HammerHed Posted October 19, 2011 Share I run 2 x 9 with grip shift and it is much better than 3 x 9, I rode 38k's of the Spruit the other day on my big chain ring. no hassle. Though there are no big climbs there. I do find that where you need a granny gear on a very steep slope I battle a bit, but if I am fit its OK. I always felt that the granny gear on 3 x 9 was a waste, as I would only use it to climb very steep slopes and then only the granny gear not any others on the small chainring. So for me its a no brainer, 2 x 9/10 is the way to go!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andretraut Posted October 20, 2011 Share Why is it that the Specialized guys seem to have a such very high opinion of themselves and their equipment? Just because it's carbon and "Burry rides it" doesn't automatically make it superior. But I do hope the Kool-Aid is tasty and refreshing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seadog Posted October 20, 2011 Share I run 2 x 9 with grip shift and it is much better than 3 x 9, I rode 38k's of the Spruit the other day on my big chain ring. no hassle. Though there are no big climbs there. I do find that where you need a granny gear on a very steep slope I battle a bit, but if I am fit its OK. I always felt that the granny gear on 3 x 9 was a waste, as I would only use it to climb very steep slopes and then only the granny gear not any others on the small chainring. So for me its a no brainer, 2 x 9/10 is the way to go!! I'm changing to 2x9 today...38/26 with a 32 on the back. What ratio are you running? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotSoBigBen Posted October 20, 2011 Share +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty Posted October 20, 2011 Share Its all good and well for sub 80kg riders to have puzzled expressions about the use of granny gear, but if you are bigger and not a natural climber then its another thing. Strap 15-20kg on your back to find out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robrider Posted October 20, 2011 Share I agree with the 'don't do it just for the sake of doing it' thinking as you will gain nothing and probably lose some as Eldron has clearly shown. Having said that I did just cause I could - from 3*9 to 2*10 on my 29r 1) X9 double crank with 26/392) SLX cluster 11-36 With the 11-36 I got pretty close but still not the same 1st gear I had with my 3*9 and the 'hardest' gear is clearly 'easier' than it was .... On an XC course like Rietvlei the 'easy' gear for something like Wendell's revenge is pretty important for me at least. The only 'negative' for me is that it is way too easy to get to the 'granny' gear as I ride all of Rietvlei in the small chainring and use easier gears than I use to. I used to ride mostly middle chainring on my 3*9 and use the Granny granny combo on 1 or 2 short sections (I wear a pink blouse so don't bother!) But as my mate always says when asked why he bought a Ducati 1098 'BECAUSE I CAN!' With that cassette I recon you have lost any weight advantage you would have gained (prob a bit heavier overall, in fact) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hairy Posted October 20, 2011 Share Interesting to see what the guys on the 29'ers are running. I run a 1 x 1 on mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotSoBigBen Posted October 20, 2011 Share With that cassette I recon you have lost any weight advantage you would have gained (prob a bit heavier overall, in fact) My bike is not light anyway and my biggest weight problem is not the bike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eldron Posted October 20, 2011 Share Interesting to see what the guys on the 29'ers are running. I run a 1 x 1 on mine. Ditto - I have a steel Niner with a 1x1. And a geared Giant. If you want to have ALL the fun you need ALL the bikes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andretraut Posted October 20, 2011 Share And stop thinking you're better than the oke next to you cause of the bike you ride. That's what really makes mtb great.Sorry, I will refrain from doing so in future, and maybe, just maybe I should try taking on the wild cause the fire roads are becoming a bit boaring. At least, my bike was designed to ride rough territory like the Epic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eldron Posted October 20, 2011 Share Its all good and well for sub 80kg riders to have puzzled expressions about the use of granny gear, but if you are bigger and not a natural climber then its another thing. Strap 15-20kg on your back to find out. It's not about the weight - it's about the experience. If you're limiting yourself to courses that are ridable on a 2x10 then you're missing out. I like to ride trails that use the smallest of the small and the biggest of the big. Sabie X was a good example - my partner was on a 2x10 and was pissed at me when I was turning a comfortable gear on the climbs while he was labouring - then he got real pissed when I pedalled away from him on the downhills. I just don't get 2x10. Unless of course it's for "looking cool" or "pride of ownership" - there is no argument against those reasons - we dig cool stuff - some of it makes sense - some of it doesn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotSoBigBen Posted October 20, 2011 Share Unless of course it's for "looking cool" or "pride of ownership" - there is no argument against those reasons - we dig cool stuff - some of it makes sense - some of it doesn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotSoBigBen Posted October 20, 2011 Share Have to love this quote from a mate 'One still needs to recognize that this is not an easy sport; it's an endurance sport, which requires some modicum of preparation. Now, whether that be training, dieting or simply trying to ride on days that you're not hungover, I'll leave that to the peanut gallery.' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy hardtail Posted October 20, 2011 Share Hasnt anyone noticed that its quicker to walk up than trying to ride a granny gear 22x34 ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hairy Posted October 20, 2011 Share Hasnt anyone noticed that its quicker to walk crawl up than trying to ride a granny gear 22x34 ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RocknRolla Posted October 20, 2011 Share it's better to have a granny and not need it, than to need a granny and not have it. i too someday will want to be strong enough to not need my granny at all, no matter what instances that I may encounter while riding my bike (on graded dirt road, up the side of a mountain especially that one on this year's lionman etc.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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