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So I’m thinking of trying 1 x 10 on my Clockwork 29er, it currently runs a 3 x 10 Shimano Slx setup with a long cage mech for the triple. I have a new 10 speed cassette and Sram chain but haven’t replaced the chain-set with anything yet, could I just buy a narrow wide chain ring and fit it to the slx cranks? I was thinking 32t Hope for the chain ring. Would I need to change the long cage rear mech (it is the latest clutch type)? Would I need shorter chain ring bolts? Would the chain need to be shorter than it currently is for 3x? Should I just stick with 3 x 10?
Trevor.
You can just get the ring and shorten the chain to suit, don't worry about the mech length it'll work fine.
As for chainring bolts, I couldn't say.
Oh well, answered you but the post hasn't turned up. Another win for the new forum.
Try again:
What you are proposing is fine - just make sure the chainring you buy is sized to fit on the 'middle' position of your crankset. You will need shorter bolts or a bashring. Your mech should work fine unless you've bought a massive dinner-plate cassette. You'll need to shorten the chain a bit.
As for the size of the chainring, that's a decision for you to make based on how low/high your gearing is now, and how much of it you are prepared to give up at each end. There are various gear comparison calculators which will show you how much you're losing.
I use this one.
I have an oval 32t and 11-42 which is fine for most of my riding.
The cassette I have is 11-36, should I consider a 30t chainring?
That's entirely personal. I live in the Yorkshire Dales, and am a bit feeble. You need to work out which gears you currently use, and whether you'll be losing any of them.
Martin - I've had posts "disappear" - there's some checking going on in the background that prevents posts with more than one hyperlink in it - doesn't even need to be an actual link, just multiple instances of sometext.com will do it.
Back on-topic. I'm on the edge of the Dales as well and run with 32T oval up front and 11-40T out back on my 29er hardtail. The fat bike is 28T oval up front, 11-2T out back. Building up a 29er FS which will have 30T front, 11-42T out back. If I fail to get up a climb it's not because of the gearing, there's a few short sections I never managed with 3x9 or 3x10 setups.
I did this recently and used the chain ring linked below which is a great product for the money (actually a great product full stop). What I didn't know is that the bolt holes are threaded (is this normal on single chain rings?) so the length of bolt didn't matter.
https://www.merlincycles.com/rsp-narrow-wide-chainring-77212.html
Threaded bolt holes usually depends on size. If you check any list of 104bcd rings you’ll usually find the smallest has a threaded hole and can use the bolts from your old inner. The listing should tell you where you need ‘long’ or ‘short’ bolts otherwise.
In principle adding a NW to the centre position on your old crank is all you need do. If you like the experience then buy a specific 1x crank later but it’s an improvement not something you need.
As far as gearing goes, think carefully about what gears you currently use and buy a ring that will let you keep as many of those ratios as possible with your cassette. 30x11-36 is very doable for most, but it’s better to be honest with yourself than damaging your knees grinding too hard a gear.
Look at gear-calculator.com to model and compare different cassettes and rings. Edit: I note this is the same calculator that was posted earlier, just with a different URL... 😅