2 x 10 vs 1 x 11

[Craig Stubbs]

Replaced my worn and outdated 3x drivetrain on my Yeti 2 weeks back, to a Hope 32t front ring with a 11/36 casette and a Hope 40t-rex.

 

Absolutely fantastic. 2 hard rides around Giba and didn't struggle for gearing on the climbs. All in all, just a simple, hassle free solution. Great shift through-out the range and piss to clean.

 

Cant wait for my drivetrain on my Pyga to show some signs of wear so i can do the same on her.

[johanpre44]

I have just built a 29er with 2x10 (24/38 and 11-36) as a 2nd bike. My other bike is a 26er running 3x8.

 

Reason for 2x10 on the 29er is purely to have a bailout gear (I do struggle up some steep hills), I must say that I spend a lot of time on the big ring and hardly ever use the small ring. What was interesting is that the 2x10 on the 29er gives me very similar ratios as the 26er on the granny end, only losing a little out on the fast end (ratios was calculated in terms of distance travelled per pedal stroke to account for the bigger wheels). Think I will stick to 2x10 on my 29er for a while.

 

Plan for the 26er is to eventually become an SS, but since I have some of the parts (Hope 34t Single Ring), I decided to have some fun and replace the 3 rings in front with this, so its running 1x8 (11-32 casette). To my surprise this is great, even with the reduced gearing!

 

My conclusion on front rings is that the shifting there is very in-efficient (especially on 3 rings). You also learn very quickly to push harder when less gears is available. Simplicity rocks!

 

The only thing I'm wondering is when Shimano will trickle down the new XTR 1x(10/11) set-up to the SLX level of components (especially with the 40t cog). Not to knock the Sram 1x11 setup, I think its great, just very expensive (have to add the price for the different free-hub body, or new wheels if your stock wheels cannot accommodate the cassette).

[Big John]

I really like to use 2x10. I find that when on undulating terrain, I'll be climbing in a low gear then crest and bike speeds off and I can't spin fast enough... So instead of clicking through the gears and then having to do the same 50m down the trail to keep going up the next little Hill. I find the change from, small chainring to big, easy and the shift from big to small (so I can climb) even easier and a lot less grinding on the cassette... My 2c

[LOSMEICHERIE]

32 front ring and 11/36 cassatte it is just perfect for me .

[NINER_boy]

 

 

I ride with a 36 up front (26" hardtail) and struggle to keep up on long flats with guys on normal gearing,

maybe im just week and cant spin fast enough.

 

Geez dude, you should ride with the elite men and beat most of them.

 

I ride a 1x 10 system, 34T and 12-36 at the back, and top end gearing spins out around 48km/h.

 

So if you sustain that (and spin out of gears) on the flats you could / should win the next epic.

 

Happy hoopin

Edited August 2, 2014 by NINER_boy

[Capricorn]

Geez dude, you should ride with the elite men and beat most of them.

 

I ride a 1x 10 system, 34T and 12-36 at the back, and top end gearing spins out around 48km/h.

 

So if you sustain that (and spin out of gears) on the flats you could / should win the next epic.

 

Happy hoopin

 

not unless he is trying to keep up with 29ers.