The 1x Revolution — Why Simple Gearing Just Makes Sense (Especially at Gloria)
If you have been around bikes long enough, you have probably seen it happen — front mechs are slowly disappearing. Like floppy disks. Or those reflective ankle straps everyone used in the 90s.
Modern bikes, especially gravel, commuting, and all weather machines like the ones we build at Gloria Cycling, are shifting towards 1x drivetrains.
And honestly, it makes sense.
Let’s talk about why — in the calmest, least technical way possible — with just a little nerd spice at the end.
Modern bikes, especially gravel, commuting, and all weather machines like the ones we build at Gloria Cycling, are shifting towards 1x drivetrains.
And honestly, it makes sense.
Let’s talk about why — in the calmest, least technical way possible — with just a little nerd spice at the end.
The old world: 2x and the front derailleur era
Road bikes spent years running two chainrings, usually something like Shimano 50/34 at the front paired with 11–34 at the back.
It gave you loads of gears, but also:
It gave you loads of gears, but also:
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● loads of overlap
●loads of faff
●loads of cleaning and adjusting
●the occasional crunchy “oops wrong combo” momentIt worked.
The new world: the smooth, happy 1x life
A modern gravel setup like 46T up front with a 10–46 in the back basically replaces everything the front derailleur used to handle.
This is why most Gloria titanium gravel bikes, winter titanium bikes, and titanium MTB bikes — pretty much everything everyday riders want — run 1x.
-
●Clean cockpit
●One shifter
●No cable stretch
●No trimming
●Way less to worry about
●Way less to break
This is why most Gloria titanium gravel bikes, winter titanium bikes, and titanium MTB bikes — pretty much everything everyday riders want — run 1x.
The nerd corner (small, friendly, and non-scary)
Let’s do a tiny bit of numbers because it actually helps show how similar modern 1x and traditional 2x setups really are.
SRAM 1x example:
46T chainring with a 10–46 cassette
Shimano 2x example:
50/34 with an 11–34 cassette
Smallest gear: 34:34 → almost the same climbing gear as the 1x
Largest gear: 50:11 → a bit faster on the very top end
Range: wider, but you get repeat gears and more to manage
SRAM 1x example:
46T chainring with a 10–46 cassette
- ●Smallest gear: 46:46 → a perfect super low climbing gear
●Largest gear: 46:10 → plenty fast for everyday speeds
●Range: massive, simple, no duplicates
Shimano 2x example:
50/34 with an 11–34 cassette
Smallest gear: 34:34 → almost the same climbing gear as the 1x
Largest gear: 50:11 → a bit faster on the very top end
Range: wider, but you get repeat gears and more to manage
What this actually feels like
The 1x gives you a great “do anything” spread — climbing in the woods, cruising on the flat, zooming home in the rain — all without touching a front shifter.
The 2x gives you slightly smoother jumps between gears and a higher top speed, but only useful if you are really sprinting on tarmac.
For gravel, commuting, and titanium all road bikes, 1x just feels more natural.
The 2x gives you slightly smoother jumps between gears and a higher top speed, but only useful if you are really sprinting on tarmac.
For gravel, commuting, and titanium all road bikes, 1x just feels more natural.
When 1x makes perfect sense (Gloria territory)
Gloria riders are not chasing podiums. You are riding to work. Finding new gravel loops. Surviving winter slush. Heading out for coffee rides. Taking your bike on a train where it might accidentally kiss a door frame. Trying new paths you should not really be on.
For this kind of riding:
A titanium Gloria bike with a 1x drivetrain feels like the most low maintenance, high enjoyment setup you can ride.
For this kind of riding:
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●fewer parts
●less maintenance
●more reliability
●cleaner cockpit
●simpler choice
A titanium Gloria bike with a 1x drivetrain feels like the most low maintenance, high enjoyment setup you can ride.
When 1x does not make sense
If you:
-
●ride only on smooth tarmac
●love perfectly tiny gear jumps
●regularly ride at speeds most people only see on descents
Then yes, a classic Shimano 2x road setup might feel better.
But for everyone else — which is almost everyone who walks into Gloria Cycling the simplicity of 1x is the better fit.
Gloria’s philosophy
We do not build race bikes.
We build bikes people actually want to ride.
Bikes that make sense.
Bikes that do not need constant fiddling. Bikes that stay mechanically calm even when the weather is not.
Bikes that can take a hit.
Bikes that are easy to clean and live with.
That is why, at Gloria, 1x is not a trend. It is simply the smarter choice for everyday riders.
And on a titanium frame, it is the perfect long term partnership.
We build bikes people actually want to ride.
Bikes that make sense.
Bikes that do not need constant fiddling. Bikes that stay mechanically calm even when the weather is not.
Bikes that can take a hit.
Bikes that are easy to clean and live with.
That is why, at Gloria, 1x is not a trend. It is simply the smarter choice for everyday riders.
And on a titanium frame, it is the perfect long term partnership.
Bonus: How gear ratios are calculated
Gear Ratio = chainring teeth ÷ cassette teeth
This tells you how many times the rear wheel turns for each turn of the cranks.
Higher number = harder or faster gear Lower number = easier climbing gear
SRAM 1x Example: 46T chainring with 10–46 cassette
Lowest gear (46 ÷ 46 = 1.00) → very easy climbing gear Highest gear (46 ÷ 10 = 4.60) → fast enough for any everyday riding
Shimano 2x Example: 50/34 with 11–34 cassette
Lowest gear: 34 ÷ 34 = 1.00 → basically identical to the 1x climbing gear Highest gear: 50 ÷ 11 = 4.55 → slightly lower than the 1x top gear
Almost identical range. Just simpler
This tells you how many times the rear wheel turns for each turn of the cranks.
Higher number = harder or faster gear Lower number = easier climbing gear
SRAM 1x Example: 46T chainring with 10–46 cassette
Lowest gear (46 ÷ 46 = 1.00) → very easy climbing gear Highest gear (46 ÷ 10 = 4.60) → fast enough for any everyday riding
Shimano 2x Example: 50/34 with 11–34 cassette
Lowest gear: 34 ÷ 34 = 1.00 → basically identical to the 1x climbing gear Highest gear: 50 ÷ 11 = 4.55 → slightly lower than the 1x top gear
Almost identical range. Just simpler
Why it fits Gloria
At Gloria Cycling, we believe the best bikes are the ones that do not overcomplicate things.
Whether it is a titanium gravel bike, a titanium road bike, or a versatile frameset, our focus is always the same — honest engineering, reliable performance, and bikes that are a joy to live with.
Whether it is a titanium gravel bike, a titanium road bike, or a versatile frameset, our focus is always the same — honest engineering, reliable performance, and bikes that are a joy to live with.
