Only you can answer what gears you need. For instance, I would never need the same gear range on my gravel bike as on my mountain bikes. In my opinion the best thing to do is buy the bike you like the most and then buy whatever you need to get the gears right. It makes no sense to buy a bike that is not what you want just because it comes with certain gears. I haven't ridden a stock bike in 20 years, they always get set up to my preferences.
With all that said, you really need to test ride these bikes. I would think the S3 with the 46/30 and 11-36 would be a good setup. But I can't say if a 46/30 with an 11-36 cassette is low enough for you. It would be plenty low enough for me, but again you need to decide that for yourself with your power and how steep the hills are.
I used a mountain bike as a gravel bike for several years, and I was glad to have the low gearing. Being able to sit and spin on steep dirt roads is nice, because the lack of traction can make standing difficult. I'd tried a 50/34 road compact setup on dirt knew I wanted better than 1:1 gearing. My current gravel bike has a 46/30 and 11-34, and it's been a good range for me. 46/30 11-36 would work well for me. I'd certainly take a 46/30 over a 50/34 for dirt.
34/36-46 with 11-36 is a great combo for me. I have and have had that on several bikes including a (since sold) Jamis Renegade. (I agree, the 11-34, 34-50 left a bit to be desired) I should think that 30-46/11-36 would be as good or better if low end gearing is your priority.
I just ordered my 46/30s yesterday. I too started riding gravel on my MTB, got another set of wheels with Resolutes. When I got my curly bar bike it came with 50/34 and a 11-32 10sp cassette which I can hack when the rides are 25mi or less but when they get longer my legs lose the juice to push that. Besides, I think I have gotten into 50/11 once or twice. I also think I will enjoy the slightly closer overall ratios with the smaller chainrings.
I have a similar predicament on my 1x11 Jamis Renegade Exploit. It has a 40T crankset and 11-42t cassette. It’s geared fine for roads but not low enough for hilly gravel. Looking at swapping out the crankset for a 34t, which will get me a nice low gear ratio for those gravel hills.
Some good advice here already. I would like to repeat the sentiment that the 'correct' gear ratio is the gear you can comfortably ride how and where you want to ride.
Also, please remember that gear ratios are dead easy to change. To swap cassettes you need a cassette lockring tool (~$10), a 10 or 12" adjustable wrench (~$15, if you don't already have one), and a chain whip (~$15). Or bring your bike (or wheel) to the LBS when you buy a new cassette and they will install it for you (~$10). Get the bike you like, do some riding, then decide if you would like a gearing change.
Also, it is likely that the gearing you prefer on a full off-road mountain bike will not be idealfor the riding you do on a gravel/road/adventure bike.
I just got my Raleigh Roker Comp back last night. So sick and tired of the Sram 1x and the big jumps in the lower gears. I switched over to the Shimano GRX 48/31 with 11-40 in the rear. I can't wait to try it out over the weekend.
I am running a 11-36 ten speed with a 27-40 Rotor doubles up front. Also have an option to throw a 25 on the front if I were doing mostly high altitude stuff. Here in the intermountain west, all the gears are used. Hope the bicycle industry comes up with more friendly OEM gearing that works for us baby boomers.
@BigGravelGrinder, I disagree with the statement that “gear ratios are dead easy to change”. Yes, speaking a cassette is easy. The problem is that there is a limited number of cassette sizes available. And the cassettes that are available don’t all fit on the same freehub body, And typically the biggest issue is that the derailleurs can’t handle the different size cogs or chainrings you want to install.
Zurichman wrote:I just got my Raleigh Roker Comp back last night. So sick and tired of the Sram 1x and the big jumps in the lower gears. I switched over to the Shimano GRX 48/31 with 11-40 in the rear. I can't wait to try it out over the weekend.
Zman
How are you liking it with a 40t cassette? That is some range!
