--- title: Gravel Bike Upgrades date: 2022-06-13 type: post categories: - biking - pictures tags: - biking - gravel bike - candy - hack - weekend-mechanic featured: bon-tempe.jpg comment: --- Well, we upgraded my gravel bike "Candy" to be a _MUCH_ better climbing bike (really we turned it from a "cyclocross" bike to a super-light gravel bike). After upgrading the tires, we upgraded the rear cassette (and derailleur) and front chainring. Stock: Hunter figured out Shimano GRX, with a [longer GRX derailleur](https://bike.shimano.com/en-US/product/component/grx-11-speed/RD-RX812.html), could take a _much bigger_ rear cassette, all the way from 34 tooth biggest gear to 46T: We also made the front chainring smaller, from 40T stock to 36T: Candy now has the same ["gain ratio"](/gears) in its easiest setup: - [46T (rear) + 36T front](/gears/?36/11-13-15-17-19-21-24-28-32-37-46) -- which climbs the same as: - [51T (rear) + 40T front](/gears/?40/11-13-15-18-21-24-28-33-39-45-51) :) And, *wow* [she can climb](../gravel-race-lost-and-found-sierra-tahoe/) now. | | | | :------ | :------------------------ | | upgrades| 11-46T (rear) x 36T front | | stock | 11-34T (rear) x 40T front | | Cost | Part | | ---: | :--- | | $142 | [Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M Bike Tire](https://www.amazon.com/Pirelli-Cinturato-Gravel-Tire-Tubeless/dp/B083QNPCC6) (700x40c) (2x) | | $121 | [Cassette Shimano M8000 XT 11 speed 11-46T](https://www.merlincycles.com/en-us/shimano-m8000-xt-11-speed-cassette-85183.html) | | $112 | [Shimano rear derailuer RD-RX812 GRX](https://www.merlincycles.com/en-us/shimano-grx-812-rear-derailleur-11-speed-170290.html) | | $85 | [Wolf Tooth 36T chainring](https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/collections/gravel-cyclocross-road/products/110-bcd-asymmetric-4-bolt-for-shimano-grx-cranks?variant=39286629367843) | | $34 | [tubeless valves](https://www.amazon.com/milKit-Tubeless-Presta-Valve-Black/dp/B081H9XR85) | | $50 | [LEZYNE Pocket Drive Pro Mini pump](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0876GVF6R) | | $544 | TOTAL | ## Weight Weenie | Weight | Timeline | | -----: | :------- | | 18.7 lbs | rolled off floor (but no: pedals, bottle cages) (and as typical, no: bike bag, pump) | | 19.9 lbs | .. plus pedals, bottle cages & [upgraded 28c tubed to 40c tubeless tires](../../05/new-shoes-day-tracey-loves-candy/) | | 20.3 lbs | .. and new longer derailleur + bigger rear cassette | | 20.1 lbs | .. and new smaller 36T chainring | I'm so delighted now with this bike! --- (After my [62 mile gravel race](../gravel-race-lost-and-found-sierra-tahoe/) 9 days ago):