1x___ drivetrains
09-24-14 | 06:55 PM
#26
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My Breezer came to me in 1x7. Since I upgraded the rear wheel to one that accepts cassettes, it is now 1x8. I'm not sure I would necessarily build up a bike from scratch with a 1x drivetrain. 1x8 though with a 36T chainring and 12-32 cassette works fine up and down the hills on my commute. I never miss a low ring and seldom miss a high ring. The spacing between gears isn't optimal, but who the hell wants to get to work faster? Me, I like to take my time getting to work 
09-24-14 | 06:55 PM
#27
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09-24-14 | 10:57 PM
#29
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For a commute bike, I can't see a normal load that would require a granny range. Of course there's always the carpenter that needs four power saws and two different hammers---but he probably drives a truck anyway.
Big gear is only for the wheeeeeeee factor. Doesn't do much for overall time to destination if you leave late.
09-25-14 | 02:28 AM
#30
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From: Minneapolis
Considering that I ride a fixed gear for a good chunk of the year and considering that most kids get around on a single-speed just fine, a 1 X set up is usually plenty adequate. Depends on your terain of course.
09-25-14 | 09:09 AM
#31
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From: Lexington, VA USA
Bikes: --2010 Jamis 650b1-- 2016 Cervelo R2-- 2018 Salsa Journeyman 650B
i think a 1x _ would be interesting. FYxation makes the quiver I beleive with a 1X10 and that intrigues me. I would really want to ride one here where I live to see if it would work. I ride a compact gearing right now.
09-25-14 | 04:01 PM
#32
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I'm building my mom a bike like this so she doesn't have to think about chaindrop. I had a wreck cause my chain dropped while turning and I ran into something huge, not going into details here. It hurt cause the bars when straight into my chest and left a red bruise for two weeks, I also went into the ground sideways since I was in my clips. I'm sure it was kinda funny to spectators. Needless to say I told her this and she was considering not biking at all so I came up with a 1x7 setup for her. Also, I no longer trust volunteer bike shops in my neighborhood. I went to sheldonbrown.com and learned how tune my derailleurs. I have not had a problem since.
09-25-14 | 04:38 PM
#33
Lots of folks running 1x for cross for weight considerations. Cross bikes run narrowish gearing because they don't get up to high road speeds,and at low speeds they generally wind up carrying the bike. For me,living on top of a hill,I'll stick with 3x or at least 2x drivetrains.
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09-25-14 | 04:46 PM
#34
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From: Hopkins, Minnesota
Bikes: 2013 Surly Crosscheck, 1990 Schwinn Impact, 1973 Schwinn Continental
One thing to consider is that if you don't use a bashguard or chain guide, it's pretty easy to drop the chain on a 1xn. The rear derailleur throws it right off the chainring unless you slow you pedaling way down for a second. So you might want to consider a bashguard or chain guide. I didn't want that, because I like being able to wipe off my chainring, so I just got used to letting way up on the pedals every shift.
09-26-14 | 02:02 PM
#35
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One thing to consider is that if you don't use a bashguard or chain guide, it's pretty easy to drop the chain on a 1xn. The rear derailleur throws it right off the chainring unless you slow you pedaling way down for a second. So you might want to consider a bashguard or chain guide. I didn't want that, because I like being able to wipe off my chainring, so I just got used to letting way up on the pedals every shift.
09-26-14 | 02:11 PM
#36
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Sorry if I'm repeating someone here, but 1x drivetrains simplify shifting greatly. You don't have to do double shifts, and you don't have to calculate which way to do them. Up is up, and down is down, and that's all.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
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“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
09-26-14 | 07:39 PM
#37
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Last edited by Sullalto; 09-26-14 at 07:56 PM.
09-27-14 | 12:36 AM
#38
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From: North County San Diego
I'm sort of confused why mountain bikes went 1x first before road bikes.
The gear range needed for MTB's (and touring bikes and hybrids) is very wide and thus favors triples, even if they're finicky. 3x9 systems have, effectively, 13 well-spaced ratios. You hang out in the middle ring most of the time and if you need to go to the high or low range it's a nice double shift. The 2x systems by comparison have a huge awkward 4-step jump between the big and small ring, and they are often cross chained, because the middle ring is missing. I suppose the idea is to hang out in the top ring til you really need the granny. The 1x11 systems don't cover the range so they just outright sacrifice two or three ratios - whether on top or bottom depending on your chainring choice.
By comparison on the road, a single 44 ring with an 11-N cassette compares very favorably to a 2x7 system, and beats the snot out of a 2x5 system.
The gear range needed for MTB's (and touring bikes and hybrids) is very wide and thus favors triples, even if they're finicky. 3x9 systems have, effectively, 13 well-spaced ratios. You hang out in the middle ring most of the time and if you need to go to the high or low range it's a nice double shift. The 2x systems by comparison have a huge awkward 4-step jump between the big and small ring, and they are often cross chained, because the middle ring is missing. I suppose the idea is to hang out in the top ring til you really need the granny. The 1x11 systems don't cover the range so they just outright sacrifice two or three ratios - whether on top or bottom depending on your chainring choice.
By comparison on the road, a single 44 ring with an 11-N cassette compares very favorably to a 2x7 system, and beats the snot out of a 2x5 system.
As far as commuting I think plenty of people could get by with a 1x9 setup. Most probably don't care about downhill speed but rather ease in climbing trumps that.
09-27-14 | 02:52 AM
#39
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Based on nothing I always thought this was because the full suspension bikes had a hard time keeping the front derailleur lined up. My Sugar 3 suffered terribly from chain suck when you hit bumps. I also would question whether modern downhill riders like the kind you see at Lake Tahoe ski resorts in the summertime ever do any climbing. Again based solely on the thoughts in my head i thought they rode the lift up and biked back down so could use a narrower range than XC riders.
09-27-14 | 06:12 AM
#40
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09-28-14 | 09:44 AM
#41
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From: Saint Louis
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So can I just use any old single crank with a rear derailleur, or are some suited better than others? I'm starting from a bare frame, so it's pretty much a blank canvas.
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09-28-14 | 11:14 AM
#42
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From: Central Illinois
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Even when I had a 3x8 setup I rarely ever used the smaller chainrings. 42 front chainring and 12-34 cassette covers all ranges for me. There is some cross chaining with the 34 and 28 cassette gears, but I don't use them very often. I like the 1 x __ setup. Just about every bike I had got converted.
09-28-14 | 11:23 AM
#43
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A benefit of an IHG for commuting is when you hit a red light that you planned to blow through the Yellow in high gear, 
but had to hit the brakes instead, still in that high gear .. you can downshift, stopped, while you are waiting for the light to change..
but had to hit the brakes instead, still in that high gear .. you can downshift, stopped, while you are waiting for the light to change..
09-28-14 | 07:18 PM
#44
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From: Memphis, TN
Yes, this is a huge benefit. I do this all the time. I'm on a Nexus 8 and would sorely miss this feature if I ever had to go back to derailleur gearing for my commuter.
09-30-14 | 01:04 PM
#46
ride for a change
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From: Minneapolis, MN
Bikes: Surly Cross-check & Moonlander, Pivot Mach 429, Ted Wojcik Sof-Trac, Ridley Orion. Santa Cruz Stigmata
Being in Minne-flat-opolis a single speed was plenty for me for year but now I run a 1x8 Afline IGH year round on my commuter as my old knee joints prefer a few gear options. I use a 42t ring on the inside of a road double crankset with a bash guard on the outer ring for a bit of pants protection. A 1x set up has never been easier to get into considering whats available these days. you have a lot of options and can get a pretty wide gear range.
09-30-14 | 01:16 PM
#47
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Since you mentioned blank canvas, I'lll mention that some of the latest model rear derailleurs are made specifically to handle the 1x set up for mountain biking, they have a clutch system with helps reduce chain bounce and suck as well as basically eliminating the need for a chain keeper on the front ring. Pretty cool. But, that might be overkill for a commuter bike but it is an option.
Being in Minne-flat-opolis a single speed was plenty for me for year but now I run a 1x8 Afline IGH year round on my commuter as my old knee joints prefer a few gear options. I use a 42t ring on the inside of a road double crankset with a bash guard on the outer ring for a bit of pants protection. A 1x set up has never been easier to get into considering whats available these days. you have a lot of options and can get a pretty wide gear range.
Being in Minne-flat-opolis a single speed was plenty for me for year but now I run a 1x8 Afline IGH year round on my commuter as my old knee joints prefer a few gear options. I use a 42t ring on the inside of a road double crankset with a bash guard on the outer ring for a bit of pants protection. A 1x set up has never been easier to get into considering whats available these days. you have a lot of options and can get a pretty wide gear range.
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09-30-14 | 02:01 PM
#48
ride for a change
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That might be the case now I'm not sure, This was probably 5-6 years ago, I wanted the Red Band Nexus or the Alfine as I heard at the time that they were of a higher quality. I happened upon a local deal from a guy who built it new alpine rear wheel for a project and then changed his mind. So I'm not running disk brakes as my frame isn't compatible. But I am running the j-tek bar end shifter though which is the best. Im sure you've researched the upsides and the downsides of the IGH, but I think for a town bike/commuter/all weather bike it's a good set up.
10-01-14 | 02:15 PM
#49
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From: Minneapolis, MN
Bikes: '14 Crossrip LTD (summer) '98 Cannondale F500 (winter)
I'm looking at doing this as well; I've been eyeballing the new SRAM CX1 set up. I've never used the smaller chainring, and would prefer to have a bash guard of some sort for the occasional times I bike in pants.
No local bike shops have any bikes equipped with this drivetrain yet, and I'm not about to drop that kind of coin without first taking it for a test run. Most shops are expecting to have bikes with the CX1 by next spring, so that'll give me the winter to wait impatiently.
No local bike shops have any bikes equipped with this drivetrain yet, and I'm not about to drop that kind of coin without first taking it for a test run. Most shops are expecting to have bikes with the CX1 by next spring, so that'll give me the winter to wait impatiently.
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