Groupset Confusion, please help

[figjam_sa]

I'd leave the bike as is...for now.

 

Changing groupset from 10 to 11 speed is not going to give you bang for buck.

I ride a carbon hardtail with top of the range 2x10 components

 

i don't quite understand the gearing question.

having the triple ring gives you wide range of speeds,

play around here, but with that combo you get 19.5=>105.7 gear inches, or a range of ~520%

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/gear-calc.html

if you drop a bucketload of cash you could go 1x12, which means only one derrailleur to play with, but then also a range of about 500%. 

 

in my mind the best upgrade you can do is wheels. being 27.5 you might not have that many options, but you can always move them onto a newer bike if she really gets into it.

Yeah, but the 3x10 has lot of useless gears, basically the whole lower gear. For what she does anyway. So I just figured she'd have more useful gears and "possibly" lower weight. Also, I was hoping for a bit more top end speed for the tar. I know a gravel/road bike would be better suited, but the mtb is still more versatile for our location. But I didn't understand what I needed to look at. I'm not that familiar with all the gearing possibilities and combinations. 

 

I see wheel was recommended a couple of times? Anything in particular that is considered value-for-money? 

[bertusras]

What tyres does the bike currently have on? Have they been converted to tubeless?

[DieselnDust]

Yeah, but the 3x10 has lot of useless gears, basically the whole lower gear. For what she does anyway. So I just figured she'd have more useful gears and "possibly" lower weight. Also, I was hoping for a bit more top end speed for the tar. I know a gravel/road bike would be better suited, but the mtb is still more versatile for our location. But I didn't understand what I needed to look at. I'm not that familiar with all the gearing possibilities and combinations. 

 

I see wheel was recommended a couple of times? Anything in particular that is considered value-for-money? 

 

 

a 36T big ring is more than enough for your wife on an MTB. 36T front chain and an 11t rear sprocket is a lot of gear even for seasoned weekend warriors.

so in my view a 2x10 system is more in line with what she will actually use.

 

Some shops have some really well priced SRAM 2x10 crank sets that the distributor sold off a year ago for chips basically. So there's very cost effective upgrades available as new.

 

Wheels is a good upgrade only if they have better hubs than the wheels currently on the bike. Tubeless will certainly improve the rolling resistance too but this is also dependant on the tyres.

[figjam_sa]

Maxxis crossmark. Yes it is converted to tubeless

[DieselnDust]

Maxxis crossmark. Yes it is converted to tubeless

 

 

Probably going to be as quick rolling as it gets with MTB Tyres then.

 

I understand your concerns with the gearing. There's a lot of unused /unusable gears on her bike, e.g. 42x11 to 42 x16. She would have a ore useable range with a 36 large chain ring, heck maybe even a 34. So dropping to 34/24 on front can give her more usable gearing. a cheap solution is to remove the 42 and readjust the front derailleur stop screw to prevent the chain being derailled. This allows you to keep the current cranks (crap as it is)

 

Contrary to popular belief, gearing, aero dynamics and the power of the engine  are the biggest contributors to speed. Next comes the suspension set up.

The Deore hubs might be a little weight due to the steel freehub but they're pretty darn good and spin freely if well maintained. I'm betting the current wheels are poorly tensioned so perhaps get them serviced and re-tensioned. 

 

There's also a bit of speed and endurance to be gained by a better bike set up; a more aero position than the usual upright going-to-the-spar position.

 

Some cheap weight loss on the bike would be stem, handlebar and seatpost. These parts can be transferred to a new bike in future.

[Jensie]

Unless the groupset needs replacement, I wouldn't spend any money on it to be honest. It's perfectly fine for your wife. You will save a couple hundred grams maybe, which in my books is not worth it. Rather look at lighter and faster tyres if she's only gonna be riding tar/gravel roads.

 

What he said,

I had 2x9spd. If I did not receive a free 11spd jockey and SRAM X01 trigger I would have stayed with 9spd. NO improvement at the bottom range only at the top range of the cassette 34 and 46 added. If not racing stay at 10spd.   

[Jensie]

Good info guys! Besides weight savings, will the change help for some more top end speed?

 

on my 36x11 I spin out at around 46-52 km/h. I am going to a 38 now to try and stay with the gravel bikes. and also using more of the gears on the cassette and not only the last 3 or 4 on our mostly flat roads. 

[popcorn_skollie]

Remember the wide range 1x10 craze? Ah. those were the days. 

[figjam_sa]

With all the talk of larger and smaller chainrings and all that I'm just as confused as in the beginning. My issue was that I don't understand what cranksets go with what groupsets, bottom brackets and all that.

 

But I hear what you guys are saying. I think for now.... I will probably get her a women's specific saddle, get it setup for her and leave it as is for the time being. 

 

In top gear I get the bike on a nice rolling pace at 28-32km/h. Only once went over 40km/h and that was downhill and I couldn't pedal anymore. 

[figjam_sa]

Ok, I'm looking at a bike with nx eagle groupset 1x12. If I understand this correctly I will not be able to upgrade it in the future to GX Eagle without upgrading the hub as well? Was originally looking at a bike with xt, but missed out unfortunately. I will need to upgrade the hub to get xt as well on the nx eagle?

 

As I understand the nx eagle is fine, but considerably heavier than gx,slx,xt...

[DieselnDust]

Ok, I'm looking at a bike with nx eagle groupset 1x12. If I understand this correctly I will not be able to upgrade it in the future to GX Eagle without upgrading the hub as well? Was originally looking at a bike with xt, but missed out unfortunately. I will need to upgrade the hub to get xt as well on the nx eagle?

 

As I understand the nx eagle is fine, but considerably heavier than gx,slx,xt...

 

 

 

You will not have to upgrade anything to run GX unless you want the 10-50 or 10-52 cassettes.

SRAM NX is cross compatible with the entire SRAM Eagle family. 

The difference is that the SX and NX use a 11-50 cassette that fits on the ubiquitous Shimano splined freehub. This doe snot affect the shifter or rear derailleur

[figjam_sa]

11-50 cassette on the nx eagle

[DieselnDust]

11-50 cassette on the nx eagle

 

 

yes you mentioned that already...

 

is there a question?

[figjam_sa]

Sorry, missed where you said 11-50 on sx/nx...

 

The 10/50 and 10/52 cassettes are way lighter than nx. And then I'll need to change the hub. But not for Shimano cassette if I understand what you are saying? 

 

The nx eagle cassette alone is over 150g heavier than GX eagle. 

 

The question basically - it seems that upgrading the whole groupset in the future will be more expensive or should I stick to nx eagle?