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Looking for a bit of help or even just other folks thoughts...
So a family member gave me there old Giant tcx 2, which at the moment is a 2x9 mix of sora & tiagra the drive chain is a bit beat up so my initial thought was to convert it into a 1x11 as i love the simplicity of a 1x but i got thinking what kind of riding would i use it for.. so a mix of road, towpaths the odd foray onto a bit of single track and a wee bit of bikepacking. So this had me thinking maybe i'm better leaving it as a 2x big ring for road & small ring everything else.
So with the research i've did i'm not sure whether to go 2x10 or 2x11. Or to go shimano or sram. I know i'm overthinking it.
**edit**
Budget… i would like to keep as cheap as possible but i reckon around £300 without getting moaned at that would be for shifters, front and rear derailleurs. i have cassette etc in my spares bin.
What's actually available at your budget?
Start there.
Shimano.
i would like to keep as cheap as possible
Just leave it as 2x9, buy a cheap steel cassette, chain, and rings, plus replace the cables.
I'd stick with 2x9 and just replace what's worn. I bet new inner and outer cables would be the best upgrade. Then decide if you want a wide-range cassette to go with the new chain.
edit - great minds etc...
Doesn't answer your question, but I have an old Giant TCX and went single speed - makes a great winter/bad weather bike and definitely a cheaper option.
Stick with 2x9
APF
You can get Microshift 2x10 full groupset without crank for less than £300 iirc.
You can get the same range with a 1x, it's more whether the larger gaps between gears both you. They don't bother me, I'm a convert, although I might have a different opinion if I did group road rides
Interesting folk choosing to stay 2x9... i was sure folk would have said 2x10. The whole chainset needs replaced even the sora levers look pretty beat up. I would have thought with it all needing replaced upgrading made sense but seems i'm in the minority.
My hardtail is 1x11 so i'm used to the 1x gearing. My thoughts on keeping the 2x was it would be jack of all trades bike.
My jack of all trades gravel bike is 2x. I wouldn't change it. Front mechs are generally no bother
Well you used to be able to get a 105 groupset for £300, but you'd probably be looking at Tiagra now.
And it's probably really good.
Although I have been keeping an eye on Avent/Avent X out of interest, is it really worth the spend on a free bike?
If you must go 1x, what about 1x9?
The thing that's going to cost the most with all of your other options is always the levers, even used.
You can pick up wider range 9 speed cassettes now, N/W ring to suit and a nice new chain and you're set, an older 9speed MTB mech or a goat link if needs be. But No need to pay out for a whole new drivetrain just to get one extra click if it's just for local on/off-road hacking...
TBH renewing the existing 2x9 might actually be the cheapest and easiest option a good clean-up with new cassette/rings/chain and fresh cables would have it running nicely no doubt...
Lot's of opinions which i thank you all for, spending the money to upgrade the drive train is not an issue as it's money i would have used towards a 2nd hand bike anyway.
My head says 2x11 but my heart says 1x11. With the shortage in bike components at the moment my hand might be forced anyway.
Again thanks for folks input as i was defo over thinking and now realise throwing Ultegra or 105 on the frame would really have been a waste. I also want to upgrade it from the 2x9 so will be going 2x10.
So i've came across someone selling a SRAM Apex 2x10 groupset for £140 so that will do the job and with it being 10 speed i can use a long cage GX derailleur which will allow me to use an 11-42 cassette. The chain rings can stay for now now but my plan will be to swap em over for the Absolute Black oval sub-compact most likely the 46/30T.
To be honest i'm not going to miss one gear by not going to 11, it's not as if i'm a pro... lol