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Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 208
Bikes: 2018 Jamis Renegade Exploit, 1996 Trek 930, mid-90's Dean El Diente, 2010 Scott Addict SL, 1998 Trek 730, Xtracycle EdgeRunner 30D, Xtracycle Swoop, 1992 Trek 790
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1x11 on small frame feels "stiff" at extremes
I bought my son a used Scott Scale RC24. It has a 1x11 SRAM drivetrain. Everything spins smoothly individually - hub, freewheel, bottom bracket and cranks - and the chain is properly lubed, but at the extreme ends of the cassette, the entire drivetrain feels stiff, as though there's extra friction somewhere when I turn the pedals.
I'm wondering if the problem is the steep angle of the chain due to the short chainstays (24" wheel frame), combined with the width of the 1x11, especially because it feels smoother with the chain in the middle of the cassette. Is this an issue with 1x systems generally? Any other ideas on what might cause this feeling? Anything I can do to improve it?