Originally Posted by
DeadGrandpa
I have been trying to digest the information on the lower gearing thread, especially regarding what I understand to be 'add-on' devices to enhance shifting.
I have been struggling with my own SRAM XX1 quandary, trying to make the 1 x 11 system work as a 2 x 11. And finding out why SRAM has said the 10-42 will only work as a 1 x.
But my bike mechanic just got back from a SRAM dealer show of some sort, and he said they showed a new long cage derailleur (forgot to note the model) that is supposed to work for a 2 x 11. I asked him to order one for me and it should be in later this week. Hopefully this will make the difference, and if so then Shimano will likely be not far behind.
I am currently using the XX1 cassette with a Rival RD, but as a 2x with a Shimano Sora road triple crank (9 speed, but with two 11 speed chain rings installed on it, 26T and 38T, since 26T is the smallest chain ring that will fit given the outside diameter of the BB). This gives me about a 17 gear inch low granny gear.
Hi DeadGrandpa,
Wasn't trying to be rude but I can't reply to your PM my post count isn't high enough.
The market has a lot of different add-on that I considered.The Shiftmate wasn't applicable to my case since I'm running Shimano's Di2. If I want to mix component groups my only choice was to run parallel systems which was an option but an expensive one. So I went with the "Goat Link", a cheap step to lower gearing. It allowed me to go from 32T to 40T on my existing rear derailleur. Down from 29 to 23 gear inches, no cross chaining allowed though.
I would be interest in seeing what Sram came up with. Unless they've done something radical that's going to have to be a LONG cage on that derailleur. The problem is that mfg are only going to build a product that can be ran in all gear combinations large/large, small/small. Which runs us up into the same problem that we currently face. I took a look at Srams website and their 1x11 system rear derailleur pretty much has a 32T range. While Shimano's Ultegra 2x11 road group has a max of 37T. If Sram comes out with a 2x11 with only a 10T difference in the front chain rings that means their rear derailleur will have to have a 42T capacity.
In my search rather than going a triple and dual Di2 systems, I finally decided to bit the bullet and go with the Sclumpf on the new touring frame. Don't get me wrong the Schlumpf is expensive but when I decided to build up my "Ultimate Touring" bike I decided that absolute lowest gear range was a top priority. I'm not a strong climber so I finally got tired of always looking for one lower gear and instead drop in 8 lower gears. My gearing is so low that I've only successfully ridden down to 14". Will have to wait and see for the three below that as they're going to take so major balancing practice. On the other hand my knees aren't screaming on 8%+ grades anymore. Haven't quite gotten my balance down good enough to tackle the 10%+ going that slow but I'm working on it.
My other reasoning for the Schlumpf was when I wear out the two rear cassettes, two sets of wheels winter/summer, I already have if I can't use 12,11,9 gear inches I'll just swap out with a normal road cassette, remove the road link, remove the 4 links from my chain and be right back to a stock Shimano Ultegra gear setup but still have a 12" low gear.
I posted a picture to "Pictures of your loaded rig" for anyone that wants to get a laugh and a reason for my quest for the ultimate low gear.
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