Official Specialized Crosstrail owners thread
#1001
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Stoopid newbie question for an old bike, I've searched and I'm not finding answers: I want to convert my (build date Feb 2018) CT to a 1X. I've been riding it exclusively on the middle front chainring (38T), so now I'd like to go to a single front chainring and upgrade the rear probably to AdventX. I am confused about how to fit a new front ring? Is the 3X front a direct mount? (Sorry, not fully schooled on all terminology) If so, is there consideration for spacing/offset?
And if not, what all do I need to fit a single up front?
This has the 68mm BB, square taper. Guess I'll also need new cranks... Obviously I'll need a new chain as well.
Thanks for any guidance.
(And before anyone advises to just leave the front alone, I would, but this is kind of my play/learn/project bike so I want to noodle with it.)
And if not, what all do I need to fit a single up front?
This has the 68mm BB, square taper. Guess I'll also need new cranks... Obviously I'll need a new chain as well.
Thanks for any guidance.
(And before anyone advises to just leave the front alone, I would, but this is kind of my play/learn/project bike so I want to noodle with it.)
Anyhow, yes it is possible to change it to a 1x system. Regarding your crank, chances are you have a riveted crankset, so you will not be able to change the chainrings. You can attempt to find an Alivio to change to a 1x system as I did on my SubCross, or you can just purchase a Shimano Deore 1x crankset. Either or will require you to change bottom bracket since neither uses square taper. BUT....There are 1x square taper cranksets out there. Example click here
Regarding the Advent X, it's a great system that I installed on my prior hard tail mountain bike. Be aware that the shifter is a push push shifter. Meaning you don't push and pull like the Shimano's to shift gears. Personally I like the push push system better, but just got used to it since mountain biking, the one finger is for breaks and thumb is for shifting.
Also, Advent X is designed to work with the 11-48 cassettes, so it won't be a super smooth shifting between gears, but it shifts good and is a solid system.
Hope it helps, I thought it was fun to change the drivetrain out and have a much smoother shifting system without having to fuss with the front derailleur any longer. I hardly ever used the front derailleur and rather the gear range in the back.

Last edited by travbikeman; 07-24-23 at 01:52 PM.
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#1002
Newbie
I was considering to change my Crosstrail out to a 1x system, but sold it and bought a bike that is a bit better sized for me. It is very similar to the Crosstrail, just the right size large instead of medium. I did convert it over to a 1x system about 2 years ago.
Anyhow, yes it is possible to change it to a 1x system. Regarding your crank, chances are you have a riveted crankset, so you will not be able to change the chainrings. You can attempt to find an Alivio to change to a 1x system as I did on my SubCross, or you can just purchase a Shimano Deore 1x crankset. Either or will require you to change bottom bracket since neither uses square taper. BUT....There are 1x square taper cranksets out there. Example click here
Regarding the Advent X, it's a great system that I installed on my prior hard tail mountain bike. Be aware that the shifter is a push push shifter. Meaning you don't push and pull like the Shimano's to shift gears. Personally I like the push push system better, but just got used to it since mountain biking, the one finger is for breaks and thumb is for shifting.
Also, Advent X is designed to work with the 11-48 cassettes, so it won't be a super smooth shifting between gears, but it shifts good and is a solid system.
Hope it helps, I thought it was fun to change the drivetrain out and have a much smoother shifting system without having to fuss with the front derailleur any longer. I hardly ever used the front derailleur and rather the gear range in the back.
Anyhow, yes it is possible to change it to a 1x system. Regarding your crank, chances are you have a riveted crankset, so you will not be able to change the chainrings. You can attempt to find an Alivio to change to a 1x system as I did on my SubCross, or you can just purchase a Shimano Deore 1x crankset. Either or will require you to change bottom bracket since neither uses square taper. BUT....There are 1x square taper cranksets out there. Example click here
Regarding the Advent X, it's a great system that I installed on my prior hard tail mountain bike. Be aware that the shifter is a push push shifter. Meaning you don't push and pull like the Shimano's to shift gears. Personally I like the push push system better, but just got used to it since mountain biking, the one finger is for breaks and thumb is for shifting.
Also, Advent X is designed to work with the 11-48 cassettes, so it won't be a super smooth shifting between gears, but it shifts good and is a solid system.
Hope it helps, I thought it was fun to change the drivetrain out and have a much smoother shifting system without having to fuss with the front derailleur any longer. I hardly ever used the front derailleur and rather the gear range in the back.
I was not aware of the push-push of the AdventX. I will see if they have any bikes with that system I can try, every bike I've had was fitted with the push-pull shifter.
Thank you again!
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#1003
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So I just picked up yesterday a new to me 2009 Crosstrail Sport. It is in great shape but needs a good tune up. There are a few local shops that I have as options so i'm not too worried about that. My big question is that I want to convert to a 1x. I asked the shops over the phone about cost and have gotten some varied responses as in "depending on what level you want" and " we have to see what I have in stock". Ultimately one shop stated that depending on chainlink that I would want, it could be anywhere from 40-80 just for the part. So my question is... should I just follow true to youtube and get the one that I see being used on every video from Amazon and do it myself quick before taking for service and then when they adjust tune up everything it is done?
The left 3x shifter is shot and instead of replacing and having to deal with the front derailer I could simply just get rid of it all and do the job fairly cheap where if I had the shop do it, it would be from the sounds of it close to $100
Thoughts?
The left 3x shifter is shot and instead of replacing and having to deal with the front derailer I could simply just get rid of it all and do the job fairly cheap where if I had the shop do it, it would be from the sounds of it close to $100
Thoughts?
#1004
Newbie
So I just picked up yesterday a new to me 2009 Crosstrail Sport. It is in great shape but needs a good tune up. There are a few local shops that I have as options so i'm not too worried about that. My big question is that I want to convert to a 1x. I asked the shops over the phone about cost and have gotten some varied responses as in "depending on what level you want" and " we have to see what I have in stock". Ultimately one shop stated that depending on chainlink that I would want, it could be anywhere from 40-80 just for the part. So my question is... should I just follow true to youtube and get the one that I see being used on every video from Amazon and do it myself quick before taking for service and then when they adjust tune up everything it is done?
The left 3x shifter is shot and instead of replacing and having to deal with the front derailer I could simply just get rid of it all and do the job fairly cheap where if I had the shop do it, it would be from the sounds of it close to $100
Thoughts?
The left 3x shifter is shot and instead of replacing and having to deal with the front derailer I could simply just get rid of it all and do the job fairly cheap where if I had the shop do it, it would be from the sounds of it close to $100
Thoughts?
- Rear cassette, assuming you find one that fits your rear hub. If needed, you may need a new rear hub + labor to set up your wheel.
- Rear derailleur.
- New shifter for the rear + cable/housing.
- Front 1X chainring.
- New crankset.
- Possibly a new bottom bracket.
- New chain.
#1005
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For some context, in my research of going to 1X will cost at least $200 for new parts. You can do it for far less (eg keep existing front triple chainring, find used parts). Otherwise you're looking at:
- Rear cassette, assuming you find one that fits your rear hub. If needed, you may need a new rear hub + labor to set up your wheel.
- Rear derailleur.
- New shifter for the rear + cable/housing.
- Front 1X chainring.
- New crankset.
- Possibly a new bottom bracket.
- New chain.
40T chainring
crank pulling tools
new brakes with lines
new shifter with lines
bike multi tool
bike degreaser
chain
chain lube
grips
chain guide
All for under $100 dollars. This is not going to be a high test bike. It is going to be a rail trail riding dad bike. I will be doing all of the labor. I will keep tabs on what i'm doing and post a finalized post on here. I'm still planning on taking to a shop for a one over/tune up to make sure everything is okay.
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#1006
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Everything other than the "trail" triggers are push-pull; the "trail" triggers are push-push.
I'm currently using an Advent derailleur with a Sunrace 11-40 cassette in the back, with a 34T ring on the front, on a light duty MTB, to play around again with 1x stuff. This is "good enough" range for me. I'd prefer more, but I like the economics of the 9-speed stuff. I like Sunrace's 11-40 cassette because of its familiarity -- it's basically a traditional 11-28 7-speed (with the gear steps we all know and perhaps grew up with), but with a 34T 8th sprocket and a 40T 9th sprocket. Microshift sells an 11-42 cassette in the Advent line which otherwise has the same gearing as the Sunrace 11-40, but with a 42T large sprocket instead of a 40T. They also sell an 11-46 cassette, which I actually have but am not currently using...its gear steps are certainly much larger and I think it works okay in certain circumstances, but not in others.
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For what it's worth, most of the Advent (9-speed) shfiters are push-pull if you prefer that:
Everything other than the "trail" triggers are push-pull; the "trail" triggers are push-push.
I'm currently using an Advent derailleur with a Sunrace 11-40 cassette in the back, with a 34T ring on the front, on a light duty MTB, to play around again with 1x stuff. This is "good enough" range for me. I'd prefer more, but I like the economics of the 9-speed stuff. I like Sunrace's 11-40 cassette because of its familiarity -- it's basically a traditional 11-28 7-speed (with the gear steps we all know and perhaps grew up with), but with a 34T 8th sprocket and a 40T 9th sprocket. Microshift sells an 11-42 cassette in the Advent line which otherwise has the same gearing as the Sunrace 11-40, but with a 42T large sprocket instead of a 40T. They also sell an 11-46 cassette, which I actually have but am not currently using...its gear steps are certainly much larger and I think it works okay in certain circumstances, but not in others.
Everything other than the "trail" triggers are push-pull; the "trail" triggers are push-push.
I'm currently using an Advent derailleur with a Sunrace 11-40 cassette in the back, with a 34T ring on the front, on a light duty MTB, to play around again with 1x stuff. This is "good enough" range for me. I'd prefer more, but I like the economics of the 9-speed stuff. I like Sunrace's 11-40 cassette because of its familiarity -- it's basically a traditional 11-28 7-speed (with the gear steps we all know and perhaps grew up with), but with a 34T 8th sprocket and a 40T 9th sprocket. Microshift sells an 11-42 cassette in the Advent line which otherwise has the same gearing as the Sunrace 11-40, but with a 42T large sprocket instead of a 40T. They also sell an 11-46 cassette, which I actually have but am not currently using...its gear steps are certainly much larger and I think it works okay in certain circumstances, but not in others.
#1008
Road Runner
My Crosstrail is from 2013, the first year for this model if I'm not mistaken. I have the top-line Comp Disc model with a SRAM X7 2x10 drivetrain. While doing routine maintenance today I noticed that the chainring and cassette teeth are getting worn and maybe it would be worth replacing them over the winter. After getting my Vado SL e-bike I had assumed that I'd be disposing of this bike, but find that I still enjoy riding it enough to be worth keeping!
Anyway, replacing the cassette will be no problem, as the PG-1030 11-36 cassette is widely available. But I'm not sure how to go about getting the correct chainrings. It's a 48/32 set, but there seem to be a wide variety of cranksets and chainrings for various SRAM configurations. Does anyone know offhand the specifications for what I should look for? It's a 4-bolt outer chainring with the smaller ring attached inside that one. I'm not too familiar with these components and could use some help figuring it out. I don't want to buy a new crankset -- just some compatible chainrings.
Anyway, replacing the cassette will be no problem, as the PG-1030 11-36 cassette is widely available. But I'm not sure how to go about getting the correct chainrings. It's a 48/32 set, but there seem to be a wide variety of cranksets and chainrings for various SRAM configurations. Does anyone know offhand the specifications for what I should look for? It's a 4-bolt outer chainring with the smaller ring attached inside that one. I'm not too familiar with these components and could use some help figuring it out. I don't want to buy a new crankset -- just some compatible chainrings.
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