1*10 vs 1*11

[Heel Drop]

no man were back on 2x 11 1x 11 is so old school

[RocknRolla]

I pity the one whose eagle gets caught by a crosswind...may just fly off the cliff...

[Shebeen]

Going from a 42 to a 46 is not evening such a big shift in gear inches.

[Velouria]

  On 4/24/2017 at 7:10 PM, Justriding said:

I down / up (graded) my new bikes groupset from 2x11 to 1x11. Went 34 front and 46 back.

So far really enjoying it, I wouldn't mind getting myself a 36 when one comes available on the Hub... ????. My LBS was telling me about an E-Thirteen 9-46 upgrade kit. Compatible with Shimano if you change your freebody. Relatively expensive initially but thereafter you can replace sprockets individually or in groups as opposed to complete cassette? I might consider looking at this when my current cassette gets tired...?

 

I'm loving my XT 2x11 - 38 on the front with the e-Thirteen 9-46 on the back. And the reason I went for the e-Thirteen is the 9, and I don't think I have yet to use the 46 (and the small chain blade is just an insurance policy).

 

This obsession with big gears at the back has me so confused. What ever happened to riding fast on the flats?

 

At the recent 36One we didn't out climb other people, and we weren't out climbed, but put us on a flat or a 2-3% downhill and all the 1 x whatevers would spin out and vanish behind us. It was almost effortless.

 

To answer the original question - neither 1x10 or 1x11 - go 2x11, HTFU and learn to push a big gear!

[NotSoBigBen]

  On 4/25/2017 at 8:46 AM, Velouria said:

I'm loving my XT 2x11 - 38 on the front with the e-Thirteen 9-46 on the back. And the reason I went for the e-Thirteen is the 9, and I don't think I have yet to use the 46 (and the small chain blade is just an insurance policy).

 

This obsession with big gears at the back has me so confused. What ever happened to riding fast on the flats?

 

At the recent 36One we didn't out climb other people, and we weren't out climbed, but put us on a flat or a 2-3% downhill and all the 1 x whatevers would spin out and vanish behind us. It was almost effortless.

 

To answer the original question - neither 1x10 or 1x11 - go 2x11, HTFU and learn to push a big gear!

 

One day when I'm big maybe I can be like you 

[Shebeen]

I know it's obvious to many, but it's all about the gear inches. (assumption, all wheels are 29er, with 2.2 tires)

 

2x10 (22/34 with 11-36)

 

gives me a range of 17.62 - 89.26 gear inches(this is my long distance Adventure racing setup you need the small stuff to grind and can pedal up to about 35km/h. no need to go faster than that.

 

the OP

has 34 11-42

which is a range of 23.4-89.26

 

a change to 36 11-46

would give a range of 22.53 - 94.46 and an extra gear in the middle so maybe closer spacing.

 

you can work this all out on a few online or downloadable excel docs.

 

http://www.bikecalc.com/gear_speed

 

http://gears.mtbcrosscountry.com/

[NGM]

  On 4/24/2017 at 7:45 PM, kader01 said:

Kinda related so ima ask this too. So there was 1*10 now 1*11 and 1*12 is the new upgrade. More gears at back. Nice. More gears right.

 

So Why did they then take away the front chainrings? Why not leave it at 2* or 3*? And its just more expensive to upgrade. Its killing my brain. Someone tell me wheres the advantage please

There are many reasons that 1x is preferable to most people. Let me give you the 3 that I like:

1. Basically you can achieve the gear ratios you had before, with a lighter, simpler, smaller, quieter setup. So why not? 

2. Having a single chainring in the front means you can have much deeper teeth (because it does not need to shift in and out to another chainring) meaning that the chance of you dropping your chain is much lower. 

3. Space for a dropper remote. 

[nonky]

  On 4/25/2017 at 9:10 AM, NickGM said:

There are many reasons that 1x is preferable to most people. Let me give you the 3 that I like:

1. Basically you can achieve the gear ratios you had before, with a lighter, simpler, smaller, quieter setup. So why not? 

2. Having a single chainring in the front means you can have much deeper teeth (because it does not need to shift in and out to another chainring) meaning that the chance of you dropping your chain is much lower. 

3. Space for a dropper remote. 

 

Well put.  

 

My SRAM GX 1x11 has not given me a single problem in 18 months and i ride with little mechanical sympathy.

 

It really is a HUGE improvement over my previous Shimano XT 2x10 when it comes to chain suck, chains dropped and general adjustment hassles.

[Grease_Monkey]

If you are managing fine with 1*10 then what is the point?

 

Personally I won't manage with 1*10 because I will have to have a 28t chainring leaving me no top end speed. So I NEED 1*11. If you are strong I see no need for it. A couple guys I know never ever put that chain in the 42t anyway, so they would not notice the difference between 1*10 and 1*11 - from the sounds of it the OP is one of those guys?

[NotSoBigBen]

  On 4/25/2017 at 9:21 AM, Grease_Monkey said:

If you are managing fine with 1*10 then what is the point?

 

Personally I won't manage with 1*10 because I will have to have a 28t chainring leaving me no top end speed. So I NEED 1*11. If you are strong I see no need for it. A couple guys I know never ever put that chain in the 42t anyway, so they would not notice the difference between 1*10 and 1*11 - from the sounds of it the OP is one of those guys?

 

I would not say that I am 'strong' but strong enough to manage with that gearing for the terrain where I do ride, I have used that gearing with no issues at local 24hr races (Thaba), Berg and Bush, Cullinan to Tonteldoos and even the 'Fast' One.

 

Would I be faster or climb easier with a 2*X? Probably but I prefer the simplicity and reliability of the 1* groupset and I'm not out to win anything. 

 

Like I said it was an opportunity that presented itself and I couldn't justify it to myself and wondered if anyone may convince me otherwise. I decided already on page 1 that I would stay with what I have based also on the comments by V12Ferrari, my Captain et al