Guide to Gravel Bike Groupsets

What are the components of a gravel groupset, what makes them stand out from other biking types and which gravel-dedicated groupset is right for you and your style of riding? Here’s everything you need to know.

Versatile gravel groupsets for every type of riding

Gravel groupsets combine the advantages of the established MTB and road bike sectors so you have everything you need for gravelling! The components of a gravel groupset are especially designed to meet the requirements of gravel or trail rides – a well thought-out overall concept for versatile use.

What are the components of a gravel groupset?

A groupset includes all components of the drivetrain and the brake. We will show you which components are included in gravel-dedicated groupsets, where to find the individual parts on your gravel bike and what the differences are between the different types of groupsets.

A bike’s groupset has a strong influence on the shifting and braking performance. The main differences lie in the technologies used and the material, which is why they affect the quality and weight of a group.

Crankset (A)

Crankset

The crank is the part of your bike to which the pedal is attached and, with the help of the chainring, ensures that your pedalling force is redirected to the drive and thus the bike.



Shift and brake lever combination (B)

Shift and brake lever combination

You use the shift and brake lever combination of your shift group to operate the front and rear brakes plus change gears.


Rear derailleur (C)

Rear derailleur

The rear derailleur is responsible for changing gears on the rear wheel and is also called the rear shifting mechanism. The chain of your gravel bike runs over the cassette and through the rear derailleur. By triggering a gear change with the gear lever (mechanical or electronic), the rear derailleur is activated and ensures that the chain jumps to the next sprocket at the rear, which changes the gear.



Brake calliper (D)

Brake calliper

The brake pistons are located in the brake caliper and press the brake pads against the brake disc to create friction and thus slow your wheel down.


Cassette (E)

Cassette

The cassette is located on the rear wheel of your bike and consists of different sized sprockets that the chain runs over. The different sizes determine the resistance and thus the gear in which you want to ride your bike.



Chain (F)

Chain

The chain of your bike is like a link. It connects the sprocket to the front chainring. When you pedal, it transfers your power to the tyre and converts it into propulsion.


Front derailleur (G)*

Front derailleur

The front derailleur controls the course of the chain and, on a bike with a double chainring set, ensures that you can switch between two chainrings at the front.



*On a bike with a double chainring setup, you’ll find the front derailleur here.

Which gravel groupsets and manufacturers are there?

There are mechanical and electronic gravel groupsets with a single or a double chainring setup. If you’re likely to ride your gravel bike off-road and want to quickly shift up and down in undulating terrain, a bike with a single chainring setup will be the right choice for you. If you like to ride off-road, but don't want to do without plenty of range on long gravel tours, a double chainring setup is the right choice.

The ROSE gravel bikes BACKROAD and BACKROAD AL are equipped with gravel-specific groupsets from SHIMANO, SRAM, CLASSIFIED and Campagnolo


What does 1x and 2x mean?

1x stands for single chainring or a singlespeed drivetrain (e.g. 1x11), which means that you ride on only one chainring at the front and thus have fewer sprockets, i.e. gears, available. But that doesn’t mean that you’re missing something. A 1x set-up is more comfortable and easier to use because of the single gear lever. In addition, a narrower gear range and larger gear steps make the bike an off-road and short-distance specialist. Especially on short, crisp climbs, that wider gear range will give you enormous advantages, since you’ll get into the right cadence more quickly between trails.

BWith a double chainring setup or doublespeed (e.g. 2x11) drivetrain you ride on two chainrings at the front, which gives you more sprockets, i.e. more gears. Yes, more is better sometimes. But only if you actually need more gears. A 2x system offers you a wider gear range and finer, smaller gear steps, which is particularly advantageous for you on long distances or long climbs. So, with a 2x set-up you can ride anywhere without worrying about having enough gears.

Think about what type of rider you are and where you want to ride your gravel bike. 

SHIMANO

SHIMANO’s gravel groupset is called GRX

For the development of their gravel-dedicated groupset, SHIMANO took the best features of their MTB and road bike products and combined them. Besides, the groupset benefits from decades of experience developing and manufacturing bike components. Nevertheless, the GRX series is more than just a revised version of SHIMANO’s MTB or road groupsets. GRX RX400, GRX RX600 and GRX RX810 as well as GRX RX810 Di2 are SHIMANO's mechanical and electronic solutions for gravel adventures. Here is a summary of the different GRX groupsets from SHIMANO and the advantages they offer for gravelling.  

1) Specially-adapted gearing

The GRX groupsets offer gravel-appropriate gearing – wide range cassettes and a wider gear range for different types of riding.

2) Shadow+ Rear Derailleur Technology

The Shadow+ rear derailleur technology originates from the MTB scene and adds tension to the chain, reducing chain bounce and therefore minimizing chain slap in rough terrain. This reduces the risk of chain drop and chain slap, ensuring a nearly silent riding experience. The Shadow+ rear derailleur technology is especially helpful when using a double chainring set-up. Doublespeed GRX groupsets do not feature a narrow-wide tooth pattern, singlespeed GRX groupsets do. Another advantage of the Shadow+ rear derailleur damper is the reduction of ghost shifting.

3) Ergonomic shifters

When gravelling hard off-road you need good grip and good control. This is ensured by flared handlebars and ergonomic levers with an anti-slip texture to the rubber.

4) Wider chainline

One important characteristic of a gravel bike is the big tyre clearance. To allow a wider tyre clearance, SHIMANO has developed special cranks with a 2.5 mm wider chain line. This feature of the GRX group gives the gravel bike more freedom in frame design and thus offers added space for wheels and wider tyres.

SHIMANO GRX groupsets in detail

GRX RX400

SHIMANO’s entry-level gravel groupset

Suitable for: Beginners
Intended use: Adventures on easy dirt and gravel tracks, commuting, after-work and weekend rides off the beaten path
Gearing: 2x10
Installed on: BACKROAD AL

  • Technology

  • Performance

  • Material

  • Weight

GRX RX600

For new gravel adventures

Suitable for:  Ambitious gravel cyclists & experienced riders
Intended use: More challenging gravel adventures, bikepacking, fast training rides off the beaten path, commuting
Gearing: 1x11 and 2x11
Installed on: BACKROAD AL and BACKROAD

  • Technology

  • Performance

  • Material

  • Weight

GRX RX810

For versatile and demanding gravel action

Suitable for: Experienced cyclists & gravel pros
Intended use: Challenging gravel rides, longer bikepacking rides, fast training rides off the beaten path
Gearing: 1x11 and 2x11
Installed on: BACKROAD AL and BACKROAD

  • Technology

  • Performance

  • Material

  • Weight

GRX RX810 Di2

For high-end electronic gravel performance

Suitable for: Experienced cyclists & gravel pros
Intended use: Challenging gravel rides with steep gravel trails in rough terrain, longer bikepacking rides, fast training rides off the beaten path and gravel racing
Gearing: 1x11 and 2x11
Installed on: BACKROAD

  • Technology

  • Performance

  • Material

  • Weight

SRAM

No special gravel groupset, but the best of the road and MTB groupsets combined

Gravel riding requires a versatile, do-it-all bike. This is exactly the approach SRAM is taking. They don't offer you a special gravel series. Why? It’s as simple as that: SRAM uses parts of its existing road and MTB groupsets that also easily meet the requirements of gravel riding thanks to the high-end technologies used. No matter what you need and where you want to ride your gravel bike – thanks to the cross-compatibility of the road and MTB components, SRAM offers you exactly what you need for your type of riding.

1) MTB and Road technologies for gravel riding

Thanks to their sophisticated technologies, SRAM's Road groupsets are also perfectly suited to the demands of gravelling. The ROLLER BEARING CLUTCH, for example, ensures nearly silent riding by reducing derailleur bounce and chain slap. X-SYNC chainrings with a narrow-wide tooth pattern increase chain tension. The SRAM Force groupset additionally features the YAW technology for even more precise shifting.

2) Always in the right gear

SRAM offers up to 520% gear range in their segments – for technically challenging climbs and versatile gravel performance.

3) Cross-compatibility of MTB and Road parts

For gravel riding, SRAM offers you the best of both worlds, MTB and Road. This is why ROSE gravel bikes are fitted with the mechanical road groupsets Apex and Force as well as with the electronic road groupset Force eTap AXS.

SRAM groupsets in detail

APEX

SRAM's entry-level groupset for gravel enthusiasts

Suitable for: Beginners, gravel enthusiasts & thrill-seekers
Intended use: mountainous terrain and fast, rough rides
Gearing: 1x11
Installed on: BACKROAD AL

  • Technology

  • Performance

  • Material

  • Weight

Force

SRAM's modern road classic with mechanical MTB drivetrain

Suitable for: Ambitious cyclists
Intended use:  Long-distance and off-road riding, bikepacking, racing, mountainous terrain
Gearing: 1x11
Installed on: BACKROAD

  • Technology

  • Performance

  • Material

  • Weight

FORCE eTap AXS

SRAM's modern road classic with electronic shifting

Suitable for: performance-driven gravel cyclists
Intended use: long and challenging rides, gravel challenges
Gearing: 1x12
Gearing: BACKROAD

  • Technology

  • Performance

  • Material

  • Weight

Campagnolo

Road bike tradition meets high-end gravel performance

Campagnolo looks back on more than 80 years of road cycling history and development experience. The manufacturer of high-end road bike components is known as the leading player in the market. Driven by innovation and the desire for precision and exclusivity, Campagnolo has entered the gravel bike segment for the very first time. With their newly developed Ekar group, they present their solution for high-end gravel performance.

Newly designed Ekar Gravel rear derailleur

The Ekar rear derailleur of the Campagnolo Ekar gravel groupset has been redesigned and newly developed for gravel use. It ensures smooth chain running and secure retention thanks to pulley wheels with various tooth-counts. The extra damper (clutch) on the rear derailleur offers chain security and reliable shifting while allowing for nearly silent running in rougher terrain. Thanks to robust high-quality materials, the rear derailleur is very lightweight and at the same time tough, solidly built and durable.


Suitable for: performance-driven gravel cyclists
Intended use: long, challenging gravel rides, demanding climbs and fast, long descents
Gearing: 1x13
Installed on: BACKROAD LIMITED

  • Technology

  • Performance

  • Material

  • Weight

Classified

Innovative shifting revolution combined with gravel-specific Shimano features

CLASSIFIED is revolutionising shifting technology. The Belgian startup company has made it its mission to develop the most efficient drivetrain solution in combination with uncompromising shifting behaviour and increased reliability. The CLASSIFIED Powershift hub is their answer. The incredibly innovative, electromechanical gear hub completely replaces the front derailleur. This is revolutionary because CLASSIFIED combines a singlespeed performance drivetrain with the advantages of the gear coverage of a doublespeed drivetrain.

Here's how it works

The BACKROAD 2X11 CLASSIFIED is equipped with the CLASSIFIED Powershift hub and the popular Di2 brake and shift levers by SHIMANO. A handlebar-mounted transmitter is connected with the Di2 levers. Once the shifter is triggered, the transmitter sends a signal to the receiver on the Powershift hub, which in turn sends a signal to the inside of the hub. The forces acting inside the hub then shift from the big chainring with a 1:1 gear ratio to the virtual small chainring with a ratio of 0.7:1.

This allows the rider to shift easily, precisely and instantly even under full load. You have 22 gears and 451% gear range. In addition, this technology is extremely low-maintenance and offers a clean look. In short: You’re riding a 1x set-up with all the advantages of a 2x system. What a revolution!

1) Wider chainline

One important characteristic of a gravel bike is the big tyre clearance. The BACKROAD Classified comes with a ROTOR crank characterised by a 2.5mm wider chainline. This feature gives the gravel bike more freedom in frame design and thus offers extra space for wheels and wider tyres.

2) Ergonomic shifters

When gravelling hard off-road you need good grip and good control. This is ensured by flared handlebars and ergonomic levers with an anti-slip texture to the rubber.

CLASSIFIED Powershift

Ride the revolution

Suitable for: Performance-oriented cyclists and hobby athletes who attach great importance to efficient shifting and high shifting comfort
Intended use: From performance focused gravel racing on long distances or exhausting climbs through to more relaxed gravel rides through varied terrain
Gearing: 2x11 (on a 1x system)
Installed on: BACKROAD

  • Technology

  • Performance

  • Material

  • Weight

You decide which gravel groupset is right for you and your style of riding. First of all, you should ask yourself whether you are likely to ride off-road on changeable terrain or whether you prefer longer bikepacking tours over gravel tracks where you’ll need small gear steps. Then it's up to you to decide what you want from your gravel bike in terms of advanced technologies, shifting performance, material quality and lightness of the gravel groupset.