Originally Posted by
DirtRoadRunner
I think the CX1 would be fine if you live in a flatter area, but is definitely a bit of a compromise in gearing range if you live somewhere hilly. It would not work well around here where we have hills of many different grades and heights. But I think it would be great for flatter riding and really like the 1X platform that SRAM is promoting.
Totally agree on hydraulic brakes - I'm sure they stop great and all, but there is no reason to Rude Goldberg a bicycle when the primary limiting factor in braking is adhesion between the tire and riding surface anyway. Brake fluid eats paint and is hazardous to your skin. Performance is severely reduced if there is any air at all in the system (coming from someone who has repaired lots of automotive brakes - great on my car, but complication I never want on my bicycle). I haven't had to touch my wide-angle canti's in the past year, other than cleaning grime off the pads and rim.
It's mostly flat here but I do venture to the hills some of the time, but I was thinking that my current low ratio is 34x32... if I went with a 40 ring on CX1 and got an 11-36 cassette, my low ratio would be almost identical. I'd give up a little top end but I don't use those gears anyway.
I have hydros on my MTB and they're great (Shimano)... I just don't want to deal with DOT or even SRAM hydros ever again
