(Still) Learning To Get Along With It

Several years ago Shimano North America sent me a GRX Limited group set. I was not expected to review it, nor was I paid to say anything about it. But to be completely transparent up front, I wanted everyone to understand where I got the parts. 

This group is unique in the fact that it has several polished aluminum bits compared to a standard GRX group. It is 11 speed mechanical with hydraulic brakes, of course. 

The group set has been flawless since I have had it. One thing about it though had bothered me a bit and this has to do with the chain rings on the crank set. It is a 2X crank, which I really prefer over a 1X, but the ring choices were not the ones I'd have made. Typically I go for a 46/36 spread, like a classic cyclo cross set up would have. The GRX Limited crank set has 48/31 chain wheel set. Whoa! Quite a difference from what I was used to, and predictably, I wasn't fond of it to start out with.

The GRX Limited Edition on the T-6 Standard Rando v2

I first mounted the GRX Limited components on the Twin Six Standard Rando v2 I have. The process of understanding how to make this 2X work for myself was a long, drawn out affair. I started out with big cadence jumps whenever I'd shift from the 48T to the 31T or vice versa. It was annoying. 

Along the way I learned to make compensating shifts in the rear which helped me and I lived in this world for quite a while. However; something happened on the Veterans Day ride which I wrote about earlier this week, 

I found myself in the big ring going up another roller and  then I figured I'd better shift or I was going to burn my legs up. So, 'bang!, down into that 31 and you know what? I was right where I needed to be cadence-wise. 

So, here is what has ended up working for me. I am in the big ring, like above, and grinding. I use up most of the cassette at the low end, (speaking of the bigger cogs out back, for clarity), and then your muscles are getting angry, right? You need to spin a little. Well, hitting that low gear on the front, (again, the inner 31T chain wheel for clarity), I then allow myself to spin out that burn and maybe I compensate one shift to a higher gear out back, (slightly smaller sized cassette cog), and I'm somehow getting along with it now. 

I used to kind of avoid riding this group set at first, but now I'm starting to see how I can adapt to it, finally. I'm still not there quite yet, but this is making more sense now. In fact, I'd take this group set to a hillier event now over my standard 46/36 set ups. 

I still like triple cranks, so I'm not saying I'd get 2X wider range cranks for the other bikes. 1X is okay, but I feel the inefficiencies of the 1X and I'm not a fan. Yes......many love 1X. Great. You do you. I'm not a believer. (Yes, I have a 1X gravel bike) 

But this 2X GRX has grown on me. I still have more learning to do. Which is great. It means I have to ride more. Who doesn't like riding a bicycle more?