1 x 11 or 2x 10 for Sani

[RyanD]

I have been invited to ride S2S in 2015. I currently Ride a 2 x 10 XT setup with a 38 / 24 front and 36 / 11 Rear. Bike is a BMC TE02 and Medium hard tail.

 

I am upgrading my frame to a BMC TE01 and as my current drivetrain is worn I am looking to change to XTR 2x10 or XX1 1x11.

 

I am 181 cm tall, 83 kg. 39 years old. I am a fit rider as confirmed by VO2 max testing done at the Prime institute in Durban.

 

I race XC marathon and I am competitive in my age category. As far a technical ability I can ride the trails at Karkloof (the difficult options) with my XC Hard tail setup.

 

I am very comfortable on the 2x 10 but the 1x 11 has undeniable advantages. I am going to be racing Sani and have never ridden it so would appreciate any info that you guys could give me. I am obviously concerned of not having a low enough gear for really steep climbs, I also don't want to spin the hell out of my legs to go any where.

 

What can you tell me....

Thanks

Ryan

[goya-goya]

I have been invited to ride S2S in 2015. I currently Ride a 2 x 10 XT setup with a 38 / 24 front and 36 / 11 Rear. Bike is a BMC TE02 and Medium hard tail.

 

I am upgrading my frame to a BMC TE01 and as my current drivetrain is worn I am looking to change to XTR 2x10 or XX1 1x11.

 

I am 181 cm tall, 83 kg. 39 years old. I am a fit rider as confirmed by VO2 max testing done at the Prime institute in Durban.

 

I race XC marathon and I am competitive in my age category. As far a technical ability I can ride the trails at Karkloof (the difficult options) with my XC Hard tail setup.

 

I am very comfortable on the 2x 10 but the 1x 11 has undeniable advantages. I am going to be racing Sani and have never ridden it so would appreciate any info that you guys could give me. I am obviously concerned of not having a low enough gear for really steep climbs, I also don't want to spin the hell out of my legs to go any where.

 

What can you tell me....

Thanks

Ryan

 

I'm confused???

 

undeniable advantages?

 

I have ridden with 2x10 for more than 1 year... never had chain suck!... I never run out of gears... chain has never slipped off the front chainrings...

 

Does limiting your gearing options and saving 150g make an undeniable advantage?

[Sephton]

Here's a nice link to work out your gearing with different options.

 

http://gears.mtbcrosscountry.com/#27.5I1I1

 

Seems you will have to go down to a 28 ring on the XX1 to replicate your current granny gear and a 34 to replicate your tallest gear.

[GLuvsMtb]

I've done 2 x sani's (not a race snake though)

 

First one was on a 3 x 9 and the second was on a 2 x 10. Second one was faster than the first, but I was fitter and was riding with a much stronger rider, so I cannot credit the equipment.

 

Sani has very little flat open road sections (maybe the first 10 km on day 1 and a bit on day 3), you either go up or down, and when you go down, you seldom pedal in your biggest gear, as it is flowing singletrack sections for most of it.

 

Apart from a few sections where the non-race snakes grind it (heart rate hill and push of a climb are the only ones that come to mind) you probably will not need the 24 x 36 anywhere.

 

You will be using the drive train for months after Sani, so what else have you got lined up? Will a 1 x 11 do or will you change back to 2 x 10 for whatever it is you have planned for the rest of the winter?

[Jacques Viljoen]

I believe 1x11 is the way to go. 30t gives you the same ratio as 24x36 (Granny) but less top end

[ScottCM]

I am very comfortable on the 2x 10 but the 1x 11 has undeniable advantages. I am going to be racing Sani and

 

Hi Ryan, not to get to technical but what are these advantages? Besides the small amount of weight and the simplicity on the bar and looking like a pro, i cant see any use of spending that kind of money to have less gears. Maybe its cause i'm not fit enough and will never be able to ride on only 11 gears.

[Hardi]

Test yourself,

How many times do you actually pedal downhill Trail/XC above 40km/h. even on straight sections.

Stage races are more climbing

1x11 @ 32T you might spin out on 40km/h.

Another hubber did comment that you adapt to your gears, which makes sense

 

Climbing Suikerbossie on a road bike proves it, you just do it

[Jacques Viljoen]

Hi Ryan, I agree less is just simpler and in that lays the advantage. I hate shifting my front derailleur but thats just maybe me. I singletrack and technical stuff with your 11 gear you will have the right gear without also having to change FD. Most people complain about cost but that does not mean 1x11 is not the best option.If you cant afford it doesn't matter if it's the best. A lot off hubber rave about 1x10 and riding Epic on 1x10 .... how can 1x11 then be bad?

 

If you have the money go 1x11

 

PS. and YES it look awesome

[Paulst12]

S2S is like a road race with only 2 really steep climbs (1 on day 2 and 1 on day 3). I rode a 36 blade in the front and managed to get up both, albeit with some hard pushing. Your standard setup of 34 in the front will be perfect if you have the ability you say you do. The 34x42 is more than enough to get up the new "push of a climb" on day 2 and the climb after Sloth on day 3. Also the 34X10 wont have you spinning out to early on the fast downhills. Believe me when i say the XX1 is without doubt the best way to go. Day 2 tends be really muddy, and if conditions are anything like last year you will likely get chain suck. That doesnt happen with the XX1.

[VicanZA]

got both 2x10 on hard tail and 1x11 on dual sus, use the hardtail on flat races as on the 1x11 i do spin out and i have the 36T on the front.

 

so if ur a race snake make sure u got the ratio right upfront on the xx1. but saying that i think the 1x11 is much better in the climbs, any race with over 1200m climb i will go the dual sus.

[RyanD]

Thanks for the reply's Chaps.

 

The advantages as I see them are that the system is simplified as I loose a chain ring, derailleur, shifter and cable. The issue is, what cost does the simplification demand.

 

In terms of weight saving I will be progressing from XT Cranks and chain rings to xx1 cranks and chainring, this with the derailleur / shifter should yield a small drop in weight.

 

I am training for 2015 not 2014. This year I am concentrating on Triathlon so as to build a good aerobic capacity and then I will focus on the bike training in the months prior to the event. I also decided I rode too much and needed to cross train a bit, hence the triathlon. On a side not Running does cycling no favours!

 

The obvious concern is the compromise in selecting the ratios. I am happy to change my front chainring to suit specific races, the advantage I have is that I have time on my side and can learn the system as I ride this year. Getting it wrong at Sani means blowing a year and a half's training and letting my partner down.

 

To those that posted info on the actual race I am much obliged, and thanks to everyone who posted so far.

Edited April 11, 2014 by RyanD

[manbearpig]

24.....36........should do for anything

[Marius]

I think I have XX1 - 34 - 11 and spin out on about 55km/h - this guys sounds heavy so I think the 2 x 10 might be better especially if it's got lots of climbing.

[Borriz]

I agree with Copperhead - Think you've already made up your mind and just looking for justification :-)

I trained with 34 front blade all the way to epic and had no issues on prologue of epic. but opted to switch to 32 for rest of epic to ensure I don't burn my legs. I'm no racing snake. fighting weight is 84kg

The real advantage for me is the lack of front derailleur which means less that can go wrong mechanically when you hit mud.

Ja weight is probably advantage but prunes and water is cheaper.

I had more issues converting from 27 gears to 2 x 10, than from 2 x 10 to 1 x 11. But then I had single speed training before converting to 1 x 11.

Maybe only word of advise is to look at how much time you spend in small blade during general riding. If you spend hardly anytime in it then 1 x 11 will not be an issue.

The 1 x 11 ratios is 42 - 11 if I'm not mistaken. That 42 is as big as saucer plate.

[Paulst12]

the XX1 ratio for the casette is 10-12-14-16-18-21-24-28-32-36-42... with 34 front i doubt there is much you will miss compared to a 2X10

[Pin-it]

I do t personally have xx1, one day when I grow up! But was talking to a friend of mine who has had it for quite awhile and is loving it! He says he never struggled with the top and bottom end but he struggles a bit with the gaps between gears and that it feels like you are never in that perfect gear! Again just what I heard may not be true for everyone else. To the OP you sound like a really strong rider so I'd say go for it!