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My drivetrain is worn out. Mech is bent, cassette is slipping, chain stretched and shifters a bit rattly.
What's the best combo? I remember an article in dirt laying out the best combos a while back but can't find it.
If your after value for money go slx shifter,slx shadow mech,slx cassette and sram chain - then treat yourself to either an e13 or renthal chain ring.
Chain ring wise if for a full suss trail bike then imo for proper riding (not fire roads and tarmac) then i'd say 32t - 34t up front with an 11-36 cassette leaves you the least compromised. I've got a 32t on my Pitch,i am fit too, a lot of heroes on here use 36t and above but for real world riding (wales,dartmoor,exmoor,q's etc) i don't struggle with a 32t or spin out on the downs unless on fire road or tarmac. I had a 34t up front and changed to a 32t to make the climbs less of a chore.
HTH.
I'm a 'Hero' or i guess fitter rider than Stevede and ride a 36t ring up front with no trouble. I ride wales, scotland, alps, whatever with it. It works fine with a 11-36 cassette.
Don't be put off of it if you are a fit rider. I tend to drop to 34t in the winter when things get wet and boggy.
If you are going single ring then you might as well go for a medium cage rear mech, lighter, less likely to be bashed on rocks etc. Slx don't do a medium cage in 10spd so look at an xt, only £4 more expensive at crc currently too
My hero 😉
You may well have a lighter bike than me or be an animal but personally i find a 32t bang on. If i 1x10'd the Soul i'd go for a bigger front ring though. As i said i am fit, i ride plenty, doing JOGLE next week on the road bike so not exactly lacking in the fitness department.
I tend to spin rather than stomp so 32t would probably be better.
roddi18 raised a good point regarding the rear mech, if a medium cage xt mech is only £4 more then go for that as my SLX is a bit out of shape after my last trip to Rogate dh. Hopefully it'll survive Gawton tomorrow afternoon!
That's probably the best way to decide on front ring size.
I wouldn't say i stomp per say. I would say though that i am pretty poweful rider. I never climb shortish climbs by shifting down a handful and spinning, i tend to sprint up them.
I guess it always depends on your riding you do as well.
If you are out doing all day epics then a smaller ring will be a good idea but if your more into 2-4 hour singletrack bashing then i stick with a bigger one.
Dirt also suggested using a superstar chain device to keep the cost down but i think the E13 is worth the extra £££
E.Thirteen do 33t chainrings if you really wanna go wild.
Hopefully it'll survive Gawton tomorrow afternoon!
I rode chainless at gawton for a couple of months after snapping the mech hanger on my DH bike. not much slower and so quiet....
E.Thirteen do 33t chainrings if you really wanna go wild.
That's just odd
wait till next year and buy secondhand off the folks n here who will be trading up to the latest and greatest
TandemJeremy - Member
it till next year and buy secondhand off the folks n here who will be trading up to the latest and greatest
And not ride until then? I guess you didn't actually read the first post..
I did but ignored it 🙂
No change there then.
i run a 39 with 11-39 because i can/have to currently
Looking at CRC, you could do full xt with an HG74 chain and a Middleburn hard coat ring for sub 200 quid. SLX would only be about 20 quid cheaper, maybe a bit more but not as much as you'd expect. Haven't checked SRAM prices as I'm less of a fan these days.