Lindarets RoadLink – affordable wide-range gearing?

‘Cross riders have been at it on single ring set-ups since well before their knobby-tyred brethren caught on, but now that the idea has taken off across the bike world as a whole, there are widgets galore on the way to make your fettling easier.

Single ring set-ups on any bike normally need wide-range cassettes to make them practical in the real world/outside the tapes. There’s only so far that a regular mech will stretch, but the new RoadLink from Lindarets (which is unsurprisingly closely related to the mountain bike GoatLink) should make building your own wide range, single-ring set-up much easier.
It’s a simple mount plate which sits between mech and dropout, optimised for use with 10- or 11-speed road drivetrains (Shimano only – SRAMistas need not apply). It will accommodate 11-36 and 11-40T cassettes, including the new 11-speed Shimano XT, as well as smaller 10-speed cassettes converted to wide range using Wolf Tooth’s own 40T converter cogs. Lindarets claims the result is “gearing up to 43% lower than an 11-28, without the loss of a usable top end”.

Benefits? Cleaner and simpler shifting, less weight, improved aesthetics – and a significantly reduced price tag over dedicated one-by systems. You could also run it with a double ring set-up to get even more gears – for loaded touring, perhaps, or a bang-up-to-date gnarmac adventure. Unlike the mountain bike version though we think you’ll probably still need to use a chain keeper – or at least a thick-thin chainring – with this, as Shimano’s road mechs don’t have the same retention properties as its clutch MTB mechs.
RoadLinks weigh 16g including hardware and are available now from Lindarets for $21.95 shipped.  They can also be bundled with a Special Edition Wolf Tooth GC40 and 16t cog for $99.95.
Compatibility info:
10s Cassette Compatibility:
11-32: Not Recommended
11-36: Single or Double Chainring
11-40: Single Chainring
11-42: Not Supported
11s Cassette Compatibility:
11-32: Not Required
11-36: Single or Double Chainring
11-40: Single Chainring
11-42: Not Supported
10-42: Not Supported
The RoadLink is compatible with ten- and eleven-speed Shimano road derailleurs and shifters.
The RoadLink mounts only to standard derailleur hangers.
Double chainrings are only supported with mid- or long-cage rear derailleurs
Triple chainrings are not supported.
Direct Mount-native frames and SRAM or Campagnolo drivetrains are not supported.

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