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My old man is struggling to get up hill muddy climbs on his CX using a 44T and
I’m tempted to put on a 38T chainring for him.
Will there be a big difference? Mainly to help him uphill.
He’s running a 11-42 cassette with a 44T. He doesn’t go quick on the flats 18mph cruise max especially with shared trails walkers etc and never uses the 11T.
yes it will help. 38-11 will be spinning out at around 25mph so it should suit, you could even go to a 36
Did exactly this on my touring bike. Replaced it with a Hope 38T. Massive difference up the hills, plus it looks sweet 😃
yes it will help. 38-11 will be spinning out at around 25mph so it should suit,
Whaaaaaaat, no it won't! 25mph will be about 90rpm, and you could comfortably pedal 38-11 until >35mph.
Yes, it'll make a significant difference. Easy enough to try.
Oh and I have put on Schwalbe G CX tyres 38mm so that has added to his wheel motion.
Ok going to order a Hope CX 38T. Father’s Day sorted.
Thanks for all your help everyone.
I did use a gear calculator just now being rusty but he 90rpm he’s not going to do.
He’s running a rival setup. Guess I’ll need to shorten the chain?
I'm 49, I have a 38t and 11-40...no idea what I'll need by the time I am 70!
Mine was Rival also. Obviously make sure you get something with the same bolt pattern (one of the reasons I went with the Hope ring!) Be aware also SRAM use a funky bolt for one of the 5 chainring bolts which you cannot re-use with the Hope ring so you'll have to source another bolt (or just run 4!)
you could comfortably pedal 38-11 until >35mph.
pedal it yes, comfortably..? Not so much. If the OP's dad is topping out at 18mph I would guess he's not going to be comfortable knocking out 120+rpm for a sustained period
restlessness we’re all different and so is the local trails.
He’s light, his CX is 9-10.5kg, he is diabetic, high blood pressure, weak heart and doesn’t have the health or power he once had. Never was a big rider. Just rode to work and some 12 mile trails with me on my recovery rides. Rode 30 miles on his road bike with me over 2.5 hrs.
He has got stamina since I have trained him over 3 years and I get him to do climbs on his turbo trainer.
He’s recovered from prostate cancer so I can’t expect him to sprint for a while.
Thanks for that zilog6128. I’m ordering this now https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/hope-retainer-cx-ring/rp-prod147698
110 BCD, 5 bolt and better order a spare chainring bolt too thanks.
120rpm? I’m 42 and I can only do that for a sprint lol.
I think I've got a sram 38T at home which he can have cheap if you want? I can check tonight. I used 38T 10-42 on the Fargo. Now 40T as the new bike came with it.
Frankenstein, Superstar do one for a bit cheaper - £30. I've had a 42T on the road bike cum on/off road commuter for a couple of years and it's done quite nicely.
There's an oval one too.
yes superstar NW are good, Raceface also.
Thanks for the offer douglas365 and links to superstar joe&ned. I might use them for myself on my Rival cranks. Maybe a 40.
I ended up ordering the Hope retention CX 5 bolt 110bcd 38T from CRC for my old man as he Hope headsets, seat lamp and wheels/hubs. Sponsorship?
Closer inspection of my Dad’s crank is that he’s using an earlier Apex/s350-1 with the arm and spider forged into one unit. It should be a simple swap of X-Sync 1 if the width of the chainrings are equal...
Luckily the bolts clear the arm unless you have the newer Apex or Rival/Force X-sync-2 spyder’.
Yes. I assume he is running a 130bcd road crank? 38T is the smallest such a crank will take. I run that 1x10. Three on the font is worth about one on the back so he’s moved my all the sprockets up two.
Unless he’s an absolute masher 38x11 is fine. You can always coast down hill if needs be. On the flat I’m in 38x13 most of the time. Spinning will do him good too
No it’s a 110 BCD road/CX crank.
It’s a few grams heavier but much cheaper than Rival. Simple bolt on.
Luckily it’s one piece forge.
Maybe get a Rival crank to match the Rival 1 group-set would be nice later but keeping costs down at the moment.
I wouldn't have a 44T on 1x on a CX bike, and I'm 43 and currently on form.
What are you using cassette/chainring molgrips?
I climb a steep zig zag muddy track
11-42 x 44T. While it was a blast, I used the excuse to wait for everyone to catch up while I caught my breath!
I use 1x11 with a 30T on my XC bike and on my 'adventure' rigid MTB I've got a good old fashioned 3x9. It's steep where I live! I ran 1x with a low of 32/34 for a while, that was *just* about manageable but sodding hard work, and actually slower than 30/42 or 30/46.
Thanks Chainreaction Cycles!
Delivered a nice new Hope ring.
Hope the current chainring bolts on the X-Sync 44T fit!
Tinkering tomorrow.
Anybody know the best way of estimating chain length on a x1 unless it’s the same method as double or triple chain sets.
you could comfortably pedal 38-11 until >35mph.
pedal it yes, comfortably..? Not so much. If the OP’s dad is topping out at 18mph I would guess he’s not going to be comfortable knocking out 120+rpm for a sustained period
Amazing that someone reckons a 130 cadence for a 70 yr old, (because thats what it is) is "comfortable". I spin my 50-11 out under 40mph. So probably can't get over 110. Everybody is different !!!!
Anybody know the best way of estimating chain length on a x1 unless it’s the same method as double or triple chain sets.
Pretty much the same - large to large + enough links not to have the mech fully extended. You could leave extra links in on case you ever want to go to a bigger cassette though
Thanks for the advice joemmo, I don’t think his SRAM Rival rear mech can go larger than his 11-42 casette.
Seen those Suntour cassettes with 50+?!
taxi25, I’ve seen and measured his cadence max to 110 and cruise at 80-90.
I don’t want to him injuring himself with 130 revs, he’s not 20 years old anymore.
Amazing that someone reckons a 130 cadence for a 70 yr old, (because thats what it is) is “comfortable”. I spin my 50-11 out under 40mph. So probably can’t get over 110. Everybody is different !!!!
Indeed, my road set up is 38T/11 and 25mph is comfortable, 30mph is possible for short time, pedaling 35mph is hard work even down hill. Never worked out what that means in cadence. Generally use 11/36 cassette for road and 11/42 for cx.
Thanks molgrips and fooman, knowing 25 mph should be more than enough for my old man.
Trying to get my garage heater working so I can tinker.