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1x cassettes seem to come with small steps in size between higher gears, going up to some quite big steps between the lower ones. I thought I heard somewhere that you could get some cassettes with smaller steps for the lower gears, that you might use if you were going to the Alps or whatever. I think this was about SRAM, but I can't see any options like that on Wiggle etc. Did I imagine it or do these exist?
Are you confusing the difference in number of teeth with the percentage difference? Looking through the various wide range cassettes via http://gear-calculator.com/ all the gaps are pretty consistent - here's a 10-50 for example http://gear-calculator.com/?GR=DERS&KB=32&RZ=10,12,14,16,18,21,24,28,32,36,42,50&UF=2215&TF=90&SL=2.6&UN=KMH&DV=teeth
I'm not sure there is too much variety but wondered the same thing recently
Sunrace have a better spread over the lower gears than Shimano.
Shimano Xt 11 speed: 11-13-15-17-19-21-24-28-32-37-46
Sunrace Mx8 11 speed: 11-13-15-18-21-24-28-32-36-40-46
SRAM XX1 for reference too: 10-12-14-16-18-21-24-28-32-36-42... 12 speed just adds a 50T.
Garbaruk might be even better at the easy end for the first option when compared to the others:
10-12-14-16-19-22-26-30-36-42-46 (10-46T)
10-12-14-16-19-22-26-30-36-42-48 (10-48T)
10-12-14-16-19-22-26-30-36-42-50 (10-50T)
I have xt 1 x 11 32-46t and sram gx eagle 1 x 12. Xt on a 2017 trance 1 and sram on a 2019trance advanced 1
The ratios on the sram equipped bike are a lot better than the shimano bike, even the 46 tooth low gear sometimes doesn't seem low enough on steep grassy climbs on the XT equipped bike and then the ratio between that and the next gear seems too big at times, so you may be spinning out in top but not enough fitness for the next gear.
The 12 speed sram has a much nicer spacing of gears, but then I guess its not fair to compare as one is 11 speed and one is 12 and the sram cassette is the size of a dinner plate!
Don't get me wrong the 1 x 11 xt 46t-32 is pretty good when fitness is good but would definitely benefit from closer ratios on the easy gears.
I'm talking about proper steep offroad climbs, where sometimes its quicker to walk up!
I really like my Garbaruk 10-50 cassette but I've always been curious about their spread given that the first ten are the same, it's just the largest cog that changes.
Why go from 36, plus 6 to 42, then only plus 4 to get to 46?
Why go from 36, plus 6 to 42, then only plus 4 to get to 46?
Because it's less dies across the range of cassettes/less machines/tooling changes/ease of manufacturing. It's the same as why they churned out tyres with the same TPI threads for years and resisted changing frame geometry for so long. The manufacturing processes were configured that way. Any changes cost money (new designs, machines and processes) and add complication (more parts and more complex processes). Most (not all) businesses IME avoid this and drag their heels as much as possible. I've used machines so old and battered (20-40 years out of date) customers would be shocked.
People need to get the romantic idea (suggested by marketing) that businesses are their mates, init to make things better for the customer, out of their silly little heads. They exist to make as much money as possible in the shortest timescale. This is achieved by charging as much as you can for as little effort as possible, hence why things are often ruined by endless cost reduction and price increases related to brand building. It's a cycle they are all engaged in.
I know why it exists from an engineering point if view. It was more a question of why it exists from a cycling point of view.
It's a business point of view not an engineering one.
Virtually everything you buy comes from a business.
From a business point if view, it would be interesting to see what split of those 3 sizes they sell.
Good luck getting any accurate information/trade secrets off private businesses that don't suit their agenda or are already publicly available.
Just said it would be interesting, I wasn't planning on asking for it.
I agree it would be interesting to know whether it's a supply issue/cost (if outsourced), a compromise for modularity sake or just the fact that's what they tooled up for (design choice) from the get go.
There's a closer ratio m9100 cassette. 10-45 I think?