What is it with the move to double chainsets?
othello
Posts: 578
It seems that every manufacturer and his dog are moving to double chainsets for 2011, at least for trail bikes. Specialized for example...
Can someone explain the reasoning for me? I assume that with 10 speed cassettes you can still get the gear range, but is that really true? How useful would they really be for anything other than a trail centre?
Can someone explain the reasoning for me? I assume that with 10 speed cassettes you can still get the gear range, but is that really true? How useful would they really be for anything other than a trail centre?
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People like the extra clearance and are using the higher ratios less and less.
All depends on what you want. Plenty of triple options still.0 -
given the chunk of wood my chain ring took out a log the other day, i for one can already see the advantage
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i have been running two on my bikes for years as do the majority of people i ride with in the s wales area i guess others do the same and the big companies were recognising a trend.its lighter as well0
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pHz wrote:2 is still 1 too many
slainte :P rob
+1. 1x9 or 1X10 is ample for off-road use.0 -
I never use the big ring off road, but most rides I do have to include a few miles of hardpack/tarmac, and let's face it I want to get those bits out of the way as quickly as possible.Northwind wrote: It's like I covered it in superglue and rode it through ebay.0
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Some of us still need a triple. You need a big ring for on road use and downhill, middle ring for tricky singletrack and the little ring for the biggest climbs (I climbed 1100 feet in about 1km yesterday).
I can't understand why so few folk don't feel the need for a 42/44 big ring. Maybe I'm missing something.......... Don't you just spin out on the fast bits?http://www.strathspey.co.uk - Quality Binoculars at a Sensible Price.
Specialized Roubaix SL3 Expert 2012, Cannondale CAAD5,
Marin Mount Vision (1997), Edinburgh Country tourer, 3 cats!0 -
I swapped the 22T and 32T on my triple for 26T and 36T. The large 42T ring is still on, but I never use it. I am effectively using a 2x9 setup and it works great for me.0
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I'm slowly working towards 1x9 I think but I can't make it work yet, not with a decently high ring anyway... I need my grovelling gears. But I'm yet to miss the big ring on either mtb just like I don't miss the granny ring on my commuter.Uncompromising extremist0
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true - its VERY flat round here - local bridelways and thetford / sherwood (my 2 closest centres) arent exactly mountainoussnotty badger wrote:
but having said that - on my travels ive ridden dalby and laggan reds without too much hassle on my 38T x 12-32 (1 x 7) hardtail set up
slainte
rob 0 -
snotty badger wrote:
Fair enough. Might not work in the Alps.
The 11-36 10-speed cassette will make it more and more difficult to justify not giving it a go though. I have switched to 1x9 2 weeks ago as I could not be bothered waiting for the 10-speed and frankly, for the South Downs it's perfect, at least for me.
Not having a front mech/shifter is a revelation. Everything becomes more instinctive and the ride flows incredibly well.0 -
pHz wrote:but having said that - on my travels ive ridden dalby and laggan reds without too much hassle on my 38T x 12-32 (1 x 7) hardtail set up
Fair play but laggan red's got the laziest climb I've ever done! Not to mention the shortest most pointless uplift It's the mere existance of total f****rs like Tower Ride at glentress or Heartbreak Hill at Kirroughtree that puts me off :oops: Just knowing they're out there waiting to make me suffer makes me treasure my little 22 toothed friend. Uncompromising extremist0 -
nickfrog wrote:snotty badger wrote:
Fair enough. Might not work in the Alps.
The 11-36 10-speed cassette will make it more and more difficult to justify not giving it a go though. I have switched to 1x9 2 weeks ago as I could not be bothered waiting for the 10-speed and frankly, for the South Downs it's perfect, at least for me.
Not having a front mech/shifter is a revelation. Everything becomes more instinctive and the ride flows incredibly well.
Doesn't really work for me in Sheffield either. The hills may not be as high... but they are bloody steep, and that is the reason.0 -
Fair enough SS, although 30x36 for instance gets you up some seriously steep hills while 30X11 is OK off road, albeit a bit spinny but then gravity's always there to help. What i am saying is that it's not the compromise it once was, again unless you do need road gearing.0
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Depends on the bike too, I run a 28/42 with an 11-36, I spend the vast majority of my time in the 42, just drop to the 28 when needed. Saying that I'm not too sure I'd fancy a single ring, may have to try it sometime.
That's on an XC race bike though, if it was a longer travel trail bike, I'd go for a smaller chainset. I've been using doubles for about 4 years now, originally with 44/32, then 42/30 then 40/28 (9 speed), now 42/28 (10 speed), I have to say going smaller has been an improvement each time!0 -
I run a 29t single ring !!! (see my sig). With 11-34. I need it though but as my fitness improves I'll be going up to 32t with a 11-36, hopefully soon.0
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29/11 would do my head in riding to the trails! I worry with a single ring I'd either find myself right at the bottom of the block most of the time, or wouldn't have a low enough gear for when I'm plodding or for really steep climbs.0
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I'm using a 1x9 with a 34t upfront. Perfect for round here, and is fine commuting (ride home is a 2k ft rise). Last 2 miles is a slog uphill, but if anything it's made me fitter. I'd consider a double set up, but i think it'd make me a lazier rider. Plus i hate setting up the front mech!0
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Holy jeebus, that's one third the height of Snowdon (above sea level, not from the start of the trails!) in 1KM? Where the hell was that?unixnerd wrote:Some of us still need a triple. You need a big ring for on road use and downhill, middle ring for tricky singletrack and the little ring for the biggest climbs (I climbed 1100 feet in about 1km yesterday).
I hope you weren't relying on GPS for altitude info 0 -
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its basically the mtb version of the roadies compact.
i use it on my TT bike but i do like having the option of a granny gear on my days out in the dirt, means i get a little bit of a break!
i have thought about changing to a compact but i am trying to find out if SRAM do an X-0 shifter to do just 2 rings? any ideas?0 -
Any shifter will work a double.0
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I run a 36t single ring, and i very rarely spin out.unixnerd wrote:Some of us still need a triple. You need a big ring for on road use and downhill, middle ring for tricky singletrack and the little ring for the biggest climbs (I climbed 1100 feet in about 1km yesterday).
I can't understand why so few folk don't feel the need for a 42/44 big ring. Maybe I'm missing something.......... Don't you just spin out on the fast bits?0 -
I think the change to double rings corresponds with riders changing the trails they ride, with trail centres and riders focusing more on technical downhill riding, rather than sprinting down an open fire road.I just don't need the big ring anymore, and the extra clearance is really handy.Santa Cruz Chameleon
Orange Alpine 1600 -
^ this.
i changed to an slx double and bash about 2 weeks ago and it's awsome, i very rarely used the big ring, only on big downhills where i didn't want to come off and have a chainring stuck in my leg!! 0 -
just droped the big ring today after realizing that the last time i used it was on the road, about 6 months ago.
gonna see how it goes.I like bikes and stuff0
