1x11 or not

[Rouxenator]

Cant wait for the xt 11-46 cassette...

I must admit I am more than happy with 32t x 36t however my new 32t x 42t is handy on those days when the legs have little power. If they make bigger ones, like the rumored 50t SRAM cassette I guess we will be riding 36t chainrings. 

[Ampandy]

Myles what would your opinion be on a 36 11-36 be? Must say I am enjoying that more than the 32 or 34 up front. Then again I have been told I'm missing a few screws.......

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Myles what would your opinion be on a 36 11-36 be? Must say I am enjoying that more than the 32 or 34 up front. Then again I have been told I'm missing a few screws.......

If you can push it, why not?

[NotSoBigBen]

Sometimes I think if you're not man enough then just stick with your multiple chainring option bunch of girls ????

[Ampandy]

Spot on me thinks.

[henningvr]

I'm currently riding a 1x9 XT drive train with a RaceFace NW up front on a SLX crank. The moment this drive train is gefork, I am going 1x11, no question. I'll never go 2 or 3 x again, ever.

[JXV]

 

 

Thanks for the answer, but please be patient with me!

 

Using your example, is it true that from 0km/h the 32/42 would require more leverage/strength to start turning and get to speed than the 26/34? Or not?

 

Edit: Yes, like Monark said, that would be true from my statement? You need more torque to turn bigger chain ring compared to same gear ratio setup, but with smaller chainring?

No not true. In those two examples I gave it is the same. Do the math and work it out. The bigger front chainring is balanced by the larger rear sprocket so your legs feel the same resistance if the gear ratio is the same irrespective what size gears are being used and immaterial whether accelerating from standstill or cruising a steady gradient.

The gear ratios tell you its the same ....purer proof you will not find....

 

Hoeever if you tried a 32 ring and a 26 ring with the SAME sized rear cog then the gear ratios are NOT the same and the 32 will obviously feel harder.

[JXV]

Nope. Exactly the same. The reason they use the 50/15 is due to the extra teeth and less potential for a cog failure... More teeth to grab on to, less chance of one breaking and if one breaks its less of a problem.

Yes and the track bike doesnt have ground clearance issues so it can use a dinner plate up front with a correspondingly larger gear at the back ...reduces chain tension and forces on the teeth without affecting speed or pedalling effort.

[andydude]

Great thread, thanks all 

 

Now, I need some advice. The thread has been mostly about MTB, but what about changing from a 2x10 to a 1x11 on a road bike?

 

- It won't be an upgrade, but a new bike

- My normal gearing was 53/39 and 11/25

- Hills around here are more steep so thought about changing to 11/27

- I used to race VAs in Gauteng and before that in WC

- My cadence in a race is between 90-100 (I like to spin)

- I think single chainring will be more simple and more fun

 

Thinking of a 50 chainring and 11/32 cassette, but I'm worried about the gaps between the gears being too large (even with the 11/25 I sometimes felt that I would've been more comfortable between gears, maybe it's just a case of htfu). The picture shows the ratios of my previous road setup (yellow indicates overlap) and the possible new single chainring.

 

Any thoughts and advice welcome!!

 

Edit: the ratios in the table are 29 inch wheel x chainring / sprocket

[Christie]

Lots of effort was spent here to try find a benefit of 1x for mtb, for a road bike it would be even harder. The lack of top or bottom ratio will be felt more, as will the gearing gaps. It seems the pro roadies dont like the idea.5

[Rouxenator]

My 1x8 aced it on CTCT today, both laps. Front gears are a gimmick. 

[andydude]

My 1x8 aced it on CTCT today, both laps. Front gears are a gimmick. 

 

Haha yeah it's all marketing

 

And you don't mind the bigger gaps between gears?

[SwissVan]

Great thread, thanks all 

 

Now, I need some advice. The thread has been mostly about MTB, but what about changing from a 2x10 to a 1x11 on a road bike?

 

- It won't be an upgrade, but a new bike

- My normal gearing was 53/39 and 11/25

- Hills around here are more steep so thought about changing to 11/27

- I used to race VAs in Gauteng and before that in WC

- My cadence in a race is between 90-100 (I like to spin)

- I think single chainring will be more simple and more fun

 

Thinking of a 50 chainring and 11/32 cassette, but I'm worried about the gaps between the gears being too large (even with the 11/25 I sometimes felt that I would've been more comfortable between gears, maybe it's just a case of htfu). The picture shows the ratios of my previous road setup (yellow indicates overlap) and the possible new single chainring.

 

Any thoughts and advice welcome!!

 

Edit: the ratios in the table are 29 inch wheel x chainring / sprocket

 

 

One word: COMPACT

 

Check what the other road riders (not the ones training for le tour) in your area are using

 

I too.... arrived in Switzerland with my 53/39 - 11/23 (10spd) and pfaffed around like a hero for a year or so, 50/34 - 11/25 or 27 should keep you happy

[Rouxenator]

Haha yeah it's all marketing

 

And you don't mind the bigger gaps between gears?

Nope, they are close enough. That said this is a "Mega range" cassette so the last jump from 26 to 34 is pretty big. I felt that up Suikerbossie on my 2nd lap when 26 was a bit too tall and 34 a bit to easy. However on my 1st lap I never went beyond 26t. 

 

My dad has the same 11, 13, 15, 17, 20, 23, 26, 34 cassette on his triple ring bike and said it is excellent.

[raptor-22]

For road a 48 T chainring with 11-28 or 11-32 sprocket set will cover the gearing an average rider can handle. Pros produce more power and demand a broader gear range because they require that to keep up with a peloton moving at 60km/hr.

Mtb has a different set of requirements but the pros still use taller gearing by virtue of having higher Ptw ratio.

[andydude]

For road a 48 T chainring with 11-28 or 11-32 sprocket set will cover the gearing an average rider can handle. Pros produce more power and demand a broader gear range because they require that to keep up with a peloton moving at 60km/hr.

Mtb has a different set of requirements but the pros still use taller gearing by virtue of having higher Ptw ratio.

 

Check my post #169 where I show my old two chainring range and possible one chainring with 50 teeth and 11-32 cassette.

 

I might spin out with a 48/11 at 60 - 70kph (for the descents)?