Do mountainbikes have to many gears ?

[Konaman]

Geoff Kabush and Julian Absalon only had 1 front chainring on their bikes at the world XC race in Australia yesterday. Must be tough going up the steep hills.

They must be serious "weight weenies". Other chaps used  2 rings in the front.

Are there to many gears on the mnt bikes?

 

[DownhillingKing]

Hmm thats a good one but I know some of the new FSA cranks sets are now only 2 chain rings

[Mudsimus]

If they only had one gear upfront it probably were a 38/40 with a 36 at the rear. This ratio should be enough to get you up most climbs.

[HLTGN]

The new Sram XX has two blades in front and ten at the back.

[dirtrider]

Now why would you want to try and break your knee caps by doing somethign so stupid ? Give me 50 gears please , I like to enjoy it .

[SwissVan]

 

I'd rather have to many gears than to few.

2 chain ring cranksets sounds like a new marketing ploy, it happens every few years a new gimmick is invented.

 

 

[dollar]

I think that all bikes have too many gears, but what do I know - I started riding when they only had 5

 

I think that it's relevant to distinguish between the hi/low ratios and the number of steps in between. A (road) 10 speed cluster starts at say 12 and steps to 25. I have an old 6 speed cluster that also starts at 12 to 25.

 

Front ring - ja well, I need my little chain ring on my racer. If I was to choose - it would be the big ring that goes

 

[darnijl]

I ride my downhill bike everywhere... And I have a 1x9 gear system with a 38t chainring.

 

And I'm fine with that. Climbs are easy even with big suspension and heavyweight.

 

[Overlord]

I would say depending on how strong a rider you are you can run 1x9 or even 2x9. I do not believe that the novice rider will enjoy the 1x9 or 2x9 setup until they are strong enough to ride those gears.

[Guest Big H]

Shimano as well.....

 

[Thug]

I'm running 2x9on my Scandal and am happy with the gear ratios.

 

[gazza]

i love my rohloff..... 

 

[Serendipity]

Just bear in mind that these two atheletes are not normal human beings. They have power to weight ratio's we can't dream of. Thy may get away with 10 gears going flat out for two hours. I centainly won't survive without my granny, never mind middle blade.

[rock]

I've been running 1x9 on my geared bike for a few months now, ever since riding singlespeed, a front derailleur seems pointless.......cool to more pro's embracing the idea.......

 

 

 

anyone know whicg guide absolon was using, its not the mrp x.1 that adam craig designed......he was also riding single CR at worlds....so about 4 guys.....

[Overlord]

 

I'm running 2x9on my Scandal and am happy with the gear ratios.

 

I have 2x9 but need new blades. Anybody know where I can get 94bcd blades?

 

[LazyTrailRider]

I ride my downhill bike everywhere... And I have a 1x9 gear system with a 38t chainring.

And I'm fine with that. Climbs are easy even with big suspension and heavyweight.

 

It's true, one tends to get used to it. I ran a single-ring setup on my Giant ATX990 (used to DH race with, but was my only bike so did everything) in the late 90s, and to this day I still push much lower cadence than most people when XC racing. To me, 80 is too high for climbing, I don't think I could get over 100rpm ever