I'm thinking my chains are lasting longer since I've stopped using front mechs. I use a Rholoff chain checker and have been surprised how little chain wear I'm seeing, anyone else noticed this?
Only makes sense that they'd wear less without the jumping from ring to ring at the front
I was impressed by how long my last X10SL lasted certainly, must admit I hadn't connected that to the use of 1x10.
There may be something in that though, the front mech is rather 'agricultural' in it's treatment of the chain after all!
Having only one sprocket on the front you are not getting the mental chain angles from say big ring on the front to 11 on the back or granny/granny which defo stretches the chain. Having 1 x 9 or 10 always keeps the chain line fairly straight.
Yup. The chain on my BFe has lasted 2.5 years so far, despite being my main winter bike. The ring is looking a wee bit short in the tooth now though!
Partly it's the not being wrenched sideways by the front mech and teh better chain line, but its also down to the deeper teeth on the ring and the better chain wrap you get on middle ring -v- granny. You're also limiting the torque you can generate by loosing the botoom couple of gears, which is what's going to do the msot damage.