There’s been a lot of buzz out there about the new Shimano GRX group set that hit the streets in 2019 and are now coming out as the standard configuration on new 2020 gravel bikes. I want to provide a quick review of the GRX group set based on my experience riding gravel on a GRX- equipped Cobalt Warhawk in and around D.C. & Leesburg, VA over the last few months.
When it first came out, I was a bit skeptical about GRX. I thought that Shimano just took a few road parts, added a bigger cassette, a clutch to the rear derailleur to prevent chain slap, and made the parts a bit more rugged. I was wrong. GRX is actually a family of different components from lower end Tiagara equivalent to higher end Di2 version that are purpose built for gravel. This is good news as you can mix and match parts to get a more cost effective tailored group set or pick one that fits into your budget. The GRX line includes four group sets; here’s a quick rundown: the electronic shifting GRX 815 Di2; the mechanical shifting GRX 800 (ultegra level); GRX 600 (105 level); and GRX 400 (Tiagra, only available in 2x10). The top two models (800 and 600) have the option for 2x11 or 1x11 gearing with cassette sizes up to 42T. The top of the line is the GRX 815 Di2, and it has several more features for the gravel aficionado. These include an option for inline brakes on the bar top (like the CX brakes of times past) and satellite shifting buttons that you can mount nearly anywhere. For the tech geeks, you can integrate your Garmin with a Bluetooth antenna (which is an extra $135) on Di2 and change screens with a button integrated into the hoods while riding those rough sections. Nice.
Probably the biggest improvement for gravel riding from the GRX group set is the hood and brake design. The hoods are lemuch more sculpted and shaped to enable more control while riding on the hoods in rough terrain. The wider hood design provides great hand support. The brakes are redesigned from the road set up and include Servo-wave tech found on Shimano MTB groups. This tech makes the brakes feel more progressive, and with the new brake lever design enable more braking power while riding on to the hoods, which makes one-finger braking a reality. The textured pattern on the hood also gives you more control in wet situations. And for those who are dying to have a dropper post on their gravel/adventure bike, Shimano has given them the option of using the left shifter on a 1x11 set up as your dropper post actuator.
Comments: I absolutely love the new hoods and brake design. They allow you to stay in the hoods in the rough stuff and still brake easily, giving you more control and confidence on fast gravel descents. I also like the support the wider hoods provide on long gravel rides, reducing hand fatigue. I love the option for inline brake levers and remote shifting. It really changes the ride in the tough sections and provides more hand position options without risking control of the bike.
Get rid of the complex and seemingly fragile Di2 wires and go wireless already! I think more and more riders are looking for wider gear options even on their 2x set ups. We can go up to 50T on a MTB, why not gravel? Why not on a 2x11? Don’t make us wait.
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