Guide to Mullet Drivetrains: Pairing Road Shifters with MTB Derailleurs/Cassettes

Let’s be honest, road 1x drivetrains just don’t cut it. The ideal 1x for gravel bikes and drop-bar bikepacking rigs comes in the form of a road shift lever paired with a mountain bike rear derailleur and/or cassette. For the past year and a half, we’ve been experimenting with various hacks and drivetrain modifications to achieve the best of both worlds: a wide gear range and an appreciable granny gear. We’ve fully tested nine solid “mullet” drivetrains for this in depth guide…