1×10 here zee clutch plus 32t on front 11-36 rear with MRP AMG guide

Hurt for first few rides in Welsh hills, now I love it

I’m running 1×10 in the Peak with a 33-tooth chainring and 11-36 and it’s fine 99% of the time and 100% of it when I’m feeling ‘ard. About once a week, when I can’t be arsed, I’m tempted to go to a 32. Using a Surly stainless singlespeed ring and a cheap Superstar top chain guide thing on the BB and haven’t had any chain-dropping problems.

In a way, it’s pretty straightforward: if you’re someone who rarely uses the granny or the big ring, then 1×10 makes sense. If you’re forever spinning up hills in tiny gears then 1×10 is maybe not for you, or not round here anyway, certainly not with a 36 up front, but then you may well be much stronger than me. But if that’s the case you probably won’t be spinning up hills in the granny anyway…

If you can’t manage your next ten rides without dropping into the granny ring then I wouldn’t go 1×10.

However, I used to often use the granny ring – but when I forced myself to ignore it I quickly got used to pushing a bigger gear uphill and got better at technical climbing. Went 1×9 after a stint of granny ignorance and then 1×10 when that drivetrain was on its last legs. Was running 32t 11-36, not 33t 11-36. Think I’d struggle with 36t, might be able to handle 34t. Most cyclists can’t spin fast enough and I like how running single ring develops that skill and results in you being in the wrong gear less often.