So.
I switched out the Tiagra with some M8000 XT goodness running a single 34T ring.
Except not sure I like the Q (ride mostly road bikes).
Looking at XTR or Praxis, maybe Force 1.
What else should I be looking at? FSA? RaceFace? Easton?
Want some road type Q factor: 145-155 or so and some weight weenieness.
Gotta be BSA 68mm BB.
Been out of cycling for a bit and not up on the latest greatest.
Figure the guys who fix em know best!
thanks!

Having recently dabbled with a sub-compact conversion of triple to 48-32 FSA, I did not foresee the extra cost of the BB and
necessary BB tools in the conversion. All of your suggestions are 'nice', up to date and may save 4-8 oz in weight but will
require $300-500 to accomplish a 10mm reduction in Q and the mentioned weight over what you have now. You may be
surprised how fast you adapt to the Q factor of the XT you have now.

I used a standard Ultegra crank with a wolf tooth chainring. Works great and I kept the same Q as when the crank was 2x

Yeah, there's plenty of 1x specific chainrings available for most any crank. Your Tiagra crank would've worked fine. A 34 tooth ring seems small for a road bike though. I recently converted my commuter bike from 50-34 ring 11-28 cassette to a 46 ring 11-42 cassette combo. I'd recommend putting your money in a wide range cassette and a clutch type derailleur. Really no need to change the crank. I made a video of my conversion process. Lots of info on gearing comparisons...

thanks folks!
Leaning towards XTR right now as I already got the chain ring.
Was thinking of 7800 but cannot find pics of a 1x.

I would just get a narrow wide, like a USA MAde Sharktooth for the Tiagra crank. Set you back about $30.

If you feel that you must replace the cranks, I would go with SRAM Rival 1. About $140 including an X-Sync narrow-wide ring.

Force 1 is really embracing weight-weenieness, as it shaves about 100g for about $120. Praxis, RaceFace, etc. are all 30mm spindles, so you'll need an M30 BSA BB, which aren't especially cheap, and don't last a super long time-- relative to a typical BSA BB from SRAM, FSA, or Shimano that is $20-30 and will last for tens of thousands of miles.

I've personally never seen the need for a dedicated 1X crank. I've been running an FSA Gossamer for thousands of miles, and ran a Shimano CX70 for thousands before that. The difference in chainline is a matter of millimeters.

If you're not in a hurry....Shimano just announced 1x for gravel with narrow/wide rings and 46/30....both will probably be for roadie q-factor.

https://gravel.shimano.com/en/components/di2-speed/

Shimano, road ? You get a 130 BCD single speed chainring , and if you still have a square taper crank ..

you pick a BB Axle length to get you the chainline you want.. shorter if the chainring is on the outside,
longer, if on the inside

As a double crank, chainline center, is between the 2 rings ..

I have a single ring on the inside + a disc chainguard , on the outside.. (IGH in back wheel for me)









...

Thanks to all who replied!

After much pondering I decided to go with a Praxis 1x. It comes with a 38t so I ordered a Blackspire 34t to go with it.

Basically I wanted true road Q and the Praxis can change from 1x to 2x fairly easily.

I'll see how that works out.

Alba or Zayante?

Zayante Carbon