I don’t give a rat’s ass about Gravel…
Not that gravel isn’t enjoyable (and, properly, promoting a crapload of motorbike gear), however I’m additionally the type of man that’s turned down a dozen invitations to Belgium as a result of F>>okay no, I’m not happening cobbles (within the usually chilly, moist, or uber-dusty dry).
What led me to this construct wasn’t the 1000’s of miles of gorgeous car-less roads that I’ll admit make Gravel Driving WONDERFUL. This was about placing collectively a motorbike that might get me again on pedals as quick as attainable after backbone surgical procedure that required a couple of months for very brittle bone to kind. That meant full-suspension, and it simply so occurred that one among Niner’s MCR-RDO frames was accessible from JOM at Gravel Bicycle owner.
And there was no probability that this rig, with its upgraded fork and hoops was going to run something however a top-line Gravel group… Thus, Shimano’s GRX Di2.
By the way in which… Niner’s MCR-RDO is designed for Mechanical, so be helpful or have a buddy like boutique store THE VELO HOUSE in Bay Village Ohio to assist with the construct.
So right here’s the place I get proper to the purpose that this isn’t an all encompassing assessment the place I toss out all of the gear ranges… (sure, GRX Di2 has many gears). I’m not going to cowl the entire different element choices for GRX (Shimano have mechanical variations, completely different ranges of brake calipers, a number of cranks (and ring combos) and blah blah blah… I’m not going to weigh the components as Shimano’s numbers are comparatively correct… In reality, if you would like me to regurgitate a press launch like quite a lot of evaluations do, go as an alternative proper to SHIMANO’S GRAVEL PAGE.
As a substitute, I’ll say that what began out as Shimano absolutely embracing “gravel” and steering away from rehashed highway components has created one thing that may very doubtless affect the design and ergonomics of each Shimano and different producers teams… And the point of interest begins right here.
Everybody is aware of Shimano’s levers are flared out… FSA additionally acquired this proper on their lever design, and I’d guess that would be the development going ahead for everybody.
Whereas the lever kicks out, the highest of the hood portion is considerably wider (expanded floor space) to unfold the load and this space critically SITS FLAT/degree with the bar tops.
Shimano additionally mentions altering the lever’s Pivot, shifting it “up”.
However this sells the total Lever Ergonomic makeover quick. Because the pivot additionally feels prefer it strikes again towards the palm of your hand… AND YOUR HAND DOSENT REST LIKE VIRTUALLY ANY OTHER LEVER.
I’ve a bunch of crap rolling spherical the home… However it does afford me a glance by way of the years at ergonomics…. We’ve got Etap/Tremendous Report 12/Campagnolo 10 and OLD-OLD Nuovo Report.
The newish package has a couple of issues in widespread, all of them have a decrease lever pivot level (together with Shimano)… They usually all put your hand able the place your index and center finger sit excessive up on the lever face… see Etap under…
Tremendous Report 12…
Campagnolo 10 will get nearer to placing your hand in the appropriate spot than the newer stuff….
And low and behold the Nuovo Report drops your fingers even nearer to the efficient level… However shut isn’t adequate… You haven’t any hope of truly stopping with Nuovo Report until you set your fingers all the way in which down the levers to the underside (and squeeze like hell).
After which there’s the brand new GRX…
SAME HAND for all of those… And the fingers not solely sit under the pivot, however additionally they sit able to brake with out shifting them even additional down the lever.
There’s additionally a really slight form to the lever itself the place your fingers cross over and downward…
I’ve mid-sized arms and this little aid part on the lever form (the place most highway levers, just like the one’s above put a bulge) {couples} with the pivot placement to can help you have your arms in a braking place the entire time you’re on the tops…
However none of this works until Shimano change the baseline form of the lever.
Practically all lever-bodies lengthen from the handlebar out towards the actuating lever and tilt FORWARD (WITH YOUR HAND RESTING AT THE TRANSITION AS THE BODY CURVES UP).
Shimano constructed a bit longer extensive/flat lever physique to relaxation your hand extra comfortably (all-day-long), then the physique curves MUCH extra aggressively up (nearly backward) versus a ahead tilt on just about all different lever our bodies.
That is the half that I hope will affect all highway/Gravel lever designs going ahead.
I’m undecided if all day consolation & prompt braking entry was what Shimano had in thoughts after they designed this technique to permit for higher grip & maintain over tough surfaces, however what they did was beat each different highway/gravel lever for ergonomics.
The massive, differentiated button placements are a plus as properly.
Possibly the one space the place I would love a couple of choices is the Grip floor.
How’s a few thicker/softer hood cowl with out the treads? Even for Gravel use, relatively than my myopic situation, a thicker/softer/flatter floor may yield as a lot or extra grip, and extra consolation.
As for the remainder of the package, there are tweaks galore to the total drive practice.
Down on the stopping finish, Shimano supply cooling on the Calipers/Pads…
And this set runs with the RT-CL800 Freeza Rotors, which look fairly easy versus the cooling-finned 9000 sequence or the identical rotors with warmth dissipating Paint…
Most people miss the half the place these discs are a 3-piece sandwich that retains weight decrease, whereas shedding warmth and staying comparatively quiet. Both method, even in heat climate these are fade free even on longer highway descents at pace (although some could possibly brake poorly sufficient that they’ll discover a flaw). This model of rotor, mixed with the warmth sinks on the pads makes for an important combo that can also be much less more likely to lure filth/mud than their larger-finned counterparts.
The Rear Mech’s finest function (past outsized pulleys and geometry that hugs a bit of nearer to the body to keep away from injury) is the adjustable clutch…
Word the tiny “on” instruction on the unit… Simply above there’s a little lever to show the clutch on to maintain the chain from bouncing. The clutch-on additionally creates a bit extra drag on the chain, so for the highway it goes “off”. However then Shimano perceive that folk will run gravel on something from highway to “WTF are you attempting to show…” so, the clutch drive is adjustable to match your want. There isn’t a-such-thing as a missed shift right here and so-far, no want for a single contact of fine-tuning. (The identical could be true if this have been 12 pace).
Shimano’s entrance mech operation being excellent is the outcome an entire bunch of little issues… The cage form, the stiffness of the metallic itself and each the pace and the torque of the motor actuation.
Each the entrance Mech and the Cranks mix for a small however welcome design function. A little bit of extra spacing, shifting the chain rings (due to this fact the chain line) away from the body. This provides a little bit of tire clearance, and (as that is now a no brainer alternative for Cyclocross) some mud-space.
Most likely the perfect half about this crank set, apart from that they appear to be titanically strong, is that they don’t seem to be lacking a complete ring.
I’ve NO IDEA why 1x exists. None.
Shimano promote one (or many) within the case you need to sacrifice a full set of gears… However particularly given the entrance shifting high quality with GRX Di2, 1x is an arrogance train.
I attempted to get this crank and mech to overlook a shift… I went up and down a curb whereas; shifting beneath load, shifting altering the load, up shift and down, shifting with excessive and low rear gears, shifting altering BOTH the entrance and rear, for a half hour. I’ve additionally shifted going up or down the curb each time I depart or come dwelling for a month. This factor has been flawless. (Word to the oldsters at Barrow Mind and Backbone – This bike is full suspension AND I’m clean…) There’s little weight penalty for 2x however with 1x there may be friction launched to your drive practice with the BIG alternating tooth of most 1x rings (along with greater jumps within the rear ratio not wanted in case you run 2x) … JUST GIVE YOURSELF ALL THE GEARS.
Additionally, a shout out to Shimano’s Uncover cockpit… Shimano presents a spread of flares, however they’re wise versus among the downright absurd flared drops which are principally seashore cruiser bars.
The Bar, Stem and Seat publish are no-nonsense strong, however nonetheless cheap weight. The belief issue right here is excessive… The publish is definitely adjusted to the proper angle after which simply stays there as soon as mounted to spec.
There’s additionally the benefit of Shimano’s Di2 bits (battery/bar finish nub) becoming completely (nearly prefer it was made for it…), with out situation. (Once more, I’ll observe this Niner isn’t presupposed to take Di2… however with some cautious love and body injury…)
For the previous few years, I’ve been constructing issues with lower-weight supplies (at considerably higher-cost) however it’s so good to trust in a solid-conservative design that isn’t missing in efficiency. Particularly given the suspension (and even with greater tires/decrease tire stress on gravel bikes) I’ve no actual want for flex or vibe damping, so a strong alternative is a strong alternative.
The remaining…
I assume I may discuss battery life however you probably have any points with anybody’s E-group battery life immediately, you might not be vibrant sufficient for a number of gears (possibly that is the place 1x is available in?)
Past setting a brand new normal in purposeful ergonomics, the one factor I can say is that there are 3 faculties of thought relative to electrical drive trains in relation to button urgent effort…. Shimano is the softest/lowest suggestions… SRAM center effort/suggestions and Campagnolo with a bit extra drive and suggestions. ALL OF THESE REQUIRE little effort to press a button.
The will for a extra agency or much less agency press and tactile suggestions is a private desire. Tender/low suggestions doesn’t imply higher or worse… It’s a private factor a bit like Navy people who need some resistance of their trigger-pull (you need it to go off solely once you actually imply it – however not be so arduous you pull off course). It’s only a desire factor… The pace and accuracy of shifting within the high 3 manufacturers is all excellent.
Ah, however then there’s these little guys on GRX Di2… Buttons positioned a bit of out of the way in which of your normal grip, that also needs to be a function on EVERY E-lever from all producers.
Programable buttons on the tops that you should use for something from shifting up and down the cassette to altering the entrance ring, to pc operation (Garmin/Wahoo/++).
And relative to the tech/connection facet, with the wi-fi transmitter (only for communication – there are nonetheless wires on the group set), Shimano is rising that integration/operational capability, tying into a number of companions by way of widespread transmission requirements.
Actually, once you’re speaking about digital drivetrains, it’s not in regards to the simpler/quicker/extra correct shifting (benefits which are an simple given now) … It’s this cross-platform integration and performance that’s so massively past mechanical teams that there actually isn’t a relative purposeful comparability to make. Now the digital versus mechanical is solely a value factor versus any type or cheap Professional-Con argument.
Sum of the components…
–The brakes are excellent (x-points for fade/warmth resistance in a less-dirt-grabbing design) – The modulation is a private pref factor and I would love extra stroke between preliminary chunk and lock up. However I do know lots of people that desire what Shimano have right here (together with the additional house between rotos and pad that create among the extra squeeze wanted to get to preliminary chunk.
–The shift high quality is VERY good, ridiculously good on the entrance (x-points for pace) – Get the 2x…
The cockpit gear is excellent (X-points for Zero-nonsense performance)
— The Aesthetics are [insert meaningless opinion]…
–The Primary level? Shimano have made one-lever to rule all of them (Highway or Gravel). The GRX form-factor is it… and everybody else ought to comply with it.
You’ll find extra at: bike.shimano.com
Have Enjoyable,
Charles Manantan
[email protected]
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