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Really? But you still want a granny, which when matched with a mech, the chain doesn't fall off IME. Not to worry, I must be daft not to see the sense there.
I run 1x10 with 11-36 cassettes on my bikes, 34t on 26", 32t on 27.5". Works great for everything I've done in the last few years, can't remember the last time I dropped a chain (was before I had narrow-wide rings), dropper remote fits where the front shifter would be, very reliable shifting. But I'm not sure I could handle for instance a week of riding in Scotland if I were pedalling the climbs, due to the length of them and the leg fatigue from consecutive days of big rides - so bunging on a granny ring for emergencies would be a sensible move on such an away trip. If it was something I needed to use frequently I wouldn't be running this gearing - but as I said, it's always worked fine thus far.
Most of my rides are in the peaks, for a year I did 11-36 and 30t front 26 inch wheels it was a bit tough sometimes I'm not the best climber though. Now on 11-42t and 32t front.
1x10 in mid-Wales for the last nine months or so, 34T front narrow-wide and 11-40T on the rear. Rode over 500 000 ft of climbing and nearly 5000 miles in 2014 and did not find the 1x10 restricting apart from one location where if I'm honest even 2x10 had me off pushing in places on some of the 1:4 muddy climbs. Don't think I'd be so happy running a standard 11-36 10 speed cassette though, need the 40T extender cog so I can go up in size at the front as I ride to the trails (8 miles down the hill from Nant-yr-arian) as well as commute on the mtb.
@chickenman I run my 1x10 with a 34 up front and a 42 at the back. That gives a lower gear than a 30 front and a 11-36 cassette,and a much better higher gear the other end. Just dropping front ring size gains a bit of climbing gear but you lose the other end. A range expander does what it says on the tin . Changing the front only moves the existing range.
OK, first post on here so hi 🙂
I run 30T front and 11-40T rear on a 29er HT (Solaris). I live on the edge of the Dales and generally ride either there or in the Lakes with occasional forays down to the Peak. I'm mid fifties and weigh 84Kg
I did quite a bit of calculating gear ratios on the Sheldon Brown site before committing to to 1x10, I figured I was losing about 2 gears (effective) at the low end and slightly more at the top end compared to a standard triple. Against that I rarely used the top end gears and only used the bottom end ratios slightly more than that so I reckoned I was unlikely to notice the "restriction". There was also the change from 26" to 29" wheels on the new bike to take in to account.
I struggled a bit at first and spent quite a bit of time in the lowest three cogs but over time I have got stronger and now spend more time in the middle of the cassette. I've done about 1600Km so far on that bike. I might consider moving to a 32T in time. Situations where I've got off and walked have usually been those where I'd be walking anyway. At the top end, by the time I spin out I'm going quickly enough to prefer coasting.
With the riding I do - long XC moderately technical routes - I don't think I'd gain anything by returning to a 2x or 3x set-up. In fact I'm more tempted to head the other way and get a singlespeed HT, I've done a few rides where I've deliberately tried to avoid gear changes but it does get a bit frustrating on the flat and on-road.
I switched to 1x9 32 x 11-34 a couple of years back and it's OK for me on the Devon hills and Dartmoor.. I pull the kids to school in a trailer up some big hills also on a 1x9 set up 38 x 11-34 which I think has helped get me used to not having a granny option..
I don't think I would be phased by any terrain on the 32:34 set up these days as long as I'm [i]riding at my own pace[/i]..
I say this as out on a group ride the other night I definitely struggled with the pace after a while
Pete68: What you've got with a 34 chainring and a 42 rear cog is almost exactly the same lowest gear as 30/36 setup (35/42 and 30/36 both equate to 5/6); what you've gained over the standard 1x10 setup is an extra gear at the top. Not worth the hassle IMO.