Is 2x9 just for xc ...
 

[Closed] Is 2x9 just for xc jeyboys?

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As title, really - I'm wondering about switching to 2x9. I never actually use the granny chainring (my front mech's not set up quite right so it doesn't shift as it should) and rarely use the big ring when on the trails. So 2x9 in theory should cover the ratios I need, but is it just a bit jey? As in a bit weight weenie without any real benefit?


 
Posted : 07/05/2009 7:41 pm
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rember that if you accidentally hit the shifter you will loose the chain


 
Posted : 07/05/2009 7:47 pm
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So you'll save the massive weight of a granny ring... that's going to make a huge difference to your speed.


 
Posted : 07/05/2009 7:51 pm
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Not if it's set up correctly. But yeah it's jey. Scurries to find a triple chainset and remove the road compact................


 
Posted : 07/05/2009 7:53 pm
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rember that if you accidentally hit the shifter you will loose the chain

Even if he sets the low limit screw to max ?


 
Posted : 07/05/2009 7:55 pm
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PlumzRichard - Member

rember that if you accidentally hit the shifter you will loose the chain

Surely if the limit screw didn't have enough adjustment in it, you could simply run the cable tighter?


 
Posted : 07/05/2009 7:59 pm
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i run one they're brill end of,
xtr front mech works fine


 
Posted : 07/05/2009 8:13 pm
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If you don't use the big ring or granny ring, and want to save weight, why not get rid of; the granny ring, the big ring, the front mech, the front shifter, front cable inners/outer and aprox. 3 pairs of chain links?
Stick an unramped (they have much longer teeth and no shifting ramps) middle chainring on and go 1x9 spd?


 
Posted : 07/05/2009 8:31 pm
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I find that on the road or mtb I don't use the granny ring.

Last few days I wish'd I had one on some super uber climbs.

4 yrs ago I had a pal who pulled his quad and we swapped bikes so he could my granny ring by riding slowly home. With a middle he'd be walking back.


 
Posted : 07/05/2009 9:30 pm
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I'm confused.
is it also Jey to loose the big ring for a bash guard & bump the 32 to a 36?


 
Posted : 07/05/2009 10:52 pm
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is 1x9 even Jey'er?
& if so - how Jey is SS???


 
Posted : 07/05/2009 10:54 pm
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& wtf does Jey mean?


 
Posted : 07/05/2009 10:55 pm
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I think James has the answer above for sure...


 
Posted : 07/05/2009 11:04 pm
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Keep it 3x9, but if you're not using the little gears, swap your cassette for a road 12-25 and enjoy the closer ratio gaps?


 
Posted : 08/05/2009 12:10 am
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Either my brains slowed down at this time or people keep writing loose instead of lose, is it just me!?

Keep 3x9


 
Posted : 08/05/2009 2:12 am
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middleburn duos look ace.


 
Posted : 08/05/2009 4:10 am
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I switched to 1x9 about 6 months ago, I have only missed the granny ring on a couple of super steep climbs, and once when I bonked on a big ride. I use a 32T On-one Stainless Ring with a Jump Stop and a lightweight bash guard, never once had my chain come off when riding.
Its sad I know, but I weighed all the bits that came off and all the bits that went back on, and I saved 400g.
I am going to convert my other MTB when I pick up some cheap bits.

Doug


 
Posted : 08/05/2009 7:00 am
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is it also Jey to loose the big ring for a bash guard & bump the 32 to a 36?

Which is far more sensible than even I thought it would be......


 
Posted : 08/05/2009 7:34 am
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I long ago binned the big ring as never used it and like having the extra BB clearance. I keep the granny for big days in the hills but for regular fast XC 34 tooth 1x9 would be the ideal set-up I reckon.

Middleburn Uno is the crankset de jour in our gang. Heading that way myself, big weight saving when all the bits and bobs come off, see James post above


 
Posted : 08/05/2009 7:44 am
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.....and no taking a ring off a 3 ring front set off doesnt mean you lose the chain as long as your front mech is set-up properly.


 
Posted : 08/05/2009 7:45 am
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1x9 isn't 'jey' at all, that's more 'freeride-core'.

If you go 2x9 using your inner and middle ring positions you can run a 28/42 or something, which will still give you a really low gear, you'll get much better chainline too, so you'll be able to use the entire block in the big ring without crossing the chain too much.

A 12-25 cassette will save more weight, but it will mean you change gear far more often - particularly on the front mech - which is what annoyed me, I much prefer a 2x9.


 
Posted : 08/05/2009 8:10 am
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Even if you don't use the granny ring it's still worth having in case of chain suck or other middle ring trauma.


 
Posted : 08/05/2009 8:17 am
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Ah, so now in context! If I buy a new set of RS7s (mmm... yummy) or possibly RS8s, is it worth going for the Duo, or just sticking with a normal spider?


 
Posted : 08/05/2009 10:57 am
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Duo all the way if it's an XC bike.


 
Posted : 08/05/2009 10:58 am
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if you went 1x9 how does the chain stay on the front ring without a chain guide?


 
Posted : 08/05/2009 11:08 am
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if you went 1x9 how does the chain stay on the front ring without a chain guide?

It doesn't. You need a chain guide.


 
Posted : 08/05/2009 11:12 am
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Thats what i thought so adding the weight of a chain guide ofsets the savings of losing the shifter,cable,mech etc. Isnt it better to just leave 2 front rings on??


 
Posted : 08/05/2009 2:24 pm
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Nah, an n gear jump stop and cheapo bash ring weigh next to nothing.. see thesurfbus's post saved him 400g... nearly a 1lb.

Ive not tried the unramped front ring as yet but if the longer teeth work as has been sugested it might be good.

1x9 makes you push harder on the climbs i find, kinda like the way SS does, but just a bit extra flexability..


 
Posted : 08/05/2009 2:35 pm
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2x9 makes you push as hard on the climbs, but means you can ride faster too!


 
Posted : 08/05/2009 2:38 pm
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2x9 is the way forward,in all rides and races this year i have ridden all of the course in my big ring 44-34 ....more fluid riding style increased speed ..andfor anyone who say's that its fine if you live in a flat place well thats a fair point but since i live in near edal in the peaks and have large hills all around .....i've riden up shatton hill in my big ring ,thats steeper than jakobs lader.
hope thus you will convert because if your going slow enough to ride your granny ring you may aswell walk...no offence
Thanks


 
Posted : 08/05/2009 4:27 pm
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2x9 rules, 22/36 up front 11-34 out back and a bash ring.

'Core to the power of sik 2x9 dooooooood


 
Posted : 08/05/2009 4:30 pm
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"1x9 isn't 'jey' at all, that's more 'freeride-core'"

well if you say so ..
[img] [/img]

"if you went 1x9 how does the chain stay on the front ring without a chain guide?
It doesn't. You need a chain guide"
Mine stays on just fine. Correctly shortened chain, unramped (longer teeth with no ramps) chainring works for me 99% of the time (crahes and chucking over gates being the main exceptions)
Using [url= http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-Thorn-Thorn-104-mm-PCD-4-Arm-Reversible-Single-Chainring-3-32-Inch--Black-11054.htm ]one of these in a 34T[/url] (with an 11-32T casette)


 
Posted : 08/05/2009 5:04 pm
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steve_b77 - Member

2x9 rules, 22/36 up front 11-34 out back and a bash ring.

'Core to the power of sik 2x9 dooooooood

This man is correct


 
Posted : 08/05/2009 5:07 pm
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"This man is correct"

But slightly off topic ..


 
Posted : 08/05/2009 5:14 pm
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James a short cage rear mech would help on that bike and a chain cage!


 
Posted : 08/05/2009 11:09 pm
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Why would a short cage mech make any difference?
When in the two biggest rings (34T front, 32T rear) the mech is in the most tension position (almost horizontal) due to shortening the chain by the looping round both big rings plus one pair of links
When in 34T-11T the mech is pointing downward, so still under lots of tension. Surely because of this (A short cage mech being under less tension in 34-11T) a long one is better?

The main reason is that sometimes the other rings (plus front mech, front shifter, cables and a little more chain) go back on so a long cage mech still lets me run a triple setup should I decide it maybe useful

What is a chaincage?


 
Posted : 08/05/2009 11:20 pm
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[url= http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Jey ]Are you really jey?[/url]

I'd say less cogs & rings is less jey.....


 
Posted : 16/05/2009 10:00 am
 will
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Now i just not sure about all this 1 ring stuff.

I use big ring all the time when going around the trails, middle ring i just spin out to easily, so for me it is big ring, and then middle. Having said that i still have granny on mine just for those silly steep climbs.

People with 34/32 up front do you not spin out all time, you hit about 18/20mph and you can't go any faster, have to have a big ring for that.


 
Posted : 16/05/2009 10:33 am
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With a 34T/11T as the ratio that lets you go fastest, yes I do spin out, but mostly just on the road. Running SPDs could have something to with it maybe? Being able to spin faster more easily perhaps, just making guesses

1x9 is on my 2nd bike which I ride on local terrain where the steep climbs are much shorter but generally the hills aren't as steep. I don't have a lot of flat out descents either.
Not having any choice other than to use a 34T front ring (the 32T rear isn't engaging properly at the moment either so its a bit harder) forces me to put a little effort in on shorter local rides where I may otherwise get lazy and drop down to the granny ring

On my main bike I do have a standard 3x9 setup which gets used for longer rides elsewhere, where long steep climbs are commonplace and not destroying myself on the first hill helps to get me round the rest of a ride with ease, though I don't always drop into the granny ring. I find it being a full suss bike means I drop into the granny ring more often/easily, it doesn't seem to put the power down quite like the hardtail does
The big ring is good for any road sections between trails. I often tend to use it on faster downhills too


 
Posted : 16/05/2009 11:03 am
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[i]Middleburn duos look ace. [/i]

But are pretty flexible compared to say a trad. XT 3 ring set up.


 
Posted : 16/05/2009 11:16 am
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I switched to a 36/22 + bash setup about 3 months ago with 11 - 32 at the back. Since I rarely used the 44t offroad it seemed sensible for me. Considering swapping the 22 for a 24.


 
Posted : 16/05/2009 1:35 pm
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Oli Beckingsale was running a single ring last week at the Dalby NPS, he won the Elite race, so not being able to go fast enough is seemingly not a huge issue!


 
Posted : 16/05/2009 2:22 pm
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But what size single ring was he running?
If it was just the big ring he was using (tinker jaurez stylee) then maybe top speed wouldn't have been an issue


 
Posted : 16/05/2009 2:31 pm
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34 or maybe 36, not too sure.


 
Posted : 16/05/2009 2:32 pm
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Check out the weight weenies MTB forum for information on these 2x9 XC chainsets... some great information ๐Ÿ˜†

Nick, you run a 2x9 chainset of your s-works epic don't you, I think I remember seeing picture you posted, what spider are you using with your cranks?


 
Posted : 16/05/2009 2:44 pm
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Just the stock one, use an Extralite 30t inner ring with the spider filed to fit, and a normal TA Chinook 42t outer.

When the Extralite wears out I'm tempted to put a 28t 'inner' ring, with the 42t outer, we shall see.

[img] http://newimages.fotopic.net/?iid=yw8uid&outx=800&quality=70 [/img]

Edit: hopefully you can see that, they've changed the file names of fotopic shots, sorry if you get the no direct linking thing!


 
Posted : 16/05/2009 2:56 pm
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Oli Becks was running a 38T ring, and one of those new fancy 12-36 cassettes that all the midget 29er riders have been shouting for.

Prefer keeping all three of my chain rings, just in case. The weight loss is near-silly, though I do fancy the idea of something like 26-36-44 rather than 22-32-44.


 
Posted : 16/05/2009 3:33 pm
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Nothing lightweight or jey about my 2x9. E 13 drs weighs more than a granny i'm pretty sure and stops my chain coming off like it used to when i ran a triple.


 
Posted : 16/05/2009 4:08 pm