[Closed] Expander sprockets and 1x for the average rider...

What's the point?

Riding at Cwmcarn and BPW at the weekend I saw plenty of people pushing their 1x equipped 6" travel bikes up hills. If they had a double (say 22x36 lowest) I'm sure they could have been riding as well as having a closer spread of gears.

Is it a fashion thing? I don't believe that it is about weight saving- the bikes (and riders!) were hardly whippets. Equally, not sure it's a simplicity/reliability thing- a front mech is hardly complicated compared to multi-pivot suspension, adjustable forks and shocks, dropper posts etc.