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Hi all,
I'm new to mountain biking (I'm a roadie in the UK) however I have the opportunity to do extensive mountain biking in the Swiss Alps - is a 1x10 going to give me enough gears for the climbs? I've been reading 1x10 vs 2x10 threads and there are quite a few advantages of a 1x10 setup so leaning towards this way for the simplicity, however, worried about keeping up with my mates with the larger gear range!
Thoughts please... thanks
I rode 3x9 in the Austrian Alps with no problems.
Maybe try that.
I went 1 x 10 in French Alps last summer with TA in Beaufortain. Trek Remedy. Ration 34 x (11 - 36). On very steep sections I ran out of gears. I've since fitted a T-rex extender cog. I hope 34 x 40 will help me on the steepest climbs. On the steepest climbs the people pushing kept up with riders grinding out their granny's.
You may find that coming from a roadie background, you're used to higher cadences and therefore struggle on 1x. Certainly I've noticed that going the other way (having ridden 1x on MTB for a couple of years now) I'm happier spinning slower on my road bike - around 60-70/min rather than 80-90.
The other thing is that if you're doing long all-day rides in steep terrain you might welcome a bail-out granny ring, though I suppose this depends on your fitness.
there are some pretty serious climbs in the alps, I deferred going 1x10 before my last trip there, but like the idea of leaving the granny ring on and shifting it over by hand for really big climbs.
Recommend 32, oneup 42
I was happy with the range of gears 1x10 offered for riding in the Alps. But I suppose it depends on personal preference.
I run 36t front with 11-40t on the back with 26" wheels.
Depends how you ride. I'm mostly singlespeed at home, so 1x whatever is fine for me. Have done:-
Swiss Alps, 26" wheels with an Alfine. 29" with 1x6 32:32 lowest gear.
Austrian Alps 29" wheels 1x8 32:34 lowest.
Pyrenees lots of climbing with no uplifts, 29", 1x10 30:36 lowest gear with clutch mech and narrow-wide (this was the best setup).
1 x 10???
I wouldn't!
I rode a 2 x 9 Middleburn 1000ks across the Pyrenees years ago & nearly said goodbye to my knees...
Think of the future & be nice to your knees - you only get one good set....go at least 2 x 10!
Thank you all for the responses. I've bought a bike off the forum which is a 1x10 and is being rebuilt to convert to a 2x10 before it gets to me - thanks again for the quick posts!