[Closed] what size front ring for 1x10 setup

32

Cheap at superstar. Try a 32 or 34

32 oval? What size wheels? I use 32t oval with 11-42 and 650b. Do-able for Dartmoor but I'd possibly consider 34 if I was living somewhere flatter.

forgot to add, 26''

Really depends on you, what stuff you ride and your fitness.

Oh and wheel size. I've been running 34t on 26" but having got a 650b which came with 32t I was thinking it would be too small but I feel it works out about the same.

For 26" wheels I'd try 34t oval.

I run 11-36 with a 32 and 26 inch wheels. Plenty of big climbs in this part of the world and never wished for a lower gear.

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Check the numbers

30T 0n a 29er, 32T on a 650b and 34T on a 26" are roughly equivalent, the same applies for bigger chainrings - 2 teeth increment as you drop wheel sizes.

I run either 30T or 32T on a 29er with a 40T extender on the cassette. When I first went to 1x I had a 30T and did struggle a bit (live in the Dales so some big climbs) but once I got used to it I've not had a problem. Swap the 30 & 32 in and out depending on where I'm going. Currently run a 32T oval which is different again, definitely smoother on the climbs and you don't really notice it on the flat.

I run mainly a 32t front with 11-42 out back on my 29er xc fs, can climb pretty much anything with that. I did drop to a 30t up front for mayhem as I just liked the psychological backup of a bailout gear for 24hrs in the saddle.

On my fattie I've got a 28t up front and 11-40 out back, helps with the weight of the thing, but the rear wheel traction is immense, so getting up silly steep and loose things is great.

Gearing ratios can be pretty simple , using teeth on Front ring divided by rear cog
So you are currently running 28t/36t = 0.7778
If you want same with a 42t cog you.ll need a 32t (0.7629)

I've just got a new bike that has a 32t and 42t cassette 0.762, I'm used to 24t/36t (0.66666) granny gear, and this week after 3 rides totalling 114km and 1633m climbing, my legs are really aching, far more than the previous few weeks with the same distance. For that reason I'm gonna drop to a 30t (0.714) , (I bought a 28t but I now think I can cope with a 30t front chainring) the trails are dry, so whether that works in winter I'm yet to find out boggy rubble trails, mud and woodland will all likely mean wheel spinning..
My style for uphill is to spin at a high cadence, rather than grind out slower on a higher gear. Hence I like a granny gear

Ideally you need to add gear inch into your calculations, as they will impact to the ratio, as larger wheel/tyre circumference will make a difference too, namely you need a low number on a 29er as a 26"

Ps, if you use a 11-36 Xt casette consider taking out the 16t or is it 19t and put a 40 or 42t expander ring on, lots of companies make them, may be a cheaper option

It's all personal preference, fitness, usage, where you live, what you ride on, distance ridden, if you like to climb or get off and push etc etc

Superstar 32 with a sunrace 11-42, works really well for me, gives a very use able range for a very reasonable price, no need for 11 speed imho, even up and down big stuff in Wales band Scotland, could prob fit a 34 for local, South East England stuff but its not a problem

I'm surprised more don't use 28T circle (or 30T oval), because if I went 1x on a bike, I would be more concerned about having a suitable gear for hill climbing than on top speed.

Which for 28T, would mean typically going 64-BCD, which is relatively rare.

I'm probably just showing my lack of fitness as a MAMIB (baggies, not lycra), back in my yooful 20s I was so much more of a lightweight fitness freak! 😆

I'm fit - 30t on a 26 with 11-36 is plenty hard enough in Wales

I had 32 but have recently dropped to 30 (with sunrace cassette.) If all I rode was trail centres 32 or 34 would be fine, but a lot of my rides are days out in the Lake District and as I'm not a regular rider and very unfit, I appreciate the 30 much more!

I'm surprised more don't use 28T circle (or 30T oval), because if I went 1x on a bike, I would be more concerned about having a suitable gear for hill climbing than on top speed.

I'm currently running a 30t front with an 11-36 cassette. I've got a sun race one in the garage but I couldn't get it running smooth and I've got no money for swapping rear mechs/rad cages (think my current mech is too long for a rad cage anyway so I'd need to fork out for both)

I've not had any issues locally with that combo, plenty fast enough for me, and although I had to get off and walk at one point this morning I doubt a 42 would have made any difference, I struggled to walk up it and it wasn't a proper trail, I was just out exploring.

This is on a non racey 650b.