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My commuter (3x9 Deore groupset) has been used enough that the front middle and large chain rings are now getting a little pointy and, well, dangerous. Given that I never use the granny and the bulk of my cycling is in the big ring, I thought I would replace the front triple witb a 1x setup and recycle the front mech to the GF's Cube as an upgrade for her.
The big question is what to put up the front. Does anyone have a suggestion of Deore-equivalent single ring setups that will tlet me run a 9 speed 11-32 casette out back and something like a 40 at the front?
I think I went for a 38 (but it might be a 40) and 11-36 on the back. It is quite hilly here. I don't miss the top gear at all and the low is plenty low enough. Only city riding. Might want a little more at the top if I was riding further regularly.
Have a look at http://gear-calculator.com/ , find your cassette and select a single ring for the front and then have a play around to find something that suits you and your local terrain.
With an 11-36T cassette a 40T chainring is about right for me just on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales. I wouldn't get up Park Rash with that gearing but most of the climbs are OK. At the top end I'm just about spinning out on a long flat bit of road, I did have a 42T chainring which solved that at the expense of making the climbs a bit harder.
Oh my god! That website! Well, that is me for the afternoon then...
Any recommendations on what parts to buy though? I would really like to keep it similar to Deore, if nothing more than it seems to be the best balance on price and performance. Any other brands/models to consider?
You can get RaceFace NW rings in 38t 104BCD which (I think) will fit the middle ring position on your Deore cranks (depending on how old they are). ther brands may do similar (try Superstar)
That and a set of short chainring bolts and you should be good to go.
IF you want a new crank, a set of Aeffect crank arms and a Superstar 40t direct mount ring is a nice clean setup that's not super pricy.
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/race-face-aeffect-cinch-crank-arm-set/
https://www.superstarcomponents.com/en/raptor-chainring-raceface-direct-mount-narrow-wide.htm
Colours???? Well, that's me sold- BLIIIIING!!!
Just played around with the gear calculator. looks like a 40 up front and something like a 10/11-28 would cover most of the range I use for commuting, with a 10/11-32 being a safety gap if I wanted a little bit extra lower down. Who knows, that might actually mean I can use up a whole cassette in a year and not just the top 4 or 5 gears.
It's hard to find 40t rings that will fit your existing crank
If you head to ebay or aliexpress you'll find rings in all shapes and sizes, I have a fairly ridiculous 50T on mine. Excellently branded "snail" which is both funny, and appropriate
Well, as long as I can fit whatever I get into the Saint BB, I should be good I reckon. New job is not very far away and I will see what Tony the mechanic can sort out for me, but the CINCH stuff looks good.
The Aeffect should work with existing BB, other RaceFace Cinch cranks like Turbine etc. will not
I'd presume your old 3x9 Deore setup will most likely have some sort of 104BCD/4arm crank right? If so simply remove the three existing chainrings and fit a N/W in the Middle position, remove the front mech and you're off...
I'm guessing that you'd need a new FH body (more likely a new hub) to use a 10t sprocket (and a more expensive cassette) so that might make it an uneconomic option, but an 11-32t 9 speed, HG fitting cassette is pretty standard and can be had relatively cheaply these days.
If the current rear mech/shifter are working I'd just get a fresh chain and gear cable (maybe Jockey wheels for if they are starting to go pointy too?) all of which should spruce up your drivetrains operation a bit.
Superstar N/W rings (only go up to 38t in 104BCD) would be my choice, but there are lots of other options about. linky
Watching this one with interest. I will need new chain rings on my 2x10 general purpose bike and was thinking about going to 1x10 or 11. I’m not sure about what chainring size to go with.
I went from 2x10 to 1x11 and had a load of trouble trying to find compatible rings in order to retain the Raceface crank. I ended up buying a new XT drivetrain including cranks/ring and bottom bracket (that went into the spares box).
I’m not sure about what chainring size to go with.
Easy to change if you want +/- 2T.
I run a 42 up front and an 11-42 on the back on my commuter/winter bike and it's great for most things.
Watching this one with interest. I will need new chain rings on my 2×10 general purpose bike and was thinking about going to 1×10 or 11. I’m not sure about what chainring size to go with.
Go to the bike-calculator link I posted in the third post in this thread and have a play to find what works for you.
@cookeaa I'll have to check on that, but I know I use the standard HG cassettes. Swedish winter city riding chews up chains and drivetrains generally, so I end up going through a chain and cassette a year, something I have never done before.
I will check the jockey wheels in the mech at some point. Normally they are so clagged with grease and garbage it is difficult to tell.
Thanks whitestone, I’ll save that for later when the boys have gone to bed.
@ - scuttler. I’ve got an Xt crank so should be fine, thanks. Is the extra cog on the cassette worth it?