1x11 conversion

[ciarsciars]

Easy for you to say,  Mr Savagey McSavageface


Well maybe 30 up front then:) I guess it depends on the bike too and what kinda riding the OP will be doing.

[ruth:D]

Keep your existing groupset, just swap front chainrings for a narrow wide 32, assuming you've a 36 on the back you should be fine for most stuff.

Easy for you to say,  Mr Savagey McSavageface

Yeah, might take that one with a pinch of salt As always there is alot more for me to understand about these things than would first appear!


I think I am going to have to toughen up the ol' legs either way but will be hoping not lose too much on the high end or the low end. Thinking 32 is a safe middle ground for me.


After swotting up: the cheaper option; could get a 32t Raceface n/w or absolute black oval assuming these will work on my current Raceface cranks. Stick with 10spd and get 11-42 Sunrace cassette. Same ratio that I would get spending another €200; whole new XT 11spd drivetrain BB included, 11-42 with 32t front ring.....hmmmm if I have to get a new derailleur too for 10spd cassette prob better changing over to 11spd?

[Stephen McMullan]

Jeez never occured to me that of course you need a 11 speed shifter and derailleur. Deffo sounds like a lot of faff and expense. I have a spare/old but still in great nick 32t narrow wide in the drawer at home. You can have it for free if you want to test out a single ring on your existing drive train.

[ruth:D]

Trying before buying probably a smart idea! That would be awesome Stephen. I'll probably struggle with my current cassette range but at least I would get a good idea of what I need.

[Stephen McMullan]

You won't struggle too badly. It'll be the same as what I have  I'll put the ring in the car in case I see you at the trails. Or its available to collect from Blackrock or Dun Laoghaire

[DaveG]

I'd say you'll be fine with your existing mech Ruth, you're running a 2x10, so it must be at least a medium cage.

11-42 works fine on my hardtail with a zee (freeride version) short cage rear derailleur, borderline works on my fiends' full sus with the same derailleur, the 11-40 would probably be a safer bet for a full suss with a short cage mech (withough using modified cages or goatlinks). But for a medium/long cage mech, I don't think you'll have any problems.

Those sunrace casettes are very good, cheap as chips from Germany.
Steel: http://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/sunrace-ms3-10-speed-cassette-11-42-525613/wg_id-402
I think this one has one or two aluminium cogs, its lighter but less durable: http://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/sunrace-ms3-10-speed-cassette-11-42-525613/wg_id-402

[RobH]

It's time for me to replace the drivetrain on the canyon. I'm currently 3x10 22/30/40 SLX Crank and 11-36 Shimano Cassette. So if I'm reading things right I could buy a new narrow wide chainring and a sunrace cassette and have a pretty good range of gears on 1x10?


http://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/sunrace-ms3-10-speed-cassette-11-42-525613
http://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/race-face-chainring-narrow-wide-9-10-11-speed-104x34-black-137585



Am I right in thinking all this should be compatible? I don't need a new crank, I can just remove all chainrings and add the new narrowwide, remove front shifter and derailleur and then swap to the sunrace cassette?


thanks

[Kamba6]

You may need to get some shorter chain ring bolts as those you have on the triple cranks are going to be too long.

New chain is also a good idea when replacing a cassette.


I would also consider a small top guide for added security. You'll be fine with the narrow wide ring initially, but when it wears out a bit retention won't be as good.

[Scrivo]

I see CRC have a full XT 10sp groupset (including brakes) for €300.


http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/shimano-xt-m785-10sp-complete-double-groupset/rp-prod116657

[ruth:D]

It's time for me to replace the drivetrain on the canyon. I'm currently 3x10 22/30/40 SLX Crank and 11-36 Shimano Cassette. So if I'm reading things right I could buy a new narrow wide chainring and a sunrace cassette and have a pretty good range of gears on 1x10?

That is an option I looked at: keeping my 10spd and I would get the same ratio as going 11spd 11-42 cassette - the change between gears just slightly larger and perhaps slightly less smooth than 11spd. Should all be compatible for you... I'm no expert but 'chainline' might be a consideration to fine tune setup with spacers - I haven't done anything with mine and seems fine so far, but might look into further.


But I went for 11spd as needed a new derailleur anyway so got: xt 11-42 cassette, med derailleur + shifter, chain, raceface n/w 32 ring and all came in around €250 and it is sweeeeet! It's so quiet going downhill and no chain drops, woooohoooo!


After a trial run with Stephen's old ring on my 10spd setup, I struggled a bit on the climbs but was pretty confident that going up to 42 in the back and 32 on the front would be a good combo for me. I did find however that the chain dropped numerous times on spins, prob down to wear on all parts.

[RobH]

Cheers for the comments everyone. I'm trying to do things on the cheap which is why I didn't go for the deal on CRC. Chainring 20 from Superstar, Cassette 40 and chain 18 from Germany + 10 for delivery. For that kind of cash I'll give it a whirl and see how it goes. Interesting point about the top guard. Anyone else had problems as the chain ring wears? I also didn't realise about the bolts, I'll look into that some more. thanks

[AussieSteve]

I've gone without a top guide on my 1x10 (now updated to 1x11) drivetrain for the past 18-months.  The only time it drops is when your chain is basically completely worn out, and time to replace the whole drivetrain.

I now have three chains and rotate them - changing the chain each month.  Is it conceivable that a chain on a 1x setup wears quicker than on a double or triple?  That's what it seemed like to me, hence now investing in a couple of extra chains to get more life out of the cassette and chainring.

Get yourself at least one extra chain, swap them around every now and then and you should double the life of the drivetrain.

[WeekendWarrior (Fergal)]

Is it conceivable that a chain on a 1x setup wears quicker than on a double or triple? 

Are you using an 11-speed chain? A 10 speed chain will wear out an 11 speed cassette much faster as the gaps between rollers are slightly too big. (At least that's my understanding of it.)

[RobH]

Thanks Steve. I ordered a spare chain for this reason too. I seem to go through at least 1 drivetrain per year, which seems excessive, so this time I'll rotate the chain.

[AussieSteve]

Are you using an 11-speed chain? A 10 speed chain will wear out an 11 speed cassette much faster as the gaps between rollers are slightly too big. (At least that's my understanding of it.)

You could well be right.  But yes, I've always used the right chain with either 1x10 or 1x 11.  (I now have three 11-speed chains!)