I don’t give a rat’s ass about Gravel…
Not that gravel isn’t enjoyable (and, nicely, promoting a crapload of motorbike gear), however I’m additionally the sort of man that’s turned down a dozen invitations to Belgium as a result of F>>ok no, I’m not occurring cobbles (within the sometimes chilly, moist, or uber-dusty dry).
What led me to this construct wasn’t the hundreds 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 doable after backbone surgical procedure that required a couple of months for very brittle bone to type. That meant full-suspension, and it simply so occurred that certainly one of Niner’s MCR-RDO frames was obtainable 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 best way… 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 all the different part 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 elements as Shimano’s numbers are comparatively correct… In truth, in order for you me to regurgitate a press launch like plenty of opinions do, go as a substitute proper to SHIMANO’S GRAVEL PAGE.
As a substitute, I’ll say that what began out as Shimano totally embracing “gravel” and steering away from rehashed highway elements has created one thing that may very possible affect the design and ergonomics of each Shimano and different producers teams… And the focus begins right here.
Everybody is aware of Shimano’s levers are flared out… FSA additionally acquired this proper on their lever design, and I might 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/stage with the bar tops.
Shimano additionally mentions altering the lever’s Pivot, transferring it “up”.
However this sells the total Lever Ergonomic makeover brief. 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… But it surely does afford me a glance by way of the years at ergonomics…. We’ve got Etap/Tremendous File 12/Campagnolo 10 and OLD-OLD Nuovo File.
The newish equipment has a couple of issues in frequent, all of them have a decrease lever pivot level (together with Shimano)… They usually all put your hand ready the place your index and center finger sit excessive up on the lever face… see Etap under…
Tremendous File 12…
Campagnolo 10 will get nearer to placing your hand in the fitting spot than the newer stuff….
And low and behold the Nuovo File drops your fingers even nearer to the efficient level… However shut isn’t adequate… You don’t have any hope of really stopping with Nuovo File until you set your fingers all the best way 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 ready to brake with out transferring 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 fingers and this little reduction 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 let you have your fingers 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.
Almost 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 vast/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 nearly 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 method to permit for higher grip & maintain over tough surfaces, however what they did was beat each different highway/gravel lever for ergonomics.
The big, differentiated button placements are a plus as nicely.
Perhaps 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, quite than my myopic state of affairs, a thicker/softer/flatter floor would possibly yield as a lot or extra grip, and extra consolation.
As for the remainder of the equipment, 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 collection 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 might be able to brake poorly sufficient that they will discover a flaw). This model of rotor, mixed with the warmth sinks on the pads makes for an amazing combo that can be much less prone to lure filth/mud than their larger-finned counterparts.
The Rear Mech’s finest characteristic (past outsized pulleys and geometry that hugs a little bit nearer to the body to keep away from harm) is the adjustable clutch…
Observe 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 people will run gravel on something from highway to “WTF are you making an attempt to show…” so, the clutch power is adjustable to match your need. 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 can be true if this have been 12 pace).
Shimano’s entrance mech operation being excellent is the consequence a complete 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 characteristic. A little bit of extra spacing, transferring 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 selection for Cyclocross) some mud-space.
In all probability one of the best half about this crank set, apart from that they appear to be titanically stable, is that they don’t seem to be lacking a whole ring.
I’ve NO IDEA why 1x exists. None.
Shimano promote one (or many) within the case you wish 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. (Observe to the parents 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’s friction launched to your drive practice with the BIG alternating enamel of most 1x rings (along with larger jumps within the rear ratio not wanted should you run 2x) … JUST GIVE YOURSELF ALL THE GEARS.
Additionally, a shout out to Shimano’s Uncover cockpit… Shimano provides a spread of flares, however they’re wise versus a few of the downright absurd flared drops which can be principally seashore cruiser bars.
The Bar, Stem and Seat publish are no-nonsense stable, however nonetheless cheap weight. The belief issue right here is excessive… The publish is well 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 problem. (Once more, I’ll word this Niner isn’t purported to take Di2… however with some cautious love and body harm…)
For the previous few years, I’ve been constructing issues with lower-weight supplies (at considerably higher-cost) however it’s so good to believe in a solid-conservative design that’s not missing in efficiency. Particularly given the suspension (and even with larger tires/decrease tire strain on gravel bikes) I’ve no actual want for flex or vibe damping, so a stable selection is a stable selection.
The remaining…
I assume I might discuss battery life however if in case you have any points with anybody’s E-group battery life immediately, you will not be shiny sufficient for a number of gears (perhaps that is the place 1x is available in?)
Past setting a brand new commonplace in practical ergonomics, the one factor I can say is that there are 3 colleges 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 power 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 choice. Tender/low suggestions doesn’t imply higher or worse… It’s a private factor a bit like Navy of us who need some resistance of their trigger-pull (you need it to go off solely whenever you actually imply it – however not be so laborious you pull off track). It’s only a choice factor… The pace and accuracy of shifting within the high 3 manufacturers is all superb.
Ah, however then there’s these little guys on GRX Di2… Buttons positioned a little bit out of the best way of your commonplace grip, that also needs to be a characteristic 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 frequent transmission requirements.
Actually, whenever you’re speaking about digital drivetrains, it’s not concerning the simpler/quicker/extra correct shifting (benefits which can be an plain given now) … It’s this cross-platform integration and performance that’s so massively past mechanical teams that there actually isn’t a relative practical comparability to make. Now the digital versus mechanical is just a value factor versus any type or cheap Professional-Con argument.
Sum of the elements…
–The brakes are superb (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 want what Shimano have right here (together with the additional area between rotos and pad that create a few of 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 superb (X-points for Zero-nonsense performance)
— The Aesthetics are [insert meaningless opinion]…
–The Essential level? Shimano have made one-lever to rule all of them (Street or Gravel). The GRX form-factor is it… and everybody else ought to comply with it.
You could find extra at: bike.shimano.com
Have Enjoyable,
Charles Manantan
[email protected]
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