What's more $? The 1-by chainring is $40 ish. Take off the FD (and sell it heh) and you're good to go.

Just my 2c. I have 1-by on my cross bike and my winter bike and I think it's great.

Yes. crank length. I may need to recuse myself as unlike most of my posts, I don't know much here. :lol:

Just seem torque is much more important than spin.

gotcha ... i'll stick with the 175 for now, since it is what i have sitting around.

Without a chainguide you need a clutched RD. Chainguide or new RD = $

True for downhill gnar or bouncing your bike over barriers. For trail commuting and winter riding a regular road RD works fine. My winter bike has a narrow-wide chainring, Rival road RD and a cheapie bash guard but no inner catcher and I don't think it's ever dropped the chain. Narrow-wide chainrings are cool. In combination with a clutch RD you can drop the bike off the roof and the chain will stay on.

I'm a 1-by proselytizer, I know...

except when there is mud.

(and i'm a 1x guy)

I love my XX-1 but I've been happy with a double on my cross bike

Luddite. Does it have downtube shifters?

You say that like it's a bad thing...

46x38 on 130 BCD cranks is what I use. I recommend a 12-30 cassette for that setup, if you can find one. You can still make a short cage dérailleur work with a 30T. 32 is dodgy.

I've never bought this idea that you should ride longer cranks off-road. I think keeping a consistent fit and matching crank length to your needs is more important. Another 5mm doesn't give you much more torque. You can gear down for a much larger increase in torque than what you'll get from longer cranks.

It's an Eroica thing.

I need some suggestions on shoes. I've been wearing DMT size 43 (Radial and the old Prisma) for the last 4 years, and both have fit me like a glove.

The Prisma has a proprietary rachet system that requires an annual replacement, and there's a limited supply of these rachets. The Radial is great for most things except the forefoot stub makes it difficult to clip in (sucks majorly for crits). There's also the issue of significant outsole wear as there is a lot of carbon fiber showing at the heel.

Unfortunately, the DMT Vega in size 43 is exceedingly hard to find, and while i can probably get the DMT hydra (one Boa instead of two), i'd prefer something slightly nicer (read, two Boa dials). The Diadora Vortex Pro shoes i just bought seems a bit short vertically in the toe box, though width-wise it seems okay. Anyone else has suggestions on what else i could try? Any takes on Gaerne, Garneaus, etc?

love my sworks shoes.

I have a 1x set up with a regular Rival RD, but I have a guard and K-Edge chain keeper.

My wife runs a 46-38 setup, but she thinks she wants to go to a 1x setup because she never changes gears up front.

+1

Me too.

I actually don't like mine. They seemed narrow so I bought half a size larger. Now that they are somewhat broken in I feel like my feet are swimming in them. Size 10 / 43 in everything... 43.5 in Sworks... and they aren't white so maybe that's why I hate them.

thanks for the suggestion; too bad S-works shoes never go on sale; oh well...

Do your Brooks Brothers suits go on sale?

Sworks shoes do go on sale at the end of the season but sizes and colors are limited. Keep in mind that Sworks have a lifetime guarantee.

You should probably describe your shoe size before asking for recommendations.

Recommending shoes is like recommending girlfriends/boyfriends. Somebody's perfect match might be somebody else's worst nightmare.

He does it for his loafers.

i don't have a Brooks suit, sorry to disappoint you.

size 43, right foot larger than left
my Allen Edmonds loafers are "factory seconds" bought on steep discount

sounds like more of a problem with your order than the shoes.

for [MENTION=165838]echappist[/MENTION]...if the SW is too spendy, they do make a pro version that is pretty similar, but i suspect at least part of the issue is getting a "value" (=sale) on whatever item, not the absolute cost.

too bad your feet are not a hair smaller...i could kick you a pair of my older ones with plenty of life left.
[MENTION=196014]shovelhd[/MENTION]'s point is a good one. on a per-hour basis -- and for how important they are -- the cost of good shoes amortizes down to nothing pretty quick.

[MENTION=196014]shovelhd[/MENTION]....for you!
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If the wide sworks were wide enough I would get a pair..going to just get a new pair of Sidi's when the bike shop ive started going to more starts carrying them