been running 1×9 for a while good idea in theory but if I go to wales peaks etc I need my granny ring and when i’m on a club ride the 44t chainring is good for road sections so there you have it i’m back to 27 speed and happy with it 🙂 when it all wears out I might then go for 2×10 my bike may not be fashionable but it works ! 🙂

Riding a bike that’s not fashionable ?
You really don’t get mountain biking, do you ?

whats wrong with 3×9 anyway?
Nothing.

I’m looking forward to 11 speed cassettes. Well, it’s one better isn’t it.

I was just thinking out loud

“I’m looking forward to 11 speed cassettes”
how about this? (dated june 2008)

Cycling industry needs innovation to survive. If your current stuff works ok for you I say keep it.
If you’ve the cash and you think the new stuff will be better for you, buy it. But I don’t think we should assume new stuff is necessarily better…

3×9 is fine. But I do very little road riding and local hills are mostly doable with 1×9. So what is the point of a front mech, cable, shifter and 2 unused chainrings?

crocodilian – Member

I’m looking forward to 11 speed cassettes. Well, it’s one better isn’t it.

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbVKWCpNFhY[/video] 😆

3×9 – don’t you need a beard to ride that niche?

I ride around Hampshire… We don’t have hills worthy of a granny ring.

Bike manufacturers are always coming up with products you didn’t know you needed.

Nothing at all… But, I found the chainline on 3×9 terrible if I was on the big ring and anyway north of half way up the cassette. I never use the grannyring. Tried 2×9 and always found myself on the wrong chainring, big too big for climbs small too small for anywhere else than steep climbs. I now run a single 38 on a 11-36 cassette, perfect for where I live, I can get up anything I want to and fast enough for 30mph on the road if I need.

Yeh I’m enjoying 1×9 as well – 32 chainring, 11-32 cassette. Not missing the big ring at all, used it once a month for a 3 minute road blast, not worth carrying it about for that, 32/11 is fast enough for a MTB. Not missing the granny ring either, use it very rarely and TBH it’s easier just to get out the saddle and mash, or get off the bike and walk, than it is to winch up some crazy gradient. Hated the noise from the front dérailleur. Saved 450 grams not having it + chaingrings + shifter + cable.

I ride around Hampshire… We don’t have hills worthy of a granny ring.

This is true. There’s nowt really that can defeat a single speed in Hampshire, tbh.

Mind you, I din’t even use my granny ring in North Wales, and they’ve got some biggish hills there.

When I started MTBing, the smallest front rings were 28t, and the largest rear, 28t too. 1:1 ratio. And I coped. So, when did a 32/32 or 32/34t combo become inadequate?

Granny rings are aptly named…

To be fair, the granny ring on my FS gets a lot of use because the bike is heavier and slacker and climbs much better sat down than stood up.

I’m going 1×8 as soon as I can afford an Alfine

I usualy have a beard

I’m running 2×9 and a bash guard now, changed my ratios from 22t inner 32t middle, to 28,38 rear cassette remains a 11-34

its a nice compromise

whats wrong with 3×9 anyway

Ground clearance.
That’s the only reason I’m 2×9. Fed up getting left behind on the 500m of road on the way home though!

3 x 9 all the way, I’ve gotten soft since 24-28 was the lowest available (about 20 years ago).

you bikers with your fancy gears,im sticking with my trusty penny farthing and i’ve never had a pedal strike

I ride single speed as well.

I like doubles. On my FS, with a short chain and short mech it is all nicely neat and tucked in. (clearance front and back) (32/22) and is all ratios Ill ever need round here. 3 rings wouldnt work as well on this one IMO

I needed rings for my hack bike, so I run 39/26 with a longer mech which is fine for the road to work and works fine for the occasional off road it does. (it was cheaper to buy 2 rings than 3! I dont want for more gears on the road and I can still go up. Couldnt care less how many rings I run on this one 🙂

the main reason for me is that I kept on smashing teeth off 42t rings or gouging my legs. Now I have 36/22 and a bash ring 🙂

3×10 now there is something pointless

I’m about to ride from my home in Bedfordshire

I’m horribley unfit and heavy by forum standards so I love having a granny ring

But I’m certain the climbs on my ride today are as steep as any where else in the country

3×10 now there is something pointless

Have you tried it?

I can tell you it gives you all the benefits of 3×9, only with closer spaced gear ratios both front and back. It really is pretty good!