AbsoluteBlack Teases 40-Tooth Cassette Cog

The returns are getting smaller and smaller- all so that the B-tension screw doesn’t need to be adjusted? A 40t cog gives you only a third of the range that an XX1 cassette adds and and 2/3 of what OneUp provides:
11-36: 327% (standard 1×10 range)
11-40: 364% (Absolute Black)
11-42: 382% (OneUp)
10-42: 420% (XX1)

And for the inevitable “why not take off the 11t?” comment, the answer is that you would end up with virtually the same range as a stock 11-36 (333%).

By “tweak” the B-tension screw, do you mean stretch it out half an inch or so? Because most standard derailleurs simply don’t have that much range, no matter how much B-tension you add. My opening sarcasm aside, even adding a longer screw won’t fix that; at some point the derailleur rotates too far away from the tab, and the screw won’t engage any longer. These set-ups may give you more range, but they’re sure not going to deliver the perfect shifting XX1 promises.

nobody noticed, “tooths”? in the image? wow.

What am I not getting here? Why not save up some $ and buy some XX1 or XO1. Chances are you can run your existing crank with a new chainring ($75 from Wolf Tooth works great). All you need is the derailleur, shifter, chain, and cassette. Buy the stuff on sale and you can probably get it all for $600 or $700. Chances are this cog and a new chain will run about $150. I just don’t get the math. Combine that with selling your old stuff for a couple hundred $$ and there you go. Is everyone trying to tell me they can’t save up $500? Come on. Why use these half measures? I guess as a stop gap while saving up?

Save money for a $$$$$$$ derailleur? If you ride where we do a 2 broken year is good news! It is great if you can afford it. Most looking at this can not afford it-what ever reason I bet. In the mountains of WV-we need lower gears,not our 11t. Funny,the guys who brag about their big ring are not as fast as the 1x guys with a 30t here. I hope they do a 38t as well. Small diff,yes but I like my 38/24 and a 36/22 is too low. I will gladly give up my 11t for a 40 or 38t. A 12/40 cassette will be nice!

I got an idea for these up-and-coming components makers: Take a page out of Apple’s book and announce something at the same time it’s available for purchase. At the internet speed that everything moves, consumers aren’t willing to put a sticky note on their computer that says, “But this thing in January.” They want it now, or they don’t want it at all.

I read this article and had my credit card out. Until I saw the release date. Guess what? This product will now be forgotten by me because I will eventually find something just as good that’s available now. How awesome would it be if this guy announced this 40-tooth chainring, working in stealth mode up until today, and had the order page ready to go on his website at the same time?

Does this have to be used with a certain model of cassette like the one from OneUp?

@Pete – Let me know where you find XX1 or X01 derailleur, shifter, chain and cassette for $600 to $700. Also, you forgot to add in the price of a new rear hub that most of us will have to buy to adopt.

Pete-Because most people can’t justify the cost. Its’ stupid expensive even if you buy it at wholesale (which by the way just went up a wee bit) And as James pointed out…..you’ll still need the new driver ($80-$120 depending on your hub)….if your hub is even in the running. If not, new wheelset. FYI Wholesale on xx1 is almost $860 now before tax with everything you need. No one needs to discount xx1 or “put it on sale” either at his point…it’s in and out of stock lately.

$100 for a cog that’ll likely last 2-3 cassettes (Yes I know chains stretch, but the effect is rarely felt on largest cogs only smaller…and let’s face it cheap skates will make it work longer) is a steal. Hell most people can sell there front der/left shifter/leftover ring(s) for $100+.

Reality here is this and OneUp’s solution both are very good solutions to what most of us are running. And as someone who’s loved 1×10 for a few years I have only two concerns: Having a good top end gear and having a better low. I like a 34t or 36t ring up front to get a good cruising gear, but feel it on some climbs the other way….a 40t or 42t option would be perfect.

Kudos to all these guys for coming up with a worthwhile workaround.

@Geeves, most suspension designs are optimised around 1 chainring size, so even if they have a triple they will work best in only one of those gears, as most people spend the majority of their time in the middle chainring, the suspension is usually optimised around a 32t chainring. No idea what setup you run but if you were running say 38/26 then the suspension is not going to perform as well as it would with a 32 or 34t chainring. 1x drivetrains allow suspension designs to be optimised for 1 chainring and perform better for more of the time. The benefits of 1x on MTB’s are huge, not just in gearing, but in frame design as well.

Seriously, what’s wrong with using 2 chainrings ?

To each their own. I find the 36 to 42 gap HUGE in racing or training situations (~17%), and I seldom use the 11 (which, from a mechanical standpoint, is an incredibly inefficient gear).

I’d buy a 12-40 cassette from Shimano or SRAM in a heartbeat and give it a whirl. Until then I’ll stick with 2 x 10 for endurance racing.

Give me a cassette with aluminium spider for 6 biggest cogs and range 11-13-15-17-20-23-27-31-36-42 and take my money!!
The biggest ratio jump is between 11-13 and 17-20 (both 18%).
I have the same jupmps on my current 9spd XT cassette and haven´t absolutely any problem with it.
I hope one day somebody from shimano get it!

I’m thinking a 41t big cog would be ideal….

this whole thing is stupid.

people need to give their OCD a rest and ride more, and worry less about a few more or less teeth here and there. Everyone is so obsessed to make an “ideal” 1x set up or save a couple dollars.

why is everyone so concerned about making these “minor” adjustments to their cassettes?
give the 1x setup thing a rest, and/or spend a few extra dollars for a different cassette.

How would the 10 speed XT/XTR rear derailleur handle 36t front and 42t rear? Im concerned about both chain length and shifter.

Some may not use the 11 or 13t cogs but I sure as hell do! It’s nice to have the option to use it on road sections or on different trails, my trails at home are pretty flat and i use the 11t a lot, my trails at university are stupidly hilly and have some properly steep climbs and some mega fast descents, I want a wide gear range that can cover all bases and all trails. 1x systems are simpler lighter and offer no end of benefits to frames design as some have been mentioned. Granted they aren’t for everyone but people should really try these things and open their minds rather than simply dismiss or pick fault with a new product.

I agree that most people should just use a lower front gear, but having more options isn’t a “bad” thing. If you don’t want it, don’t buy it! Some people may not want to change their setup up in front or the derailleur, so this is an option to do it differently.

Personally, I run 1×10 with an 11-36 cassette and 32t front. I rarely ever use the 11 unless on road or long sustained non-technical downhills in the mountains. 32 front 36 rear is all you should really need for regular riding unless you are trying to go straight up the side of a mountain, much lower than that and it would be easier and faster to just hike a bike up. For the trails I ride, that range is more than enough. However some folks might have different stuff up front and this could work for them.

People may make fun of you for riding a smaller front Chainring, but if you know how to spin and use it efficiently, it doesn’t matter. Plus for you WWs, it’s lighter to boot!

I’ve been reading all these replies and at first I just didn’t get all the negativity. Then Tom cleared it up….you all race….now I see the bickering.

But I have to tell ya, for those of us that just like to ride our bikes…..these ideas by OneUp, Wolftooth, and now Absolute Black are pretty effing awesome. Keep it up. I’ll be buying the first one that comes out in RED…..that’s a hint.