What does it mean to be a gravel cyclist? There is no one definitive answer—and that’s the beauty of cycling’s drop bar, dirt road discipline. Indeed, gravel cycling is about personal expression and the freedom to choose. There is no rule book, no established norms, no stodgy old traditions. You decide when, where, and how to ride.
Maybe you’re an interval-loving, hard-nosed racer with top-of-the-podium aspirations. Maybe you’re a dreamy adventurer always up and out before sunrise in search of new summits to conquer. Maybe you just love taking the alternate route to work and back. Maybe you’re a little bit of all these things. Or something completely different. There is no wrong answer.
However and wherever you choose to ride, options matter, especially when it comes to your bike’s gearing. SHIMANO understands this. That's why we created GRX, the world's first dedicated gravel cycling component group. And that's why the latest iteration of GRX includes three unique 12-speed mechanical drivetrain options to cover the full spectrum of riders and rides.
UNBEATABLE: 1x45T
If you’re a competitor at heart who prioritizes simplicity and mud clearance, SHIMANO’s RX820 1x12 is the go-to choice. Combining the lightweight efficiency of a single-ring set-up with the close gear steps of a 10-45 cassette, this group lets you confidently toe the startline in Kansas, Stillwater, Steamboat, or wherever your personal race of truth resides, knowing that you’ll have the optimal cadence to maintain your position in the bunch—or go charging off the front. With SHIMANO GRX, you are UNBEATABLE.
UNSTOPPABLE: 1x51T
If you’re more of an all-day—or multi-day—explorer type who never met a climb too long or backroad too remote, SHIMANO's wide-range RX820 1x12 option is the way to go. Boasting the same simplicity and weight savings of a single ring set-up, but with a wide range 10-51 cassette paired with a 40T or 42T chainring, this group will keep you spinning comfortably even on the steepest jeep roads or highest alpine ascents. With SHIMANO GRX, you are UNSTOPPABLE.
UNDROPPABLE: 2x12
For riders seeking the best of both worlds or for those more accustomed to a traditional road bike set-up, SHIMANO’s new 2x12 RX820 drivetrain is optimal. Utilizing a gravel-specific 48/31 front chainrings paired with an 11-34 or 11-36 12-speed cassette, this group delivers a wide gear range while maintaining close gear steps so you can find the perfect cadence whether hammering along the flats, cruising endless dirt road rollers, or taking on the biggest climbs you can find. No rides are out of bounds with this all-road-oriented option. With SHIMANO GRX, you are UNDROPPABLE.
And no matter which new GRX drivetrain you choose, you’ll benefit from SHIMANO’s legendarily precise and reliable mechanical shifting along with integrated chain stabilization that delivers a quiet and worry-free ride. So go ahead, plot your next ride, race, or bikepacking adventure—and know that with SHIMANO GRX you’ll have the right gearing to get you to the finish line, wherever that may be.
