Santa Cruz Superlight convertion to 2x10 gearing
twonks
Posts: 352
After a lot of threads searching and posting by me, I have now finally upgraded to a 2x10 setup on my bike.
This thread is intended to be a bit of advice for others thinking about the same, and will hopefully avoid some of the headaches I faced when others attempt the same.
I went 2x10 as the existing 8sp was worn out and I had some spare cash.
Opted for XTR M970 cranks as I got the set very reasonably priced.
The rings are Blackspire 26t inner (M970 specific so do not need the spacers) and a 38t Blackspire middle.
These shift well and appear to function correctly with the 10sp chain.
I used the washers on the outer side of the middle ring so it gave to bolts more surface area to nip down onto and spread the load -and also so I could re use the original bolts without spending yet more money.
Front mech is XT 9sp.
Shifters, cassette (11-36) and rear mech are all 10sp specific XT.
The only thing to watch is that with the standard external bottom bracket 2 spacers on the drive side, the chain catches on the swing arm as it is shifted up and down from and to the inner ring.
This is solved by using another spacer on the drive side, but i wouldn't want ot go any wider as the bottom bkt cup would then have no meat left to screw into.
Pictures tell the story so here goes.
Any questions please ask
This thread is intended to be a bit of advice for others thinking about the same, and will hopefully avoid some of the headaches I faced when others attempt the same.
I went 2x10 as the existing 8sp was worn out and I had some spare cash.
Opted for XTR M970 cranks as I got the set very reasonably priced.
The rings are Blackspire 26t inner (M970 specific so do not need the spacers) and a 38t Blackspire middle.
These shift well and appear to function correctly with the 10sp chain.
I used the washers on the outer side of the middle ring so it gave to bolts more surface area to nip down onto and spread the load -and also so I could re use the original bolts without spending yet more money.
Front mech is XT 9sp.
Shifters, cassette (11-36) and rear mech are all 10sp specific XT.
The only thing to watch is that with the standard external bottom bracket 2 spacers on the drive side, the chain catches on the swing arm as it is shifted up and down from and to the inner ring.
This is solved by using another spacer on the drive side, but i wouldn't want ot go any wider as the bottom bkt cup would then have no meat left to screw into.
Pictures tell the story so here goes.
Any questions please ask
0
Comments
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Bit hard to tell from the pics but it looks like you have the same sort of issue I did when running 2x with a front mech designed for a triple, but because you have elevated chainstays it isn't such a problem.
It looks like the cage is more than 3mm above the ring & doesn't follow the chain ring radius well, but if it changes ok then that's what matters.
On mine with normal chainstays the longer triple cage would foul the chainstay in the ideal position, if I moved it up then there was a chance it would lose the chain under shifting.
Once I moved to a double mech it works & looks a whole lot crisper, with the XX mech I get zero rub in either ring.
Good job on your conversion though.
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cheers for the reply.
I've only just realised that the front mech is sat rather high... oops.
Will go and have a look now as tbh I didn't give it too much thought at the time.0
