As far as we’re aware, SRAM is still making front mechs – but as our reporter Rob is out in Italy right now finding out all sorts of exciting things, you never know – but SRAM has posted this video up on YouTube, eulogising the front mech:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiALL1fnolk
Can’t see the video? Click here.
In suitably sombre tones, Voiceover Man tells us all that it was fondly remembered, but that, really, the new way (led by SRAM, natch) is better…
…what say you? Cobblers, or chapeau?
Just in time for the 10-50t 1×12 to be released in a weeks time.
Would be better if it was a eulogy to all external forms of gear shifting so we could have good, cheap(er) gearbox bikes instead.
It’s not dead yet if you have 29on wheels and actually pedal up hills.
Cobblers…..I still want triple ring bike so I can link up my riding area…..off road and in road…..
What vondally said +1
No chance 1×10 or 1×11 is ample, man or even, person up.
Cobblers! I have 1×11 on both my bikes and bolt a granny on as a bailout on all day epics.
It is not the front mech per se……
It is more that cutting down on gear ranges is an abjectly stupid thing to do where most people are concerned – especially when it is that vital low climbing gear that goes out of the window.
It is even more galling when it is supported by abjectly stupid journos, who are in effect, paid by the riding public to represent their interests.
Even more galling in some cases when you know the journo concerned is a classic case for needing lower gears to get his unfit carcass up steep hills.
You know who you are.
Room 101 for you my boy!
I really really hate front mechs. Just saying. The new wide range cassettes and a suitable chairing should do most people . Does for me anyway.
I can’t remember when I last used a front mech on an mtb
Its not obsolete.
Single ring systems still don’t offer the same low gear that nearly all MTBs were sold with for year after year. Couple that with larger wheels and the front mech still has a place
What I don’t get is why we’re going from front mechs capable of 44-48t chainrings, and because that is stopping the chainstays getting shorter? not redesigning the front mech?
If there was a front mech with a max chainring size of say 36t, maybe even 32t, its cage could be shorter and the chainstays could be a fair bit shorter. Not far off a single ring bike?
You are wrong billyboy, on several points and your personal insults are not appreciated. Perhaps you’d prefer a different magazine.
what an arsehole. No need for that at all.
[quote]peakpedaler said on March 17, 2016
It’s not dead yet if you have 29on wheels and actually pedal up hills.[/quote]
Somehow I manage. And I’m pretty puny AND lazy.
…. so they will surprise us all with a gearbox then.
1×10 on the hard tail is fine for me, but I still prefer 2×10 on the full suss which I use for longer/bigger days.
Fine by me though, I prefer shimano
Pretty sure a lot of us 24hour racers and bikepackers will still be rocking two rings up front.
what ev’s ……………….
I rock a double on my xc bike and 1 by on the full suss.
Would not touch SRAM with a barge pole anyway.
10 X 50 is a awesome range though. Catch up Shimano!
No matter the hill, or bike. There is no reason to have a front mech with these new huge-range cassettes. Except perhaps at first, with cost. The cost will come down and everybody will have all the gears they need.