There are more than 30 performance-oriented gravel bikes with official 57mm or wider tire clearance. Data on rolling resistance indicates that these wider tires can perform well on gravel surfaces, which is an interesting prospect for anyone splitting their time between different terrains.
However, these wide-clearance frames often require a 1X-only drivetrain, and some have a minimum tire size around 45mm. From a practical standpoint, moving to a 1X system means losing the gear range and tighter steps provided by a second chainring. I also noticed that some of these frames involve a wider Q-factor, which alters the pedal stance and can change the feel of the bike over long distances.
It is a choice between maximizing tire volume for the trail and maintaining the drivetrain versatility found on more road-biased setups. Whether that trade-off makes sense depends on how much pavement is in your typical ride and how much you rely on a wider range of gears.
Is maxing out to 57mm clearance worth the 1X-only drivetrain and wider Q-factor compromises on a fast gravel bike?
It really depends on where you're actually riding. While the idea of 57mm tires sounds great for comfort, it's worth checking whether that extra volume is actually necessary for your terrain or if it's just 'paper' performance. For a lot of riders, a slightly narrower setup with a 2X drivetrain provides a much more confidence-inspiring ride because you have the right gear for the right gradient. Plus, a wider Q-factor can really mess with your natural pedal stroke, and if the bike doesn't feel comfortable from the first mile, all that extra tire clearance won't make up for it.
That is exactly the worry. Losing that 2X range for the sake of massive tire clearance seems like a bad deal if the route involves a lot of paved sections or varying gradients. A wider Q-factor that messes with the pedal stroke is a hard pill to swallow, especially if it makes the bike feel unnatural right from the start.
It really comes down to the terrain. If you are spending a lot of time on pavement or mixed gradients, losing that 2X range is a massive hit to versatility. Same with the Q-factor; if the stance feels unnatural right away, no amount of tire volume is going to fix a bad pedal stroke over a long ride. It is usually better to have a drivetrain that fits the route than to chase max clearance just because the spec sheet says you can.
