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FD Eulogy – SRAM says goodbye to MTB front derailleur for good?

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If we’re to believe the leaked images, SRAM is about to release another evolution on their path to 1x domination. But does that mean that the front derailleur is completely dead? It’s not April 1st, and this video certainly seems to put the final nail in the coffin for front mechs. Will this stick? Or simply open the door to companies like Shimano who are still offering 2x and 3x drivetrains (for the moment)?

 

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bearCol
bearCol
8 years ago

12 speed makes me wonder if 11 speed was designed to be replaced from the get go. Whatever the case, I’m hoping gearboxes do away with both ends.

axle
axle
8 years ago
Reply to  bearCol

I LOVE my new shimano 2×11 mountain drivetrain. But I do like that Sram has driven innovation in the drivetrain market. And Sram’s quality is getting to be almost as good as shimano’s.

Aaron
Aaron
8 years ago
Reply to  axle

Not by a long shot. SRAM’s metallurgy, AL forging and finishing have a long way to go to catch up with Shimano’s. However they do offer unique stuff that Shimano just can’t or doesn’t want to do, and that’s why they beat them in some spots.

dudebro
8 years ago

Bravo to SRAM on being the pioneers of acceptance.

shimano still is holding on to the idea that people want 2x systems. They even developed the sync shifting around it. who in the world that you know that has shimano di2 mtb group uses their 2x?. I’d be really curious to know the actual numbers of shimano’s 2x vs 1x sales in their new groups. I do see that they have finally come up with a narrow wide version of their own

elvis
elvis
8 years ago
Reply to  dudebro

well, I’m a 24hr racer primarily and I wouldn’t give up my FD for anything. ymmv

Dan
Dan
8 years ago
Reply to  dudebro

I know a pretty high end company that has sold more Di2 2x builds than 1x. what’s the point of Di2 if you don’t have an FD? Simplicity and minimization isn’t always the best goal for riders. Having the right gear combined with the right pedaling cadence is more important the not having an FD! The jump in gear range even on the Shimano 11×42 is significant enough to make me stay with the 11×40 option, and yes I run a 2x XTR bike, cause, if the FD works, why fix it. Unlike SRAM who can’t seem to make the FD work…

Longbeard
Longbeard
8 years ago
Reply to  Dan

Sorry man but if you think 1x is smoke and mirrors you obviously haven’t ridden it. You have to ride it a bit to get used to it like anything else but it’s leaps and bounds ahead of 2x.

Dan
Dan
8 years ago
Reply to  Longbeard

It’s not smoke and mirrors, it’s just not for everyone, so SRAM can quit all they want, but sales supports that and FD is valid, and people don’t want to give up gear range. I’ve ridden 1x – both from SRAM and Shimano, I need the range that a 1x will never be able to offer.

cole
cole
8 years ago
Reply to  Dan

Cadence, cadence, cadence! There’s presently 39 mentions of range in the comments and 3 of cadence (and 2/3 are from you, Dan).
Y’all are missing the forest for the (first and last) trees.
That said, the future of non-competitive riding is continuously variable transmission; no fragile hangy bits, no shift timing or lag, no more rapid cog wear, etc., etc… I have seen the light, it is ∞. (And when that comes to pass, then we can focus all attention on range as if that were the complete picture).

Dylan
Dylan
8 years ago
Reply to  dudebro

Shimano is holding onto the idea that people want 2x systems because many of us do. 1x really is the ‘Emperor’s new clothes’, and SRAM are pioneering Kool-Aid more than anything. Many people live & ride in areas where they don’t need a big spread of gears, and many of the same people are mechanically inept, never learned how to shift, and backpedal through rock-gardens while cross-chaining. 1x is probably better _for them_, but that doesn’t make it _better_.
I live somewhere where the local trails have over 1000m in altitude gain within 10km line of sight of the office chair I’m sitting at (not complaining about that). 1x offers me less gear range, bigger jumps between ratios, less wheel compatibility, only to solve problems I don’t have, ‘lighter weight, greater simplicity, better chain retention’. Other than fitting in with the fad, why would I be tempted?

Eric Hansen
Eric Hansen
8 years ago
Reply to  dudebro

Raced 1x for a year, back to 2x. So sorry SRAM has spent more money convincing you to remove functionality from your bike than they have engineering a front derailer system that actually works.

Aaron
Aaron
8 years ago
Reply to  Eric Hansen

Depends on your definition of function. If it means “fulfills the need for a certain purpose”, 1x is just as functional per se than 2x, it just depends on the application. 2x is more efficient by a long shot. In racing when efficiency is key, 2x wins. But most people don’t race.

chris
chris
8 years ago

Time for more internal geared hubs

bart
bart
8 years ago

I want to soar like an Eagle

Gabe
Gabe
8 years ago
Reply to  bart

Somebody has seen some spyshots….”EAGLE” is coming…

Ano
Ano
8 years ago

@dudebro – I think some European sales figures (in particular Germany) would have you surprised!

Callum
Callum
8 years ago

Do you mean sram eagle? 1×12 grouppo.. I am all for ditching the front mech but I have never felt I needed more than the 11 gears provided to me at this point. I am hopeful sram will change my mind though.

The Frinkiac
The Frinkiac
8 years ago

well said bearCol, I like the idea of gearbox, they’ve really taken off in Europe I hear.

I always thought of the SRAM push to 1x was an innovation born out of them never being able to make a good front derailleur. So they gave up on ever making a really good FD and figured out a work-around. All FDs can be annoying though.

David Tollefson
8 years ago

Ironic that the vast majority of the riding sequences show them going DOWNhill, and not even pedaling.

Heffe
Heffe
8 years ago

Yes I noticed that immediately.

Aaron
Aaron
8 years ago

That’s just because videos of people descending are more interesting than videos of people climbing. No way about it.

Duzzi
Duzzi
8 years ago

This must be the most ridiculous promotion in memory. A drive train making you faster? Maybe they are introducing an electric engine.

SSCXXCDIRTDROPS+
SSCXXCDIRTDROPS+
8 years ago
Reply to  Duzzi

Electric MOTOR*

The Truth
The Truth
8 years ago

Because making “braaaap” sounds uphill just doesn’t give the same feeling. Made me think of in “Klunkerz” when one guy says “who wants to pedal uphill…the fun is going down hill”. Never realized front derailleurs were so hard to setup or gave that many issues?

i
i
8 years ago
Reply to  The Truth

I take it you’ve never set up, ridden or even really looked at a full suspension bike then?

Dead
Dead
8 years ago
Reply to  i

I hate chainrings. 0X (Zero by) please.

Abstract Concrete
8 years ago
Reply to  i

I set up close to 20 full sus rigs at this moment. Never had a problem.

Dead
Dead
8 years ago

I pedal up hills alot and have my last 3 bikes have been 1×11, now I have a 2×11 xt group and its amazing to have low gears again. When I climbed on the 1x I would be in the 42 most of the climb, but with the 2x I can crawl up grades that I would have just walked on my 1x. 2x is really nice if you pedal up hills.

Eddie P.
Eddie P.
8 years ago

It should be one more week until we find out more about the 1×12. I think it’s gonna be for the grannies and 1×11 is gonna be for the stronger folks. I’m good with 1×11, but I want a 9-44 casette.

mateo
mateo
8 years ago
Reply to  Eddie P.

@Eddie – So 1×12 is for grannies, and you’re cool with 1×11, but you want more range? 9-44 would be the same range as a 10-49.

adps
adps
8 years ago

ill tell you what, 2x shifting is pretty cool and makes uphills a breeze while flat sections go faster. I’d like to keep 2x.

Now here’s why I run 1x nevertheless:

– less maintenance/issues (slight advantage)
– less chain slap (huge advantage)
– cheaper than quality/high end 2x or di2-lol-prices (huge advantage)
– can easily swap front ring for an oval (slight advantage)

Note: I run 32t with 11-40 back with 10 speeds (though i plan to fix that, heck 11spd is going to be cheaper now 😉 and im rather fit – would not be able to use this if i wasnt (id need 28t i guess? or 2x of course)

Collin
Collin
8 years ago

Hmm, interesting that they have a date at the end of 2017.

Heffe
Heffe
8 years ago

12 speeds could alleviate the need for a 2X front, it’s true.

Heffe
Heffe
8 years ago

I’d like to see 12 speed 1X 11-32 and 11-36 cassettes for the road, that would be cool.

Aaron
Aaron
8 years ago
Reply to  Heffe

Yep, I’m all for 1x on MTB and gravel, and I think many flatter areas would be fine with it on road bikes. I just wish SRAM would make XD cassettes in more road-oriented ratios.

Blake
Blake
8 years ago
Reply to  Heffe

CX1 or Force something already has 11-36 cassettes, they are 11 speed though. I used one on the road on my cross bike with at 42T chainring. worked great!

Mr. P
8 years ago

12 speeds sounds nice, but I wonder about additional weight at the far end of the bike (cassette) vs weight centered at the BB (front derailleur).

I like air time & picking up my rear wheel, so this matters to me.

Or maybe with the gyroscopic effect of the wheels it doesn’t matter?

P

pTymnWolfe
pTymnWolfe
8 years ago
Reply to  Mr. P

You can’t be serious. You’re concerned about the added weight of a single cog preventing you from catching air? That’s a good one.

Mr. P
8 years ago
Reply to  pTymnWolfe

Hmmm. I said; 1x is pushing weight out to the end of the bike, where you feel it most. And yes, when you bunny hop all over the trail, weight and where it is, comes into play.

I take it you don’t lift your tires off the ground.

P

pTymnWolfe
pTymnWolfe
8 years ago
Reply to  Mr. P

No, I come off the ground plenty. The difference is I’m just strong enough to overcome the massive 3oz rear weight bias of my 1x.

(deleted)

Veganpotter
Veganpotter
8 years ago
Reply to  pTymnWolfe

It’s going to be a lighter cassette than an XT 11-42 on the high end stuff.

Craig
Craig
8 years ago
Reply to  Mr. P

An extra rear sprocket in the mid range = approx 20 grams. A front derailleur = 150 grams. Anyone who thinks they can notice that is full of —-

Alex
Alex
8 years ago

The eagle is landing!
Not my cup of tea, maybe. I´m fine with 10-42. All my bikes newer bikes are 1×11. Latest one is GX, the other two are more expensive. But, hey, don´t need more than GX for normal riding. Rings are 34 or 36 to get some speed in the flats. Might try XT with 10-42 some day.
But at the end I´m convinced.

However, let´s save some derailleurs for beginners or travellers.
They need low gears badly.

MotoPete
MotoPete
8 years ago
Reply to  Alex

Beginers are the initial reason the front derailleur was eliminated. It takes brains/skills to properly shift a triple.

Aaron
Aaron
8 years ago
Reply to  MotoPete

Triples are not intuitive. Doubles are where it’s at!

Eric
8 years ago

Man I hate front deraillers. I hate them so much I own three bikes and none have one. AM full squish, Steel hardtail MTB and a CX bike. All 1×10 (and coincidentally all Kona). Life is good without a left shifter.

Markus
Markus
8 years ago

@Alex, just curious, where do you live? Mid-West? Netherlands?

I’ll stick to my FD since I live in the mountains. Real mountains. Where you do actual mountain biking and not riding around the 1 mile city park loop.

But I guess more ride in city parks than in the mountains.

Alex
Alex
8 years ago
Reply to  Markus

Take a look at my comment #21, please. Haven´t seen the “Reply”. Sorry.
Again, for (part time) Singlespeeders having a geared bike with 42t rear is way low.
No matter how big the front ring is.

-__-
-__-
8 years ago
Reply to  Markus

Dawg,

I live in the really really REAL mountains, They’re bigger and steeper than your mountains and I run a 1x.

Sorry about your weak legs and redundant gearing.

Alex
Alex
8 years ago
Reply to  -__-

Two weeks ago I did a ride from my home garage and back home: 30.4 miles with 8300 feet of climbing. Are your mountains or trails more “real”? Yes, I did it with 1×10 (42 front, 11-40 rear). No walking, too.
At some marathon races I did with the Singlespeed MTB others rode steep grades where I walked. I was as fast walking as they were riding. But after the steep sections they were exhausted while I jumped on the bike and overtook. There are limits even with 33 gears.

Wuffles
Wuffles
8 years ago
Reply to  Markus

And yet a 10-50 cassette has a bigger range than your 2×10….

Must be for people who live in real-er mountains?

Matt
Matt
8 years ago

When 10 speed came out I was at Interbike and talked to an industry insider that told me he had seen prototypes from all three of the big drivetrain makers all the way up to 14 speed. He said if they really wanted, they could have jumped from 9speed to 13-14 speed fairly easily but that obviously doesn’t maximize the profits of incremental improvements every 2-3 years.

Brad
Brad
8 years ago
Reply to  Matt

Planned Obsolescence. It’s real.

MotoPete
MotoPete
8 years ago

Riders that climb real mountains, then mash big gears down, will never have enough range with a 1x system.

pTymnWolfe
pTymnWolfe
8 years ago
Reply to  MotoPete

Come ride with me, I’ll show you how to do it.

mateo
mateo
8 years ago
Reply to  MotoPete

That just doesn’t make any sense. What if you had a cassette with all the range of a 22/32/42 triple running an 11-32?

Nobody ever argued that wasn’t enough range.

Abstract Concrete
8 years ago
Reply to  mateo

I do argue that is not enough range. Too much on the top. Too few on the bottom. I currently run 35/21 front with 11-40 rear. I intend to run 35/21 front with 11-46 rear.

Those really low gears are a godsend for long, fairly steep and boring climbs. At the same time, I get very usable range (35 + 11-4x) for the mixed terrain.

wheelz
wheelz
8 years ago
Reply to  MotoPete

Or for super strong riders that can stay above 7 mph on long, extended climbs are also fine with 1x. I’ve placed very well in multiple 50 and 100 mile mtb races with significant climbing (~1000 ft per 10 miles) with my XX1. Yes, I have low body weight and train 15-25 hours per week year round. I rarely have to use my 42 on my 1x 29er with 32 up front. On actual single-track, or even fire-roads, the 10t is enough. Lack of gearing range has never hurt my race results (or those of my competition from what I can see).

RiderX
RiderX
8 years ago
Reply to  wheelz

wheelz,

~1000ft per 10 miles is not significant climbing. 1000ft per mile is significant climbing.

turtlehead
turtlehead
8 years ago
Reply to  RiderX

So you’re saying over a 30 mile ride, for there to be significant climbing, you would have to climb the equivalent of mount everest, or the cruising altitude of commercial jets?

Or were you just saying that your rides often contain continuous, mile long, 20 percent grades?

KB
KB
8 years ago
Reply to  RiderX

I think that’s a little much. 1000 ft/mile is an avg gradient of 19%. 100 ft/mile on average can be very hilly.

Wuffles
Wuffles
8 years ago
Reply to  MotoPete

Really? Do you run a 2×10? Then congratulations, that’s a smaller range than a 10-50 1x. Unless you’re running 2×11 xtr, there isn’t a stock 2x system with a bigger range than 10-50 1x.

elvis
elvis
8 years ago
Reply to  Wuffles

2x xt

Harri
Harri
8 years ago

I still use a tripple. Rarely use the granny but the 40 up front is very useful on the 10 to 20 kms on the road before I go off road. Does everyone drive to the trail? Not around here. I reckon there are plenty of folk like me we’ll need that ole FD for a while yet.

pedalingwkidos
pedalingwkidos
8 years ago

some say, if you can’t make a front derailleur that works correctly, delete it!!!

Alex
Alex
8 years ago

@ Markus. I am living in the southwest of Germany. The Black Forest.
Well, I like uphills more than downhills, you know.
My racing bike is 650B XX1 36t front.36 because of racing – otherwise I would have 38 maybe.
there is a 40t direct mount ring laying here but haven´t used it right now.

My old trusty steel is converted from 3×8 to 1×10 about two years ago with a 42t in front and 11-40 back.

Compared to singlespeeding (which I do, too) these gears are very very low!

LateSleeper
LateSleeper
8 years ago

I live in the mountains, too. My road bike still has a triple on it; my gravel bike a sub-compact double. I’ve thought about replacing my 3×8 hard tail MTB with something modern, but it won’t be a 1X rig unless it also has a gearbox. IMO, 1X is great for cyclists who’d rather walk.

David R
David R
8 years ago
Reply to  LateSleeper

I ride in the mountains, I ride in the flats. I ride races, I tour. I use ALL the gears on my triples (mtn and tour) and double (road).

More is more.

pTymnWolfe
pTymnWolfe
8 years ago
Reply to  LateSleeper

Just because you can’t effectively ride a 1x uphill doesn’t mean everyone has the same experience. 1x is an excuse people use because they’re weak and suck at riding bikes.

Allan
Allan
8 years ago
Reply to  pTymnWolfe

Nice attitude. “I’m right, and the rest of you are losers.”

Tim
Tim
8 years ago
Reply to  Allan

I agree with you, Allan.

Tron
Tron
8 years ago

It’s just going to be an 11-speed compatible DD3 hub. Or at least, it should be.

slappy
8 years ago

sram sucks at making a front deraileur so they give up, shimano doesn’t and their’s continue to work fine. When you’re rides top out of 13,000′ and you like to pedal as much as possible, 1x doesn’t cut it. . but at least the xx1 chains wear out faster, are ridicuously cross chained in the climbing gear and cost lot. . great job sram, bring on the PINION!!

escarabajo
escarabajo
8 years ago
Reply to  slappy

when you’re not fat and out of shape and your rides top out at 15,000 ft – 1x is perfectly fine. even cruised up there fully loaded for a four day mtb tour. it still worked. you can easily get the same low gears on 1x as you could on other setups. you make no sense.

silverlining
silverlining
8 years ago
Reply to  slappy

Where do you find these magical 15k elevation trails? I’m in CO and lucky to ride front range, western slope, san juans and the cristos, but even the peaks are only 14ers. And all day rides on a xx1 w/30t or 28t are hard but rideable. I do see tourists on 2x and 3x walking a lot though.

Von Kruiser
Von Kruiser
8 years ago

Moto Pete is correct on 1x – As for me, I’m a busy guy and ride as much as possible but the fact is, I’m not in killer enough shape to truly love my XX1 bike. I ride it but it’s real tough after 1.5 hours. No more FS bike and now ride a hardtail which helped a lot. Talked to a few other guys my age and they all not happy w/ 1x. I rode my bike packing rig the other day and have a great time. Forgot that I love to spin when climbing. No spinning on a 1x system… it’s always hammer time. However I’m a betting man and figure SRAM will have the 45t cassette running soon so spinning will be an option for climbs. For bikepacking and a 45t, I could drop the front to a 28t and not care about the top end since I’m not in a hurry when camping. The evolution of 1x will be fine in the future but for now, it’s not the best option for everyone where as 2x works for majority… just not a cool.

mateo
mateo
8 years ago
Reply to  Von Kruiser

The real trick for most people is to be honest with yourself. If you don’t have enough climbing gear, go down a ring size (or two). How often are you currently spinning out your 10T cog?

There are a lot of people riding 32t rings (because that is what came with their bike) that would be better served by a 28 or 30 (or even 26 in some cases).

wheelz
wheelz
8 years ago
Reply to  mateo

Mateo, you hit the nail on the head. Many people should just go to a smaller front ring. Even with a 28t up front, it’s easy to spin up to 27 mph or so with a 10T rear cog. 27 mph is bloody fast for single track! If it’s steeper and I want to go faster, I’m generally better to tuck and coast. Races are generally won on the climbs, not by going 1 or 2 mph faster on the descents.

Mike Bechanic
Mike Bechanic
8 years ago
Reply to  wheelz

+1

Smokestack
Smokestack
8 years ago

With the improvements of gearboxes I only hope that it catches on more, that Shimano and SRAM start actively developing. Wider range, less unsprung weight, weight centered in the bike, stronger wheel, and dedicated chain path for optimizing pivot placement for full sus designs. I rode a fat bike with a pinion set up and aside from preferring triggers to twisters, I was impressed by the thing.

Guru Josh
Guru Josh
8 years ago

Foolish. There’s more to MTB than Enduro and day rides. For lower consumables costs and off-road touring FDs still have a place. Luckily Shimano still make great FDs and chainsets.

Mike
Mike
8 years ago

I run 1×10 on one of my bikes, and 2×10 on the other, what is wrong with me!

rather_what
rather_what
8 years ago

@LateSleeper

“IMO, 1X is great for cyclists who’d rather walk.” – really?

You do realize that assuming you have 3×8 with 11-32 and 24/32/42 front, 1×11 with 10-42 and 32T front covers all the climbing range of your setup? Ultimate granny gear is identical and you would only loose 1 or 2 gears from your largest front ring (42/11 and maybe 42/12).

Where yould you propose to walk with such range?

Even if you had 22T smallest front ring on your 3×8, 30T on 1×11 would still match it, same as in example above.

Dan
Dan
8 years ago

SRAM is the only company that can make quitting cool! It’s amazing how they have utterly failed at making an FD work, watch the history.

1st they started with Gripshift, then they started making shifters, and RD’s, then they bought a crank company and tried their own FD options, when they couldn’t make the FD work for a triple they quit, then they started making the double FD and crank, when they couldn’t make that work, they quit again and made 1×11 history, and now, they realized that the 1×11 doesn’t provide enough gear range so they are “saying goodbye” to the FD cause they now admit that they couldn’t make it work… With the big jumps from each gear, you will never have the right pedaling cadence, insuring you will be fatigued at the end of your ride…

The FD is here to stay, and it works great! If you want a 1 quiver bike, for the majority of people that means you will want to climb and descend, and giving up the gear range isn’t worth it when you way function to simplicity.

Brett
Brett
8 years ago

wait, whats a front derailleur

scentofreason
scentofreason
8 years ago

I will ride a triple until I die. Why? I ride in actual mountains. We have trails so steep I’ve seen riders fall over backwards (no I am not kidding). A granny gear is a must. Did the Breck Epic a few years back, I RODE passed plenty of people in way better shape than myself on the steeps. Because they were all on 2x, and my 22 granny gear allowed me to keep riding. I can’t imagine the limitations on a 1x. Plus you actually have to shit more on a 2x or 1x, as you can’t just ‘pop’ form the middle ring to the granny gear in a pinch, you actually have to shift 5-7 gears to get down low. Really hate this 2x 1x fad…

pTymnWolfe
pTymnWolfe
8 years ago
Reply to  scentofreason

You know that people ride the Breck Epic (and harder races) on single speeds, right? I would bet those same people kick your a** too. How do you explain that?

People fall over backwards when climbing because they have no idea about body positioning and the balance required not because they don’t have a granny. Using a granny gear has nothing to do with keeping you and your bike from falling over backwards. Bump your chest all you want about how the trails are sooooo steep because you live in the mtns and need a triple. I know the truth.

Ifitaintbroke...
Ifitaintbroke...
8 years ago

I’ve been riding 1×9 xt rapid rise (11-32) on my trail bike for nearly 10 years and never wanted more gears at the hassle of a FD or bigger cogs… or a bigger wheel for that matter (still on 26 inch).

However, in my opinion, this seems to just be more hype in an industry with a thousand “New Standard(s)” chomping at the bit for our hard earned dollars.

Sadly, I’m on my last XT 9 speed cassette and will have to “upgrade” this season.

Ol'shel'
Ol'shel'
8 years ago

46T cassettes are coming and they’ll make 1x more useful to those of us who want to climb the steepest tech and not spin out below 20mph on the descents.

Gearboxes are heavy and inefficient. I hope they’re not the future.

Frank
Frank
8 years ago

I just did the math via Sheldon Brown’s gear calculator: in order to replace my mandatory low gear of 24×36 and a reasonable top gear, say 36×11, I would have to have a 1x system with a 36t ring and a 10-54 rear cassette. Not happening any time soon.

mateo
mateo
8 years ago
Reply to  Frank

Close(ish). A 10-49 would do it.

36/24 with an 11-36 = 491% range. A 1×10-49 would be 490% (so make it 10-50 if you want to surpass your double’s range). 32t ring would be slightly lower gearing, and 34t would be slightly higher. And note that at 90rpm, that is a speed range of around 5kph to over 40kph on a 29er.

This link wouldn’t allow 12 cogs, so its showing a big gap at the low end on the 1x setup that would be filled in with a 12th cog.

http://gear-calculator.com/?GR=DERS&KB=24,36&RZ=11,13,15,17,19,21,24,28,32,36&UF=2309&TF=90&SL=2.6&UN=KMH&GR2=DERS&KB2=32&RZ2=10,12,14,16,18,21,24,28,32,36,49&UF2=2309

anonymous
anonymous
8 years ago
Reply to  Frank

That math is wrong. You would need a 33t ring and a 50t rear. Coincidentally that is what the Eagle leak is. 10-50t.

36/11=3.27
33/10=3.30
24/36=0.67
33/50=0.66

I’m still surprised SRAM would realease 12 before Shimano though since SRAM likes to copy Shimano’s spacing for compatibility, but I guess they’ve already diverged on MTB in terms of cassettes.

HDManitoba
HDManitoba
8 years ago
Reply to  anonymous

Yes but SRAM (and really nobody else either) makes a 33t 1x ring. They are all even tooth count due to the narrow wide teeth. So you then either choose 32 or 34.

Wannabeabiker
Wannabeabiker
8 years ago
Reply to  anonymous

Good luck finding a 33t chainring. Especially if you want narrow-wide 😉

Wuffles
Wuffles
8 years ago
Reply to  Frank

You’re a bit off, your 24×36 and 11-36 cassette is a 491% range. The leaked SRAM eagle drivetrain is a 10-50 cassette, which beats it at 500%. So if by not happening anytime soon you mean “next week”, then yes.

rather_what
rather_what
8 years ago
Reply to  Frank

In your example by going 10-42 you would loose only 36×11 OR 24×36 depending on front chainring, and rest of the range would stay the same.

I personally don’t spend much time on either and can easily compensate that by slightly higher cadence. Having no worries about gearing when approaching climb or downhill, no chaindrops or chainsuck, or chain rattling, 300-400g weight saving, less clutter on handlebars, less maintenance.

All these for me outweigh having one additional gear on extreme ends of range.

Inspector Gadget
Inspector Gadget
8 years ago

I ride too and from the trails on the road. If I only had a 32 or 34 front chaining I think I’d climb off and pitch the POS in the ditch. Buy your components from a company that can actually make front shifting work and has for years. I’ll buy a 1×11 right after I buy and giant F-150 to carry my precious bike to the trails and back…yeah, that will be never.

Badbikemechanicx
Badbikemechanicx
8 years ago

No thanks. I love all 20 of my xtr gears. Remember when it was considered un manly to always be in your granny. I still think so but maybe I am old school

Johan
Johan
8 years ago

Fd died a long time ago for me, bravo SRAM
Would absolutely love a Pinion style gearbox if they could bring the weight down.

nonamejd
nonamejd
8 years ago

XX1 put me back on Shimano for the first time in a decade. The single ring up front is great for training, but not so good in racing and the 10-42 is down right appalling. XTR Di2 is alright with the 11-40, but even then the gaps need to be much tighter.

mr_godfrey
mr_godfrey
8 years ago

I can’t understand why nobody ever makes this point…I love my 2X10 because I can grab the equivalent of 3 rear gears either up or down with a single click of the FD. So quick. Hit a sudden pinch? One click. Crest the rise and getting back up to speed? One click. OK, I’m experienced with using front derailleurs and I keep my bikes well adjusted but, sheesh…it’s not that hard! I hammer downhill fairly hard, hard enough to usually be in the front group of any casual downhill ride, and I simply never have chain-drop problems. Is it just experience and a bit of mechanical sympathy? I don’t know. But I love using my FD and use it as often as the RD. Bike is 130/150 travel dually. Riding is uphill and down, I love both.

mateo
mateo
8 years ago
Reply to  mr_godfrey

Nobody makes that point because you can shift 3x in the rear faster than 1x in the front.

Jeff Sayegh
8 years ago

Ive been running Sram front derailleurs since ever they first came out, never had a problem. From what I hear, Shimano does make a better front, but who cares. If you’re shifting your front derailleur as much as your rear derailluer, maybe it would be a problem.
As far as 1x is concerned, its way better, and yes, I do live in real mountains with real climbs and descents. On one of my bikes, I run XX with a 39/26 chain rings, with a 11-36 cassette, it surprises me how often I don’t even shift into the 26T ring, about the only time I do use it, is on super steep climbs, but with 1x, just about every one of those climbs are totally make able( XX1 34T chain ring, 10-42 cassette)
Keep 2x for the road, since I don’t believe there will ever be enough gear range, but for mountain biking and cross, 1x is the way to go.

Veganpotter
Veganpotter
8 years ago

I think this concept would be far more pleasing plausible with a 9t cog. Maybe a 9-48 or 9-46 for tighter ratios to outdo e*thirteen with a tighter 12 speed over their 11 speed cassette

mateo
mateo
8 years ago
Reply to  Veganpotter

9-46 would be the same as 10-51.

Eric E. Strava
Eric E. Strava
8 years ago

I’ve been 1x since the 9 speed days. I have never missed the FD outside of bikepacking. Also I live in the mountains, and my mountains are bigger and steeper than the mountains everyone else mentioned.

Bazz
Bazz
8 years ago

If you are in the 42t all the time your front chainring is too big.

preston
preston
8 years ago

I run 2* with a 620% gear range and there are many days I use the whole shebang. And I ride 12-15 hours a week. Even if a 1* system eventually covers that wide of a range the gaps will be annoyingly large and at some point I think you would also lose the whole “works more efficiently” part as you ask the RD to do too much. The part that always gets me is how trivial the gain is, as if 3/4 lb and “less chain slap” is a reason to hobble your bike. Many people live in mellower terrain, but in Washington I have a name for people who ride 1*

walkers.

duder
duder
8 years ago

I ride 1x on 3 bikes (XC, trail/enduro, DH). There are good and bad properties.

I find the range (32×10-42) sufficient for XC riding and racing, but I do spin out on downhill pavement.

Trail range (30×10-42) is also fine, but I have to swap to a larger ring for racing enduro, which ends up being too tough to push up steeper climbs.

Before 1x I couldn’t really run a big ring on my trail bike anyway because I’d bash the crap out of it, so I’d run a 34 + bash guard.

My rides usually average between 150-225ft of climbing per mile for the whole ride.

Good stuff about 1x is weight, narrow-wide, oval rings, and not having to time front shifts.

Narrower range and getting stuck on the wrong side of the block when you unexpectedly stop are not so good things.

Overall I’m happy with my switch to 1x, and I think the upside outweighs the downside.

mateo
mateo
8 years ago
Reply to  duder

“getting stuck on the wrong side of the block when you unexpectedly stop are not so good things.”

How is this unique to 1x? You can’t stop in the wrong gear on a 2x?

duder
duder
8 years ago
Reply to  mateo

@mateo With a 2x you can gain or drop a lot of range in a single front shift, vs having to make multiple shifts to move up or down the 1x cassette. If there is an unexpected grade reversal or you stop in a bad spot, it’s much quicker to drop to the small chainring vs having to shift 6 clicks up the cassette of a 1x, especially if you are trying to do it while riding in too tall of a gear at 45 rpm.

IDK. Seems like most people on this thread either love or hate 1x with a passion, while I see pluses and minuses. Overall I like 1x, but range and not having the bigger jump between rings are definite disadvantages.

duder
duder
8 years ago
Reply to  duder

I ride mostly in the mountains with long climbs and long descents, and what I really need is one or two low range gears for going up and 5 or so gears for descending. On my 1x I typically use the 2 easiest gears going up, and then the bottom half of the cassette on the way down. I very rarely use 6-7-8-9.

Revised Hammerschmidt + XO1 DH 7sp might be a pretty rad setup, super crisp shifting plus a low range climbing gear.

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