No regrets for me but I hardly ever used the granny ring on my triple. My lowest gear is 28 x 34 and I seem to be able to get up most things with that, guess it depends where you live and what you ride.

Generally if a lower gear is there, you’ll use it.

I now run 2×9 and 22/32 & 11/34 and can climb anything. But then my bro rides 22/36 and 11/25, and frankly he manages just as well, but he gets out of the saddle and minces it. He rides a hard tail, I ride FS, so guess thats down to it a bit*

*if you ever tried to get out of saddle and mince on a 6/7″ FS rig in a stupid low gear you’ll know what I mean, it just doesn’t work lol

I was running 22:32 on my old set up. I now run 27:36 – I don’t notice getting off to push more often. I do however find that I need to make fewer changes on the front than I used to and therefore gear changes are more subtle and energy is conserved better…

ive just moved to a 26/39 from a triple and have to say I really like it. not had much trouble on the steep climbs aroun my way. Its a 12/36 cassette at the back.

22×34 = 16.8 gear inches
22×32 = 17.9 gear inches
22×28 = 20.4 gear inches

28×36 = 20.2 gear inches

So it’s about the same as granny 2nd on a standard 26″ triple setup. I reckon that’s fine…well worth the sacrifice IMO. (depends how steep your local climbs are though)

I built a new hardtail with a 2×10 last year. It’s a 29er so with a 26/36 lowest gear, the gears are quite a bit harder than my 26er but you do get used to it. I much prefer the 2×10 – I hate the way a triple feels now.

No regrets, it rides great (39/26 and 11-32), I like the close ratios and the ‘set and forget’ mode of the chainrings. I realised on my FS triple all I did with the big ring was put the chain on it to stop it coming off on descents, and I had to do that because the chain was set long enough to go on the big ring.

I have a problem with SRAM chains breaking frequently on my 2×10, going to try Shimano instead. I don’t totally buy that the whole cassette should be used in each ring.

Works great for me – I’m on 22/34 and 11/36 on a 29er and it’s perfect – undergeared at the low end really if anything. I’ve never spun out going DH offroad though 34/11 is a bit low if you ride a lot of road on your mtb (why?! 🙂 )

Mattjg: I’m using KMC chains (KMC10SL) havn’t had any breakages or problems with them. They seem to last pretty well too.

in terms of number of gears, spread, ratio – there are no regrets to be had.

in terms of frame, chainstay, maximum middle ring size…… beware ive come across two frames recently where the max mid ring is 36t. While the 26-38 chainset fitted, the mms clearance to the chainstay made it a no no. Think frames that have ‘british’ mud clearance.

I’ve got 1×10 on the Pitch 32/12-36 and can climb up most hills, not always easily but it just about does it, it just stops your riding any slower.

Got 2×10 for the new hardtail (26-38/11-36) mainly becasue bigger gears were a priority over ground clerance this time.

I went 2×10 with a Shimano SLX set-up, it was 22/36….spent most of my time in the granny gear as the 36 tooth ring was too much for me on decent hills….i started to get bored with it honestly, didnt like spinning everywhere in the granny ring….ok for the really tech/steep hills but a ball-ache anywhere else….

….went back to a 3×10 set-up and now have 24/32/42, this works for me now….a 24 tooth granny is light enough for me to get up all the hills i used to need a 22 ring for and the 32 middle is where i now spend mot of the time….the 42 tooth ring is redundant, i can count on one hand the number of times i’ve used it….i’ll probably take it off soon.

It’s about finding the right ratio for you, Shimano’s 22/36 was too much of a jump for me but the Raceface 24/32 i have is perfect.

what’s PAC?

I’ll soon be faced with the reality that my Truvativ is unrideable due to the ‘ring wear, it’s going to have to come off, put in store, and something else will have to go on. I’m liking the look of those RaceFaces with adjustable chainline actually, but they are sharp-intake-of-breath expensive.

OP: apols bit of a hijack here. I’d never go back to a triple. I like the x10 for the close ratios, shifting can be ultra smooth, but haven’t ridden x9. No regrets for what I do (Surrey Hills XC and ST on a hardtail).

Not doing it sooner!

Saying that, the price of new chainrings is eye watering…that didn’t factor into my thoughts when I bought the new bike!

I used 28/42 (XX) and 30/42 (XTR) both with 11-36 cassettes, now run 36t single ring and prefer that.

XX rings lasted no time at all, but their ratios are better than Shimano IMO.

No regrets… They don’t work…
So said Gary Barlow.