Gravel cassettes

How to choose a gravel cassette

This range brings together road, mountain bike and gravel cassettes, because gravel riding draws on both road and mountain biking. Three criteria narrow the choice down, and the first is not the one people usually look at: it is the freehub body.

First, the freehub body

• Shimano HG : the long-established standard. It accepts road cassettes, 9- to 11-speed mountain bike cassettes and the Linkglide CUES and the SRAM Apex XPLR PG-1231, designed specifically for that freehub body.
• Shimano Microspline : required for mountain bike cassettes from 12 speeds Shimano (XT, SLX, Deore M8100, M7100…), also used on GRX 1x12 groupsets with a 10-51 cassette.
• SRAM XDR : for SRAM XPLR cassettes that start at 10 teeth (XG-1271, XG-1251 and the 13-speed E1 models).
• Campagnolo N3W : for cassettes Ekar, Record X and Super Record X that start at 9 teeth.
• A freehub body can be changed on most hubs, but each wheel brand has its own part number. Check before ordering.

The number of speeds

It must match the derailleur, shifters and chain exactly. Here you will find 9 to 13 speeds. The 13-speed systems are brand-specific — SRAM E1 and Campagnolo components cannot be mixed.

The gear spacing

• In 1x, the cassette range does all the work: 10-44 or 10-46 from SRAM, up to 10-51 from Shimano, or 9-42 or 9-48 from Campagnolo. The wider the range, the bigger the jumps between sprockets.
• In 2x, closer-ratio cassettes (11-34, 11-36) are enough and keep shifts between gears smooth.
• The largest sprocket must stay within the derailleur’s maximum capacity. A derailleur rated “max 46 teeth” will not take a 10-51 cassette.

Linkglide: durability over low weight

The cassettes Shimano Linkglide (CS-LG300, LG400, CUES range) have thicker teeth and last considerably longer, at the cost of slightly less responsive shifting and more weight. A good choice for long distances and everyday cycling. They work with a CUES or Linkglide drivetrain.

Individual sprockets

Campagnolo sells the small sprockets of the Ekar cassette separately: they wear out fastest, so there is no need to replace the whole cassette.

To find out more: Which drivetrain should you choose for gravel riding?

See also: Freehub body · Gravel chains · Gravel derailleurs