Should You Go 1x or 2x in 2025?

Quick Tip: 1x vs 2x Drivetrains

Choosing between a 1x (single chainring) and 2x (double chainring) drivetrain? Here’s what matters in 2025.

Choose 1x If:

Simplicity wins. No front derailleur means one less thing to adjust, break, or think about. Shifting is intuitive: harder or easier, one lever.

You ride mixed terrain. Gravel riders and mountain bikers benefit from the chain retention of modern narrow-wide chainrings. Dropped chains are rare.

Clearance matters. Without a front derailleur, frames can have cleaner lines and more tire clearance.

Choose 2x If:

You need range. Road riders tackling both steep climbs and fast descents benefit from the wider gear range a double chainring provides.

Smaller jumps between gears. A 2x system offers more closely spaced ratios, letting you fine-tune your cadence.

Racing road bikes. Professional road racing still overwhelmingly uses 2x, and for good reason.

The Trend

1×12 drivetrains with electronic shifting are now standard on high-end gravel bikes. Road bikes are sticking with 2x, but even that may change as cassette ranges expand. Your choice depends on where you ride.