Wider range cassette available on 10 speed, so you can have a better spread of gears. I’d go 10 speed if starting from scratch.

Shimano road stuff isn’t cross compatible, SRAM is, but a SRAM road mech won’t do a 36t cassette, so you’ll have to use an MTB mech for it to work properly.

a Shimano road mech will only stretch to a 28t sprocket, which limits you somewhat.

A lot of this depends on whether you want SRAM or Shimano.

If you want the latter then some options are:

1×9 with a 11-32 or 11-34 MTB cassette, 9spd shifter and 9spd mech
1×10 with a 11-32 Sram Apex cassette, SLR770 shifter, and 9spd MTB mech
1×10 with a 11-32, 11-34, 11-36 MTB cassette, 10spd XT shifter and 10spd mech.

If I was going from scratch (and had no other donor bikes…) then I’d get the last option.

I agree with the point about the shifter being the important bit.

Which cranks? Nowt special about XTRs since M960s easy enough to get any size ring you want.

I don’t really see what you’re trying to achieve myself. If you’re going for a road cassette then 10 speed’s a waste of time IMO. The whole point of 10 speed is that you can run a wider range cassette. A close ratio block is a sod all advantage on an MTB IMO, you just end up shifting multiple gears in one.

So yes… if you want to do a sort of half job, with none of the simplicity of SS, but none of the range advantages of having gears then yes an 11-26 with a road mech will be fine (although I’d just go 9 speed, SLX shifter, 105 mech or something).

If you want to actually capitalise on the advantages that 10 speed offers then a 36t ring with an 11-36 cassette and an MTB mech is a very versatile set up.

if staring from scratch I’d go 8speed every time

Just gone 1 x 10 on my burly bouncer. 36 x 11 / 36. Tested at afan and it’s great. Wave bye bye to the granny and front mech. There will be some long steep climbs somewhere that I won’t get up but meh, I can live with the failure.

Thanks njee, good info. I have an unorthodox front mech mounting (stub) so will have to do some research into what I can and can’t use.
Swede, glad to hear a real experience and that it’s positive. I won’t be going with as big a chainring as you though!

is it possible to go 1X4 if you removed various rings from the cassette?

9 speed road stuff has been ‘obsolete’ for 7 years, and you can still get it, as that’s what you’re talking about using I wouldn’t worry too much.

Again though, if you’re going to use a close ratio cassette I’d go 9 speed.

You don’t need a 10 speed specific chain ring, even if running a double/triple 9 speed ones are fine.

I’d think about what you’re trying to achieve though. As Digger90 said you can stick with SS by bodging a mech. If you’re gonna go to the faff of adding a mech, shifter and cassette why limit your ratios?

Do you have to run a chain device when going 1×9?

I’ll be building a Croix De Fer for pure off road and really won’t need a big ring.
It’s the aesthetics of devices that I don’t like 😐

Less is more

Or do this and no chain device required.

If you want a short cage mech and decide to run 9 speed then you could go for a Saint, take the little lloy mode adjuster off and it’ll do up to a 34 or 36tooth large sprocket (can’t remember which off the top of my head)

Campfreddie does that guide actually work? Seems to be a long way away from the chain ring!

TheSwede, yes you can do that, ends up weighing more than a guide though, if such things bother one.

I’m certainly very happy with 1×10 though for racing (36t ring, 11-36 block), wouldn’t go back to a triple for anything, would probably still run a double on a more trail orientated bike I must say.

DT Swiss do a 9-36 tooth, 10 speed cassette.

that photo was taken before i set it up properly… but yes, it does appear to work

32t Middleburn Uno, 12-28 9spd SRAM cassette, medium cage XT Shadow r mech & a Paul keeper on my 29er. Coming from 8 years of mostly singlespeeding I’m quite enjoying the extra few gears! Got 34t & 32t cassettes in the parts bin if needed.