If the consensus is that a clutch mech is needed what are the benefits of these new profile rings? Apologies if it is a daft question!
Option 1: 254g
A clutch mech (XTR 986- 214g) and wolftooth ring (32T- 40g)
Option 2: 265g/ 245g
Normal mech (XTR 980- 174g), chain guide (e13 XCX BB- 56g/ shift up carbon- 36g) and ring (e13 32T- 35g)
There isn’t significant weight in it (XX1 rear mech is fractionally heavier than the XTR example above- of course cassettes will vary too but that is a different matter, plus sub 40g chain guides such as Shift Up are an option to reduce option 2 weight), the running costs are less with option 2 (or at least the same with these newer cheaper rings) and there is the extra security of the chain guide of option 2 is surely an advantage????
If the clutch mechs were lighter then great! But they are not and I can not see the advantages of option 1.
Why risk less performance (no chain guide) for no other apparent gains or am I missing something? Purely aesthetic? Are we taken in by yet more marketing 🙂 It is a genuine question as I don’t really get these rings at the moment.
Ta!