Performance of a 1×11 Drivetrain with a 40T Chainring for Gravel Riding

You want a 1×11 with a 40T chainring for gravel riding? Fine. But let’s get one thing straight: cycling isn’t a buffet where you get everything you want.

You pick your poison. You trade one thing for another, hoping the house doesn’t take too much from you.

You’ll lose something. Maybe it’s top-end speed. Maybe it’s your knees on steep climbs.

Maybe it’s your patience when you spin out like a hamster on a wheel.

But hey, at least you won’t be babysitting a front derailleur like it’s a fussy child.

Now, let’s talk about the seven things that’ll either make you love or curse your decision.

1. Climbing: Prepare for the Grind

Gravel hills aren’t polite. They don’t care that your 1×11 setup is sleek and simple. With a 40T up front and an 11-42T in the back, you’re looking at a 1:1 ratio at best.

If the road tilts up beyond 10%, your legs might start filing complaints. If you plan on long, steep climbs, be ready to suffer—or swap in a smaller chainring.

2. Top Speed: Not a Sprinter’s Setup

A 40T chainring with an 11T cog maxes out around 54kph with a cadence of 110.

That’s fine unless you’re bombing tarmac descents or trying to chase down roadies who still believe in leg warmers and suffering for style points.

On gravel? You probably won’t notice. On smooth pavement? You might start wishing for an extra tooth or two up front.

3. Simplicity vs. Versatility

A 1x setup is like a good whiskey—clean, simple, and straight to the point. No front derailleur.

No thinking about which chainring to use. Just one shifter, one set of gears. It’s beautiful until you hit that moment where you wish for an extra low or high gear. Then it’s like realizing your whiskey glass is empty, and the bar just closed.

4. Gear Gaps: Learn to Love the Leap

With 11 speeds covering a wide range, the jumps between gears can be bigger than you’d like.

You might find yourself stuck between “too easy” and “too hard” more often than a man debating whether to call his ex at 2 AM.

On rolling terrain, this isn’t a huge deal. But if you’re picky about cadence, prepare to adapt—or get annoyed.

5. Maintenance and Durability: The Good News

No front derailleur means one less thing to adjust, maintain, or break. Your chain stays straighter.

Fewer moving parts means fewer things to fail. SRAM’s clutch derailleur keeps the chain tight. Overall, it’s a set-it-and-forget-it setup. If you hate tinkering, this is a win.

6. Off-Road vs. On-Road: Where Are You Really Riding?

If you’re splitting time between pavement and gravel, the 1×11 will work—but you’ll notice the trade-offs more on the road.

Off-road, it’s fine. Gravel riding is about momentum, not precision-shifting. But if you’re planning long road sections, that 40T might start feeling like a bad decision when you’re trying to keep up with a group ride.

7. The “Future You” Problem

Right now, you think a 1×11 is perfect. It’s clean. It’s trendy.

But what about future you? The one who gets stronger and starts craving more speed?

Or the one who realizes he likes climbing long, punishing hills? Future you might be cursing present you for not getting the 2x. Something to think about.

Summary Table: The Trade-offs of a 1×11 with a 40T Chainring

Factor	Pro	Con
Climbing	Simple, no front shifting	1:1 ratio struggles on steep climbs
Top Speed	Fine for gravel	Spins out at ~35 mph on road
Simplicity	Less maintenance, no front derailleur	Less range, bigger gear jumps
Gear Gaps	Works well off-road	Noticeable jumps on the road
Durability	Fewer components, clutch derailleur	Chainring might wear faster
Terrain Adaptability	Great for gravel	Not as ideal for mixed road use
Long-Term Satisfaction	FutureShock is nice	May wish for more range over time

Conclusion: The Bar is Closing, Make Your Choice

You’ve read all this, and you’re still here. That means you’re still deciding. Fine. Here’s the brutal truth: if your riding is mostly gravel, the 1×11 is great. If you spend more time on the road, you’re gonna notice the limits.

You don’t get it all.

But maybe you don’t need it all. Maybe you just need one chainring, one set of gears, and one less thing to think about. Maybe you’ll be fine. Maybe you’ll be cursing yourself in six months.

Or maybe, just maybe, you’ll realize that in the end, it’s just a damn bike.

Go ride.