Originally Posted by
Fat Boy
Not running a 1x9, but a 1x8. 39 up front and an 11-32 cassette. On most courses last year my top speed was ~20mph. If I want to spin, I'm completely capable of running the 39-11 to 35mph. I can't see having to do that more than once or maybe twice a season. I can see having to hit the tractor gear many times, though. Depending on what the courses are like that you race on, I'd see what I could do to get more teeth on the back. I think you can run a Shimano rear derailler with a Travel Agent type of thing and make it work with Campy shifters.
I've definitely used the 36/26 in a race last year. Anything steeper and I probably can't ride it anyway, but given how much I've been on a mountain bike recently, maybe the gearing will be the difference. I might look into a shiftmate, or converting to 9speed shimano could be easy-ish