Got an early start to the weekend on Friday with a climb to Diablo Junction, then over and out to Clayton, up Morgan and home via Alamo with a burger stop at Lawrence's. 70 miles. Diablo and Morgan were car free and bike free, passed a downhill cyclist as I went up Morgan and that was it. On Saturday I did a run into Diablo Foothills to test out the 1X9 with it's chain guard and 4 less links in the chain, it stayed on even during the downhills through the dried cowpocks - not sure about my fillings. Riding the cowpocks on a rigid fork isn't the most fun.
BlastRadius - I considered the derailleur idea but had
this and gave it a shot.