Up hill and down dale...
March 1, 2016 12:02 AM Subscribe
Would an upgrade to 11 x 1 drivetrain make me happier?
I'm planning to buy a discounted 1 year old fat-tire mtb which has a 2 x 10 drivetrain (2015 Salsa Bucksaw), and the 2016 models' main difference is the drivetrain. I have two mountain bikes already, so I if I upgrade I could propagate the components down the line to my older bikes, and cost is not really an issue. If you have made this switch, do you enjoy your bike that much more? How many teeth did you chose for your front chainring? What other upgrades do you suggest?
I'm planning to buy a discounted 1 year old fat-tire mtb which has a 2 x 10 drivetrain (2015 Salsa Bucksaw), and the 2016 models' main difference is the drivetrain. I have two mountain bikes already, so I if I upgrade I could propagate the components down the line to my older bikes, and cost is not really an issue. If you have made this switch, do you enjoy your bike that much more? How many teeth did you chose for your front chainring? What other upgrades do you suggest?
The answer to weather or not 1x will work for you is very dependent on the type of gear range you like to have on your bikes and the terrain you ride. I use a gear calculator like this one to figure those sort of things out for myself.
posted by miles at 10:54 AM on March 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by miles at 10:54 AM on March 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Yes, I have a 3 x 9 2011 Titus Motolite and an old Kona Explosif hardtail and I would move the 2 x 10 to the motolite and the 3 x 9 to the Explosif. I am not a racer so I wouldn't need the higher gears on the fatbike.
posted by v-tach at 12:40 PM on March 1, 2016
posted by v-tach at 12:40 PM on March 1, 2016
Best answer: I just did a 1x conversion on my Pugsley. I was running 3x9, but the front derailleur kept getting jammed up with winter crap, so it was functionally a 1x9 after a week (and then I'd clean it up, and a week later...)
Now I'm running a 30t upfront and I really like it. Sure, it's only 1x9, but it's got plenty of gear spread for me (I'm running 12-36 in back). It is not a speed demon (not until I put on my 29+ wheels). But it's sure-footed as hell, and I think you'll be quite satisfied with the capabilities once you find the right chain ring for you.
posted by rocketman at 3:37 AM on March 2, 2016
Now I'm running a 30t upfront and I really like it. Sure, it's only 1x9, but it's got plenty of gear spread for me (I'm running 12-36 in back). It is not a speed demon (not until I put on my 29+ wheels). But it's sure-footed as hell, and I think you'll be quite satisfied with the capabilities once you find the right chain ring for you.
posted by rocketman at 3:37 AM on March 2, 2016
FYI, for anyone searching on the topic, after my ride yesterday I think I'm converting my 2x10 (11-36) to a 1x using the Race Face Cinch system, and I'll probably throw on the Hope T-Rex 40t ring in the back, to give me 11-40 on the rear (removing the 17t).
I'm adding a dropper post and the cockpit is already cluttered with 2 brakes, 2 shifters, and two lockout cables coming off a single lockout lever (Syncros TwinLoc).
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 5:24 AM on March 7, 2016
I'm adding a dropper post and the cockpit is already cluttered with 2 brakes, 2 shifters, and two lockout cables coming off a single lockout lever (Syncros TwinLoc).
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 5:24 AM on March 7, 2016
Response by poster: Follow up:
In the end I upgraded the Bucksaw to a 1 x 11, 32 tooth front and 11-42 XT rear. I found that
a) my low end was a little too hard for me and
b) back pedaling on the 42 tooth rear cassete was problematic as the chain would drop off that gear,
and switched to a 30 tooth front chainring from Wolftooth that has an integral spacer and fixed both of those problems.
Instead of going 2 x 10 on the Motolite the I went with a 1x10 setup with a 30 tooth front chainring and now it feels great.
...And then I totally stripped down the Explosif and had it powdercoated, bought new wheels, fork and divetrain, set it up as a 1x11 30T front and 10-42 XT rear and now have a sub-10kg hardtail.
posted by v-tach at 6:49 PM on October 22, 2016
In the end I upgraded the Bucksaw to a 1 x 11, 32 tooth front and 11-42 XT rear. I found that
a) my low end was a little too hard for me and
b) back pedaling on the 42 tooth rear cassete was problematic as the chain would drop off that gear,
and switched to a 30 tooth front chainring from Wolftooth that has an integral spacer and fixed both of those problems.
Instead of going 2 x 10 on the Motolite the I went with a 1x10 setup with a 30 tooth front chainring and now it feels great.
...And then I totally stripped down the Explosif and had it powdercoated, bought new wheels, fork and divetrain, set it up as a 1x11 30T front and 10-42 XT rear and now have a sub-10kg hardtail.
posted by v-tach at 6:49 PM on October 22, 2016
Nice.
I went 1x10 (32x11-40) on my full squish. I also just built a Soma Wolverine to be used as a gravel grinder, and I built that one 1x11 with SRAM Force CX1 (again with the Race Face Cinch cranks).
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 2:09 PM on October 27, 2016
I went 1x10 (32x11-40) on my full squish. I also just built a Soma Wolverine to be used as a gravel grinder, and I built that one 1x11 with SRAM Force CX1 (again with the Race Face Cinch cranks).
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 2:09 PM on October 27, 2016
« Older Eating and drinking with a bushy beard and... | Is there a way to let my family (& only them)... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
The nice thing about X01/XX1 is the ability to swap chain rings without removing the cranks, so if you don't like what you're running it's not an issue to swap. Everyone I know who rides 1x has experimented until they find the ratio that works best for them and their terrain. Try the 30t, and if you're topping out in your high gear and not using your low that much, consider a 32. I would rather have too low a gear than too high a gear.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 7:20 AM on March 1, 2016