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So I have 12 speed XT M8100 groupset. Brilliant. The fact I could install, set it up and ride it without imploding for over a year is, imho, pretty awesome.
However my thoughts/gripe/question is kind of generic 12 speed related. I have realised around where I live (West Berkshire, not exactly Wales, Scotland, Swaledale or the Lakes *sad face*) that the only time I am in the 11th or 12th gears (smallest gears, 10 & 12 tooth gears) is cruising along lanes, and slightly downhil lanes at that. It got me thinking - surely I could convert to 10 speed and if I get the right cassette/chainring, I could still have the right lower gears to climb and everything else?!
The cost and parcity of any components though made me consider how I could go about it and this, Singletrack Forum, is what leads to my question. finally.
Could I keep the XT derailleur & chain, and buy a cheap/secondhand 10 speed cassette along with 10 speed shifter? Will the 12 speed derailleur work with a 10 speed shifter? Surely the shifter pulls the cable the required amount and the derailleur moves; the derailleur doesnt have any discrete movements so it depends on the cable pull.
Aware I will likely lose some of the benefits of the Shimano XT groupset (double shifts, HG+ hyPeRGlIdE+++ or whatever the marketing speak is), this is feasibility question rather than a "should I or shouldn't I?". It seems simple but also feel like I'm missing something sensible - I often try similar bodgies which end up with me having to go to the LBS or buy new stuff. I wanted to sanity check before I go ahead and splash out...
You'll probably need a new freehub body or hub/wheel.
And the highest gear on a 10 speed cassette will be an 11t.
Mech "might" work. The parallelogram and thing the cable attaches to has an impact on cable pull as well as the shifter.
If it works why change it for something else?
It sounds like you’re over geared for your fitness/strength. If you need a lower gear to enable the use of your smaller rear sprockets then you need to reduce the size (number of teeth) of your chainring. This is if I’ve understood your problem correctly of course!
Hope this helps, if not feel free to direct message me.
Yeah, understand the changes with the freehub and stuff - got Hope hubs so should have no issues that end.
Interesting about the parallelogram, didn't realise that may also have an affect on the cable pull. Though thinking over it with my morning brew, does make sense due t size of the mech, the points it pivots etc...
@joebristol hahahaha so true. But I like to play and fiddle... tbf, this was as much a thought exercise as actually doing it. Got more useful and important things to spend cash on rather than reducing my gear ratios
I'm in West Berks too 🙂
@wheelsonfire1 I haven't had any issues with my gearing - currently running a 32 tooth with the 51 tooth shimano xt cassette on 29er tyres shod with high roller IIs. That managed a week in the Alps fine.
It was more to do with getting rid of those high gears which are barely used but keeping the lower gearing. Thinking I would get a 10 speed cassette that goes up to 42 tooth or something with a smaller front chainring to get the same ratio as the 32 x 51 I currently have.
The aim would be to potentially lose unsprung weight in the rear wheel and also have more robust gears.
No sure about 10 speed, but the M5100 deore 11s shifter will work with your 12s derailleur.
An 11 speed 11-46t cassette and a 30t chainring would result in similar ratios, and might save a bit of weight.
No sure about 10 speed, but the M5100 deore 11s shifter will work with your 12s derailleur
Going on that I can also say an xt11 speed mech plays nicely with a 10 speed 11-42 cassette and is very nice with a saint shifter and is a good robust setup for west Berkshire.
I'd wait till it wears out, sling a 10 speed cassette on and pick up a used 10speed shifter.
I imagine a hope micospline freehub will be an easy swap/sell.
Ride further & longer, at some point even in West Berks you'll need lower gears.
IMO you're looking to make changes for the sake of it, and remember it's never the smaller cogs on a cassette that wear out first...
Just go singlespeed 🙂
the change from 12sp to 10sp microshift has been excellent for me. defo step up from the shimano 12sp.
i`ll go down a front chainring size in winter when it gets crappy for the very low ratio.
and remember it’s never the smaller cogs on a cassette that wear out first
Always is for me.
Certainly the first to skip, least chain wrap.
Yep, same here, especially on my commuter. I buy replacement cogs especially.
I don't get what you're trying to achieve?
D'you want faster gears at the top or bigger gears at the bottom?
Yep, same here, especially on my commuter. I buy replacement cogs especially.
Then both you & jamesoz need bigger front rings.
IMO you’re looking to make changes for the sake of it, and remember it’s never the smaller cogs on a cassette that wear out first…
Yep. If what you have is working, just keep using it. Having too much gearing range isn't a problem. Not having enough is a problem. (My bikes are mostly still 2x9, BTW.)