Currently running 32t upfront with an xt 11-46 cassette, I can climb most stuff with that bail out 46t, it works. Occasionally I could do with more at speed, ie bigger front ring
Don’t want to loose that bail out gear so would running a 34t front ring with 11-50 sunrace cassette be roughly the same range as what I’m running or more range? Eagle is getting cheaper and that sunrace cassette mounts on Shimano freehub so that makes it easy
or I could just carry on! Everyone keeps telling me the Ard Rock climbs are killer so maybe I am just clutching at straws! Or I drop to a 30t at Ard Rock..
overthinking it?
Reckon the 11-50 Sunrace 11 speed will be a good bet, wont break the bank and, having just spent a long weekend at altitude in Sierra Nevada, that 50 tooth ring is worth while!
Put the 11 -50 on my son's bike. The shifting isn't close to GX Eagle on my bike but it's not bad at all.
I'd keep what you have, personally. If you're doing a ride in somewhere with massive hills, just put a smaller chain ring on if you think you'll need it.
Going to a 12 speed is a lot of money to spend on a very marginal improvement.
Yeah that’s true I didn’t think of the 11 speed 50t. Reckon I will just stick with the 46t then I don’t have to do anything!
Just looking for extra help as I’m worried about Ard Rock!
With the exception of Fremington edge the ard rock climbs are a drudge but they're really not that bad.
If you can clean frem edge on a 30/50 you'll be fine on a 34/46. If not you'll join the 98% pushing up.
You'll be fine if you can pedal.
I’ve got SRAM Eagle gx on my new hardtail. It’s dreadful.
Swapped the mech for a XO one, as it can actually shift through all the gears
im still not convinced though, as the cranks creak despite all methods of tightening an re greasing.
May go go back to 11 speed as it just works
GX Eagle on the wife’s bike. Not quite as nice as my XTR mechanical or XT Di2 but it’s still quite nice other than the slightly plasticky feeling shifter.
Shes got knackered knees so she really appreciates the 50t for steep climbs.
Drivetrain evolutions are incremental, there's rarely an argument for dropping everything and up-grading. This is unequivocally the case for 11 to 12 speed. Just wait till stuff wears out, or you're buying a new bike, and you can enjoy a marginally better drivetrain. So no need to panic, you will be fine.
Changes at the very bottom end like you're talking about won't help in any case. If the Ardrock climbs are killer (doubt it, tbh, if they're sending the enduro cheesy-chips brigade over them), then you need to get power down, and super low gear v super massive low gear isn't a difference maker. A super low gear helps for steep climbing that is really sustained (e.g. up a mountain) and you need to back off and winch the whole thing.