[Closed] Soo.. who else is switching from 2x10 back to 3x9 / 3x10??

Nope. 1x10 on everything MTB.

same as Jam Bo. Can't imagine why you'd need more than 1x10.

Same here - 1x10 on both bikes and it feels spot on for the riding I do. Occasionally change the cassette if I'm heading to the hills.

why do you need more than 1x10. 34t front and a 34/11 back.

Just get stronger.

[i]Can't imagine why you'd need more than 1x10. [/i]

So you don't have to push?

why do you need more than 1x10. 34t front and a 34/11 back.

Just get stronger.

Have you ever done a 24 hour solo or a 7 day mountain bike stage race? Come back to me with a different answer if you haven't. The last thing I want to be doing in an endurance event is haven't to grind up a steep single-track switchback climb with low cadence in my lowest gear with 2x10, thinking about how much I want my granny gear back!

I can see how 2x10 / 1x10 might have some advantages, but not for my type of racing.

I feel like the 2x10 on my Camber isn't progress over my normal 2x9... It's got some higher gears that I don't have much use for, and less low gears. But 1x10 with an 11-36 block is definately progress.

Have you ever done a 24 hour solo or a 7 day mountain bike stage race? Come back to me with a different answer if you haven't. The last thing I want to be doing in an endurance event is haven't to grind up a steep single-track switchback climb with low cadence in my lowest gear with 2x10, thinking about how much I want my granny gear back!
I can see how 2x10 / 1x10 might have some advantages, but not for my type of racing.

What are the winners running? I'd say just get stronger still applies...

Can't wait until the Olympic XC event to see what the top riders are using.

If a triple suits your style and you enjoy it more then that's the answer.

Nope, 2x9 is plenty.

Can't wait until the Olympic XC event to see what the top riders are using.

Cyclocross bikes from the look of the course...

What are the winners running? I'd say just get stronger still applies...

Easy to say, not so easy to apply at 8am the next day.

I haven't encountered anything I can't keep a 60rpm cadence going for in 34t 11-36t yet, and that includes the alps.

Never gonna happen! 2x10 for a couple of years now, love it.
Male Olympians at Hadleigh will be running new SRAM 1x11, Shimano riders 1x10. I can see myself going that way sometime soon.

2x10 on my Mojo for enduros such as Dyfi, CRC, Brecon Beast and Afan Monster. That is a 42:28 with a 11:36 and still find I'm in the 42 most of the time

* swoons at the STW strongmen *

What kind of terrain are you happy 2x10 users riding? The South Downs or something similar to that? 😕

continuity - Member
I haven't encountered anything I can't keep a 60rpm cadence going for in 34t 11-36t yet, and that includes the alps.

1x10 (32 and 11/36). No issues and rode up everything in the Alps recently.

1x10 (32 and 11/36). No issues and rode up everything in the Alps recently.

Just because you can ride up it, doesn't mean you wouldn't be more efficient with a better gear ratio and higher cadence.

I can "ride up" most things with my 2x10, I'm often in a lower cadence than I feel comfortable in though.

Yet you would be quicker and more efficient with a higher cadence.

No you wouldn't, it depends on the rider. higher cadence is more efficient but bigger gear out of the saddle is faster as you can generate more power. Just not as efficient.

I can "ride up" most things with my 2x10, I'm often in a lower cadence than I feel comfortable in though.

So you need to get stronger then.

Don't look for excuses as to why you can't do things, look at how you can. If lower gears works for you fine, if a triple makes sense fine, use it.

But the important thing, just because you have a gear doesn't mean you should use it. The only way to get better is to push harder.

I've just built up my new bike with 3x10 as didn't really see the point in 2x10.

1x10 and losing the front shifter makes sense but I like having the variety of big and little gears

Though 1x10 does seem a bit of a current "fashion statement" that has taken over from single speeding.

Went from 1x9 to 3x9. Cos I'm a pathetic weakling.

WTF OP? (and you ^^)

20 gears is more than enough to ride anything, You've simply chosen inappropriate chainring sizes for you and your riding.

I've been happily running 2x8 for over 15years with no issues,

Im not the fittest bloke on the planet, but I recently changed to 2x10 and ill never go back to 3x10, a 2x10 always seems to be the 'right' gear when riding...true I miss the granny ring when im knackered but the harder the 2x10 setup sometimes is, just means youll get stronger and fitter 🙂

Why are you removing your granny ring to go to two rings instead of removing the middle and big ring and replacing the middle with something sized somewhere between the two? 😕

32:16 is plenty 😉

GW I'd love to go on a ride with you. In between never sitting down and your 2x8, you've got to be the fittest person around with sprinter esq legs if steel

So you need to get stronger then.

No, I need to go back to 3 rings on the front. 🙄

It does seem like its a bit of a macho man statement people are trying to make here, as if you need to show off your hardness and push through with the 2 / 1x10, in sort of a "GGRRRRR look at me" type way. Slightly pathetic really.
I don't see the point in going 1 or 2 by ten unless

A) You ride mostly in the South Downs.
B) You're an XC racer and rarely out of the big ring.
C) You are a total weight weenie and want to save the 10 gram's, or whatever it is.

20 gears is more than enough to ride anything.

Vaguest statement of the year award goes to you, well done 😉 .

I looked at 2x10, glad I didn't spend the money.

I'm reasonably fit and able (my Strava times show that), but every-so-often you need a granny (and 34 rear) otherwise you'll be pushing.

But at the time I looked the reason I didn't buy was the simple reason that an XTR 2x10 was heavier than my current XTR 3x9.

I now live in the Scottish Borders, and while 2x10 would be fine for GT/Inners etc it would mean a lot of pushing on the natural stuff.

No, I need to go back to 3 rings on the front.

Have a look at a gear chart and you will see that most gears are duplicated if not triplicated, which is one of the points behind 2x*

Have you ever done a 24 hour solo or a 7 day mountain bike stage race?

If your racing you need to get stronger. There are reasons why 2x* makes sense.

If you want to go back to 3x* do so, but be aware that if you pick the right chainrings and cassette there is very little benefit to be gained. and you do gain a few problems.

As for climb size, Le Chable to Col de Gentiannes in the Val de Bagnes on a 2x9, in prep for the Grand Raid Cristalp. Is that a big enough climb?

Climb hardness has nothing to do with size, the south downs vs the Cairngorms, they are different nothing more.

michaelmcc - Member

It does seem like its a bit of a macho man statement people are trying to make here, as if you need to show off your hardness and push through with the 2/1 x10, in sort of a "GGRRRRR look at me" type way. Slightly pathetic really...

don't most people 'go' 2up at the front by removing the big ring?

GGRRRRR look at me, i'm also a pathetic weakling, i never use the 40tooth ring so i took it off.

If memory serves, going from a 22-32-44 to a 22-36 cost me only the 2 highest ratios- so not a case of never using the big ring, you need to be using everything on the big ring to make it worth keeping.

I have 3 singlespeeds. Form an ordely queue to come and touch me.

Vaguest statement of the year award goes to you, well done

Read what Northwind wrote above ^^

.

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Transapp - I didn't sit down or change gear all afternoon today, but no, I'm hellishly unfit just now. 🙁

For real time XC riding in the longterm I can't imagine why anyone would go 2x or 1x or singlespeed and balls to a 3x with 24 and 42, I want 22 and 44....as much range as you can get.

Emperor's New clothes!

real time XC in the 11/42 = fireroad at best (and tucking would be quicker than pedalling)

All the stuff is still made so you can have what ever you prefer
But I would suggest some people rember that 10 speed rear cassettes can have a 36 big cog and that there are gear inch charts out there to compare ratios with

michaelmcc wrote:

It does seem like its a bit of a macho man statement people are trying to make here, as if you need to show off your hardness and push through with the 2 / 1x10, in sort of a "GGRRRRR look at me" type way. Slightly pathetic really.
I don't see the point in going 1 or 2 by ten unless

A) You ride mostly in the South Downs.
B) You're an XC racer and rarely out of the big ring.
C) You are a total weight weenie and want to save the 10 gram's, or whatever it is.

I don't race. I don't care about being macho. I like to enjoy my XC / trail / bikepacking rides. I run 1x10, 32/11-36.

A) I ride Edinburgh / pentlands / GT / the highlands
B) I don't race, and hardly ever used my big ring (oooh err)
C) I do like a light bike. Ditching the front derailleur, two rings, cable, and front shifter saves 450 grams. That is enough to make a difference for almost anyone.

Also:

+ 32/36 at the back is only 2 gears short of the lowest granny gear
+ 32/11 is 2 or 3 gears short of the highest gear on a 3x9
+ Front deralleurs are the work of the devil. They are Heath Robinson botches, ugly, unreliable, extra weight and complexity
+ 44 teeth whirring round exposed inches from your ankle / leg / body / logs / rocks sucks for off road
+ Bashrings are good
+ If you are winching yourself up a hill in 22/32, walking is probably more efficient
+ People run singlespeed 2:1 over most terrain. 1x10 is being spoiled for choice.
+ Having to push a low gear that isn't winching yourself uphill makes you stronger and is more satisfying
+ The 44 ring is only for flying downhill on fireroads and roads. Chill out and freewheel, it is more fun and saves energy.
+ 1xn looks cleaner, and is easier to clean.

I could go on, but I'll stop my 1xn evangelizing there. It's not for everyone, and choice and experimentation are good things. Choose what you fancy / think you will enjoy, experiment, have fun!

I don't see the point in going 1 or 2 by ten unless

Or you need the chain stability (because you actually enjoy technical trails) and easy maintainable of 1x10 and you don't have the legs of a little girl?

Ok, if you're all so tough and manly then why aren't you all spinning out the highest gear on downhills which happens to me??

And it's not really a case of getting stronger or tougher as a lot of you have said, Ive done five 24 hour solo races and I'm probably fitter/stronger than most people here.