Thinking about going 1 x 9 - anyone else tried?

andyrm

I'm thinking about changing the setup on my Edison to a 1 x 9 with either a 34 or 36 tooth chainring (I already run a 36 as part of a 2 x 9 setup). I'm a strong climber and can count on one hand the amount of times I've used my granny ring in the last 9 months, so reckon it could be a good improvement, in terms of simplicity and also a little bit of weight loss (but that's not a massive factor as the bike is nice & light).

I'm running an 11-34t PG990 cassette and X0 rear mech, thinking of adding the new Superstar XCR single ring chainguide (http://superstar.tibolts.co.uk/product_ ... cts_id=362) and then ditching my left hand X9 gripshift so I just have the right hand one, then switching out to a Propalm full length grip on the left so it matches the short length Propalm grip on the right.

My big question is whether anyone else is running 1 x 9 for all round AM/big XC stuff and how they are finding it?

Anyone got any experience or pointers?

VWsurfbum

Im running a 32t up front with a superstar chain device (awesome) and a PG990 11-34t at the rear, i know its a 29er but i have found it to be just about right most places, even climbing up the hills in afan.
The simplicity and weight loss is just making it awesome

Torres

I'm a big fan of 1x9 at the moment; infact everything except my racy cross country bike only has 1 ring upfront.

I've tried a 34 with an 11-32 cassette and a 32 with an 11-34. Both worked fine for me, but i prefere to stand on the climbs rather than sit and spin. I've used the XCR guide you linked to and for the money i think it's really good. However, for bigger stuff you may benefit from having a bottom roller too, so the plasma guide might be worth a look.

Northwind

If you're barely using the granny then it ought to work (though you might find that those few times you used it, you really seriously needed it!). Also, is your local riding typical of all the riding you do (ie, do you spend all year doing fairly tame climbs then once a year go off to france or scotland for a week of riding up and down actual proper mountains)

lvquestpaddler

I'm running a 32t x 11/32 on my off road only mtb, not had many chain incidents but one of these XCR's looks the biz for an upcoming event for peace of mind. My other more road specced mtb is a (1 x 7) 36t x 11/28t, which is great for on road but I may put the front mech back on and the 22t inner and run it 2x9 for better lower gears. As it's also got a front revoshifter it dumps the chain easy even though the chainline looks fairly central. It's funny but at the moment the 13/28 range is all I really need for a fair range of biking(ie SIX gears). What's all this 30spd nonsense about eh? :shock:
Lot easier to clean the bike eh?

supersonic

It all depends where you ride and how you use your gears. This is why I started the research thread so I can get a flavour of what people are using and their thoughts. I'll post my set ups and thoughts there.

lvquestpaddler

Granny gears are generally a waste of effort and mega heart rate for less than walking speed just so folk can say they rode up something. Better walking....! A 1:1 ratio at the moment is ok for me in most situations(32/32 on the off roader), but 36/28 doesn't give this and it's a cheap way of getting a chain guide on the scrapper to stop it leaping off!!!

supersonic

In your opinion ;-). Walking to me ain't mtbing lol, and I really do like the granny ring up those rocky 1 in 3 climbs (or steeper) that can be very long.

Northwind

lvquestpaddler wrote:

Granny gears are generally a waste of effort and mega heart rate for less than walking speed just so folk can say they rode up something. Better walking....

And since you're walking, why even bother bringing a bike eh :? It's going riding not going walking, if you're happy pushing up then that's fine but most people want to ride their bikes.

Also, the granny ring gives low gears that don't drop to walking pace- you don't have to go straight to the 22/34 you know, you're allowed to use the other ones

cooldad

I love my granny.

andyrm

I live in Bristol and ride Afan at least twice a month, Cwmcarn more than that, highlands and a couple of trips to the Alps each year. Even out there and in Cali the granny was redundant to be honest, and the only time I've used it has been with slower groups, so it's a social grace rather than an actual requirement. I weigh 11 and a bit stone and am lucky to have spent 10 years swimming at high level so my fitness reflects it. I've just come to the conclusion it's probably worth a try - so has anyone had any problems or issues arising or is it all plain sailing?

phz

Have posted details of my bikes in the 'research' thread, but even as an unfit bloater I've come to the conclusion that for the UK at least (certainly where I've ridden - the flatness round here, Dalby & the Highlands - am off to Wales in May to further test my hypothesis) 1x9 is good enough for most bikes and most situations. This does assume though, that -

1 You aren't a 'competitive' cyclist on an overly light or overly heavy specialist machine.

2 You experiment to come up with the chainring and cassette combo that works for you and your riding style.

slainte rob

Fenred

1x9 32t and 11-34 bash and jump-stop. Never spun out, never craved any other gears and never dropped the chain.Tried a 36t ring but deffo prefer 32t but as Rob says above experiment and go with what works for you.

Supersonic - Where is the research thread please?

andyrm

Cheers guys!

Reckon I'll give a 34 a run first out then. I'll keep everyone updated as to how it progresses.

ilovedirt

I have been running 1x9 with a 36t up front for well over a year now, and It's great. The superstar XCR top guide isn't great though, the chain tends to jump off and get stuck in there, i've heard better things about the e-thirteen one. I've been running the superstar laser guide for over a year, and that's really good, a bit weighty and not the prettiest chain guide, but it's never dropped the chain once. Failing that, the plasma guide is meant to be really good too, and a fair bit lighter and prettier than the laser guide, think i'll end up getting one of those at some point.

As for the 1x9, i've ridden a few trail centres on it (sherwood pines, glentress, inners, marin, coed y brenin) and i've managed to get round fine, a little slower than some people in places, but i rarely get off and push, mainly on the really steep, loose climbs where it's more about the traction. I've also done a bit of natural riding around snowdonia, and again, I have had to get off and push, but I always tend to manage to keep up with the guys on the granny ring, you just have to crank a bit harder, generally if i'm pushing, a good few other people are as well. (not blowing my trumpet, it's generally just an issue of traction rather than how steep the hill is, if you're relatively fit).

mikezer0

I've been thinking about 1x9 too... This is probably a dumb question but would I need to get a new crank in order to run a single chainring, or can you just strip off the two you don't want to use and get some shorter bolts?

supersonic

You can just ditch the chainrings like you say.

Frodo1095

Been running a 1 x 9 on my HT for the last few months and must say I am really loving it.
Running a 32t up front and 11 - 34 out back, have been looking at going 1 x 10 as I am not a really strong climber but I havent had to get off and push on any climbs as yet.
It has ven encouraged me to work more on my hill climbing and I am seeing a few little improvements.

See images from my Chameleon in the signature.