Does 2 x 10 = 3 x 9 or even more on a MTB?

[George Nel]

I'm considering 2x10,can I spark this thread again?Jasonw,how was Attakwas with 2x10?

[banna]

I'm considering 2x10,can I spark this thread again?Jasonw,how was Attakwas with 2x10?

 

I've had the XX 2x10 for about a year now. I weigh about 90kg, so not the lightest rider. I think you either need to be a very strong or light rider for 2x10 to be effective for you. Seeing that I'm neither of those, and have been k@kking off for about a year now, i'm going back to 3 chainrings. I definately miss the granny gear on very steep climbs, of which their should be many if you're a serious mtbiker.

 

A friend of mine who's finished 5 Epic's (and weighs 75kg) bought 2x10 and said it's fine for one day races, but definately not for stage racing (if you're an average rider).

 

So ja, I think it really depends on how strong a rider you are.

[canfan]

I moved from 3x9 to 2x10 about two weeks ago. At this stage I must say I prefer it.

 

With regards to climbing, I haven't noticed much of a difference and yes I have ridden some really hard hills in the last week. If anything, I have been climbing slighty better without traditional granny gear. The main area where I have experienced an issue is on the top-end speed. For me it was an easy transition seeing that I do alot of road cycling and actually much prefer the ratios you have on a road bike.

 

I recon 2x10 is the way to go.

[Bat-ass]

If you on a 29er, beware the 2x10....... on long races or even training rides witbig hills at the end, the granny can be a life saver..

On a 29er, if you going 10sp, the Shimano 24/32/42 with a 11/36 at the back has you covered for all situations.

 

Also, for everyday riding, with the 2x10 if you get the smaller front chainring option to address the climbs, then you run out of gears on the fast road sections on the way to the trails.

Where i ride, we have about 10 fast km's to the trails and the guys with 2x10 spin out, while the guys on 3x9 or 3x10 have to sit on the front!!!??

[Flowta]

I have 2 x 9 with 38/26 up front and 12-36 at the back.

 

yes, you read correctly, 12-36 in 9 speed, picked it up off CRC

[Daniel XTR]

Real World Experience.

 

I am running a 2x10 SRAM setup on my 29r, and a Shimano XT triple on my 26r. So a direct comparison is not easy. However, here is what I have noted, and a lot of it has already been said. Most critically. ALL combinations you have on a 2x10 are useable. I.E. no funny angles of the chain. The biggest thing that you need to get used to on a 2x10 is making sure that you preselect your gears well, and read the trail well. the last thing you want is to be in the wrong gear before a change in terrain, especially with only a double up front, and having to move through 10 ratios at the rear, to get an easier gear. 99% of the time is spent in the big ring. The granny, is still a real granny gear. The result is; you're invariably, not going to drop to granny, you're going to stick it out in your 39, so you need to shift fast at the rear to maintain an easy stroke. Make sense, I hope?

 

I firmly believe a 2x10 is great on a 29r, when you've got epic amounts of momentum on your side. I think on a 26r it may be tougher. I do not know what your torque outputs are like between the two groupsets, I suspect a triple may allow the average rider to extract the torque better? A Skilled rider will be able to extract similar figures from a 2x10, luckily, i have rolling speed to make up for a lack of skill!

Edited July 29, 2011 by Daniel XTR

[SwissVan]

Thanks for the feedback and revival.

 

I'm still boering around with my triple and wondering about the 2 x 10.... LOL

[TitusTi]

I've been stuffing around with my gearing for so long now I can barely remember whick is best and for which situations. I do like the 2X10 with a 26-40 upfront and the 11-36 out back, I also spend a fair amount of time riding SS or riding a 1X10 and sometimes a 1X9, raced a 3X9 last year for 24 worlds.

Sani was pretty easy for the 2X10, nothing too excesive there and also no long steep climbs.

Van it really sounds like your riding has a bit too much variety to run this setup with much joy I'm afraid.

[NotSoBigBen]

OK so maybe this is just stating it too simply but surely the question for the 'weekend warrior' such as myself is :-

 

Does a 2*10 give me the same 'smallest' and 'biggest' gear as my 3*9 did but with more usable gears in between?

 

On a clown bike with the already bigger wheels I would then ask is this not even more unlikely at least on the 'easiest' gear

 

What TitusTi says seems to make sense to me, that if your riding is pretty varied it may be better to just stay with the 3*9 (hope I interpreted that correctly)

 

#justwondering

 

I guessthe next question is what are the advantages if any of 3*10

[Wyatt Earp]

I'm considering 2x10,can I spark this thread again?Jasonw,how was Attakwas with 2x10?

Those dudes had it easy.

[NotSoBigBen]

Those dudes had it easy.

 

Stop talking twak and answer my questions Boris

[koukie]

Those dudes had it easy.

Dont be windgat

[George Nel]

just bought XX 2x10,first race will be MTN Diemersfontein ultra with 2600m of climbing.If my legs are not amputated I'll report back.

[Goodbadugly]

just bought XX 2x10,first race will be MTN Diemersfontein ultra with 2600m of climbing.If my legs are not amputated I'll report back.

Sterkte.

[MTB_Roadie]

whe n you do Die Burger 42, 60 or 75km...you will need all 3...I ran a 3 x 10 on my 29er and thank you I had it otherwise I wouldve suffered as I used my granny gear quite a few times

[NotSoBigBen]

Anyone using a 2*10 crank with their 3*d drivetrain? So what I'm asking is can you just change to a 2*10 crank and keep everything else, change the limits on the FD and use just one 'shift on the triple front ....

 

It is a SRAM X9 drivetrain but with an XT FD ....