just* making it up a climb and comfortably making it up a climb, at least compared to my 11-46 setup. I'm running a 42t front for context too. I found a similar situation with descending, where I'd be spun out around 33-35mph but I rarely want to go any faster then that anyway.
Thanks for this interesting and passionate review of the mullet
My assembly starts today!!! Garbaruk pieces on my sram apex
JF from France 🇫🇷
I'm a big fan of 3x7,,, ive done alot of off road and pulled off a few century rides... bull low of climbing and long legs for flying... $57 bucks for a complete gear set change less the shiftes... Western Canada Don
Great vid and very nice weighing of pros and cons.
Mullet looks great!!!!! Bike is cool too.
I tried 1x, was not happy with it. I converted to 2x mullet. 30/53 11/48 I top out at 75Km/h
I find myself having the 1x vs 2x debate again. 1x looks so much better and is notably simpler. But 46/30 with an 11/34 or 11/36 cassette does everything i need. I think the 11/40 cassette would be the best if the derailleur can handle it. In the end cost is the biggest factor and since the bike came 2x, I'll just try to make out the cassette.
I think 2x 46/30 and an 11-40 cassette is fabulous, but I could not run that combo in a SRAM world. If I could have, then I might have never done 1x mullet.
gg
It took THIS video to really "drive home" just what a mullet was for me apparently. I just today had to get off my compact gravel bike when I hit an incline I could not manage and "needed one more gear" and was forced to do "the walk of shame". I DID take some solace from the fact that the chartered school bus that overtook me as I walked up the footpath, "got stuck" on the incline when the driver had to unexpectedly come to a stop. Even though it was an automatic transmission coach, they rolled back every time they tried to move-off forward due to the steepness of that road. They eventually had to roll backwards down the hill to a flatter spot before they could then go forward again. (Bad driver, right?) Anyway, your background picture looks like the Santa Ynez valley to me with Lake Cachuma in the background. Where are you in So Cal? GREAT video!
I’m in the Santa Clarita Valley, in general terms, so not far from the area you mentioned. But the background pic is looking north over Liebre Mtn in the Angeles Backcountry.
gg
I ride Xplr and went to a 36 front to get the low I needed but then I end up coasting downhill at about 30 mph. Your mullet is the way to go. The gearing, less sure on the hair 🤣
Yeah...if I was a stronger rider or lived in flatter terrain, the 10-44 would be pretty good with a 40T front. It would solve most of the bigger gaps for sure.
gg
Oh...the hair. Yeah, that was a bit of whimsy but it does give me a start for Halloween!
gg
I love the fact you can mix and match SRAM's road and MTB components.
In fact, I seriously considered doing the same thing on my new CX1 SLATE, but the cost was just too much to justify.
On the plus side, the mechanical CX1 works fine, so I'm going to save the cash to buy a powermeter (BTW: Any thoughts on GARMIN Rally XC100 pedals?)
But if/when the drivetrain wears out, who knows.
Cheers
I have never been interested in a power meter. All it would tell me is I do not produce any! SO I cannot help you there. Keep in mind that you can do a budget mullet with Apex 12 speed mechanical as well as an 11 speed conversion to 12 speed with Ratio Technologies stuff.
gg
Road bike with big ole 52 tooth eagle on the back and only 1 sprocket up front. Just as God intended.
Shimano 2x12. 38 26. 10t46t cassette.
You don't explain how you got drop bar brifters to work with a mountain bike derailleur???
@@mlake07 it’s SRAM AXS. All speaky same-same in 12 speed at least.
gg
I have a 52/36 Sram up front and recently swapped out my cassette from a SRAM to the GRX mountain bike set up that you mentioned. Seems to work pretty well. What are your issues with Shimano shifting? It seems the same to me so far.
@@DejanOfRadic it’s not the quality of shifting. It’s the ergonomics that bug me.
gg
@@oldguyandabike do you mean the shifters? My Sram shifters seem to work well with the new cassette
@@DejanOfRadic yeah. The shifters is what I was referring to. Maybe I misunderstood you.
gg
@@oldguyandabike I agree....SRAM are so much nicer.
Great video....nice to hear straight talk
Did you have to throw a bunch of spacers on the crank to get the chainline right?
I did not build the bike so I’m not sure but I don’t see why it would. I think the chainring has a lot to do with the chainline but I’m just speculating. It’s a SRAM bb and matching crank.
gg
oh lol i thought you put a 27.5 rear on your gravel bike. 1x works a lot better for me when it gets dirty and muddy
Hah! Yeah. I should have mentioned the ‘other’ Mullet.
gg
@@oldguyandabike got me to click tho ;)
Sir, if I may, what’s the lightweight layer you’re wearing?
You may. It is the Ornot Micro Climate Jacket which I have loved using. More in the video here: th-cam.com/video/HRB8rxlKh90/w-d-xo.html
I think 2x 48/30 11-40 is the perfect gearing for gravel, and you can just buy road and mtb parts that are way cheaper than these gravel specific groupsets. Not sure why you think a 1x cant fit big chainrings, on my bike i could just remove the smaller chainring and the 48 would stay in the same place, i cross chain with the 2x all the time anyway
I agree that the 11-40 and like a 46/30 is a killer set up and will work on GRX even though shimano does not bless it. The issue with bigger 1x rings is that it makes the chain angle more acute when in the upper cogs. And some bikes can only take so big a 1x ring anyway
gg
I noticed people just dont actually graveling 😅
Nope, bring back the front derailer.
28 chain ring 11 51t cassette hardtail . 61 yr old skinny bloke.. suits me before cheating on an e bike..