Hey,
Ive got a Giant TCX that I've converted to 1x with a 38T superstar ring.
Using original Ultegra 6800 mech which I believe is short cage with an 11-32 cassette.
I want to make my gearing a easier, generally a little easier, like perhaps moving to an 11/34 cassette or changing to a 36T chainring, but also quite a bit easier for 3 peaks cx that I have a place for so that probably means an 11/36 cassette or an 11/34 and a 36T chainring.
I want to keep sensible gearing for the road, so would like to keep the 38T if possible, and not spend money I don't have to, and I have a small obsession about weight...
Will i need a new mech to go 11/34?
Would the Ultegra RX800 mech in medium cage (the one with a clutch) work with 11/36?
11/36 cassette options seem limited and not cheap, but a new mech and these ratios probably seem the Most sensible?
If i change the chainring what are the thoughts on the superstar oval ones?
Any thoughts advice much appreciated.
I also race cx on this bike.
It is unlikely to have a 32 on back on a short cage mech, I would check that again.
If it's a short on a 28 then easiest to get a medium cage to replace. A medium cage can fit a 36 if you use a 'roadlink' type product or sometimes it can work by putting the B screw in the other side of the thread on the rear mech (I have run a medium cage Ultegra mech like this for years without any problems). Sometimes you can fit a 34 without anything but winding in the B screw.
Plus point to turning screw around is it doesn't space the mech downwards and keeps it slightly further away from rocks etc.
Cheapest cassette option is SRAM 1130 11-36. It's quite heavy and shifting is not as smooth as other options but does the job for not a lot of cash.
As for an oval ring that is up to you. I wouldn't for that sort of bike unless you know you like it.
Rx800 will do an 11-40t cassette apparently
Or look at the nex grx mechs
Your answer is a new set of wheels, I'm afriad. I run 38T NW on my cross bike as it has an SRAM Red road crank, and 38T is the smallest chainring it will accept (BUT BLING!). On road I run 11-23 10 speed Ultegra (you can run 11-25 if 11 speed). Off road I run 12-32, but wider is perfectly and 34 would not present an issue. That's with a Gevenalle BURD rear derailleur, which is short cage. But the jumps are too big for any single cassette on road.
The upside to this action is tyres, I run road wheels with Conti 4000s, Gravel with Schwalbe G One Speeds, and cross with CS Pros. Swapping tyres and cassettes is really a pain if you just want the one bike. Swapping wheels is a one minute job, and you WILL use the bike more. 38x11 is 92 inches, which is big enough for most road riding. 38x23 is a little over-geared for the climbing.
I would not run oval ring 1xN as I've had nothing but pain on the TT bike, you will need a chain guide if you do, in place of the FD.
Would the Ultegra RX800 mech in medium cage (the one with a clutch) work with 11/36?
Yes, it'll probably work with just a B-screw adjustment but will definitely work with a hanger extender. I use one with an 11-40 Sunrace cassette and it shifts really well but I reduced the clutch tension a little as the shift off the biggest sprockets was a little slow
I've run a 11-34 with a 6800 rear mech and single 40t oval front no problems.youll probably want more than a 36-11 for the road sections of the 3 peaks. I'm going 40t an 10-42 for 3 peaks (SRAM)
Thanks all for replies.
With regards to current mech length, I dont know for certain that its short cage - i’ve Looked on it and its just stamped with RD6800.
This is the bike...
https://www.giant-bicycles.com/gb/tcx-slr1-2015
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I measured the jockey wheel centres at 58mm, and thats the same as on my other road bikes that I assumed would all have short cages. So dunno, can all my bikes have medium cages already?
I dont want to do road riding on this bike, but invariably end up riding road sections, so dont want to be spinning out here. 3 peaks also has 22km on the road, so want dont want to sacrifice too much here.
36 oval and 11-40 at the back on my CX bike that occasionally hits the road also.
Doesn't feel undergeared, but I'm not averse to spinning 90-100RPM, set a PB on a 3 minute straight/flatish bit of road with a tailwind the other day, faster than any times I'd set on the road bike! So it would only really hold you back on big descents or in a chain gang I guess (or for big pure road rides where personally I'd be getting pee-d off with the gaps on a 1x more than anything).
I put an 11-40 Sunrace cassette on my 1x gravel bike for Yorkshire True Grit. Works really well with a 5800 short cage mech and a Sunrace hanger extender. Obviously a new chain was needed as well.
I've picked up N RX800 mech and ordered an 11/36 cassette.
It's coming from aliexpress so will be a while until I can test it out.
Thanks for the advice.
I used a double on my TCX when I did the 3 Peaks.
46/34 with 11-34 cassette 10 speed with medium cage 105.
Current gravel set up is 11 speed XTR cassette 11-40 with single 42 absolute black oval ring.
Running standard Ultegra RX clutch mech and its been running fine with no extenders.
Max