Aristotle – removing the granny also removes the front mech, cable and shifter. Add a few grammes back in for the chain device, but most people end up saving 350+ grammes, which is pretty significant.
I only weigh 60kg so I have found that bikes feel really hefty above 28lb, so I do tend to keep an eye on weight. I’ve added an uppydowny seatpost and fatter tyres recently so any loss is a bonus.
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The main reason I’m interested though is simplicity. I find I don’t really bother with biggish gears, and I’m definitely a spinner.
Once I get paid, I think I’ll take a punt on the Widgit chainring in a 28t size – then maybe add 10sp once we get the other side of the winter.
I’m open to it not working, but I fancy giving it a go. Once you look at the gear ratios and you realise that a double and bash only really gives 13 usable gears, it does seem a lot of faff to have all that extra kit for those 3 or 4 extra gears.
I’m also interested in how people get on with the Alfine 11 and how high a torque it can cope with. I don’t want to give up my granny gear, but I am pretty happy (at least in theory) giving up pedalling above 22mph.