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Still fiddling with gearing on new bike.
It came with a double chainset but also an 11-42 tooth cassette, so there is some massive redundancy in the gearing! Although I'm tempted by going 1x at the front, as an excuse to try an ovoid chainring if nothing else, ultimately I don't want to restrict myself at the low end, I want a bike I can use for everything including touring/approaching Munros with a big rucsac etc.
Can't seem to find a cassette smaller than 11-40 though, are 11spd groupsets just aimed at 1x now?
If you decide to stick with a double at the front then sun race do an 11spd 11-36T
Or I guess you could use a road cassette.
It is a bit odd having 2x11 but yes 1x11 is a bit of a compromise as you have a ~400% ratio whereas with a double you can get 500%+ ratio.
here goes...
11sp for range works well with the bigger range.. the 11 vs 10 is a big help the 44-46 end also helps. 11-42 is the shimano compromise. 2x a big range as you say is pointless. Try the 1x you will be surprised as to the range, the other part is you realise when pedalling is wasted.
Twisty - are you sure? Can only find 10spd 11-36 Sunrace cassettes...
Mike - I know what you mean, I might be looking for an impossible compromise of a bike which doesn't have any 'wasted' gears but can also winch up pointlessly steep climbs at walking speed. Ultimately maybe I just have to suck up having a couple of cogs at the back that I don't need/use, I guess once upon a time 'never using the granny gear' was a badge of pride at least!
I'm also the sort of luddite who would prefer a front mech and a double rather than running a dinner plate 50 tooth cassette.. 🙄
Twisty - are you sure? Can only find 10spd 11-36 Sunrace cassettes...
Yes it is CSMS8 EAW whether anybody stocks it or not is a different question.
I see no reason not to run a road cassette though, if the gearing suits your purposes.
Like you I have no 1x11 experience, I do see that not having a front mech would greatly simply things, especially with a dropper post. The idea is to run a small front ring so you are comfortable for the climbs because you find that you don't really need to pedal at higher speeds off road anyway ([url= http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gear-calc.html ]useful gear calculator[/url])
However, my GPS tells me that in my last race I was pretty consistently doing 42km/h on the gravelly flat bits and 6km/h hauling my fat arse up the steep climbs so I think I would've slightly restricted by a 400% range whilst a more shapely competitor staying above 10km/h would have no problems.
In a very long winded way what I am saying is that looking at your min/max speeds on pedally sections can be a good guide to what gear range you need 8)
I'm running XT 2 x 40 on the B+ but that's used for bikepacking mainly, so think loaded climbs and road transitions. Then again, I never have any problems setting up front mechs and my brain can handle the concept of two shifters. I know that many struggle with either or both of these issues.
I bought the bike instead of a gravel bike or similar as I wanted suspension (or at least, more suspension that a Cdale Slate offered!) so yes, I would like some top end for long landrover tracks etc.
Thanks for the advice though Twisty, have found the cassette on Sunrace's website, now to actually find it in the real world!