1x9 (or 1x8, 1x10) setup - Cyclocross Magazine2024-03-19T02:27:50Zhttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/forum/topics/1198434:Topic:921?commentId=1198434%3AComment%3A2011&feed=yes&xn_auth=noI have a 1 x 8 set-up with a…tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2010-09-05:1198434:Comment:660672010-09-05T01:55:37.045Zrobert garnerhttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/robertgarner
I have a 1 x 8 set-up with a home made chain catcher and have never dropped a chain in training or races. I have dropped chains with chain guards and a simple chain watcher. Mine is simular to the Pauls but I did not want to pay the $52 which I felt was way over priced. See attached photo
I have a 1 x 8 set-up with a home made chain catcher and have never dropped a chain in training or races. I have dropped chains with chain guards and a simple chain watcher. Mine is simular to the Pauls but I did not want to pay the $52 which I felt was way over priced. See attached photo Something that I just remembe…tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2008-05-30:1198434:Comment:24642008-05-30T15:38:42.748ZJose Rodriguezhttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/JoseRodriguez
Something that I just remembered being told about (regarding chains falling off) is that you can use a front dérailleur as a chain guard/chain stay. This was told to me by this old-school, amazing & legendary Cross racer out here in Portland, OR. This guy has been racing cross for years, runs his own bike shop and is all about helping building build up their own bikes, especially when we're building on a budget. He has more knowledge and info than anyone I've met. But what he told me was…
Something that I just remembered being told about (regarding chains falling off) is that you can use a front dérailleur as a chain guard/chain stay. This was told to me by this old-school, amazing & legendary Cross racer out here in Portland, OR. This guy has been racing cross for years, runs his own bike shop and is all about helping building build up their own bikes, especially when we're building on a budget. He has more knowledge and info than anyone I've met. But what he told me was that you can use an old front dérailleur cage as a chain guard, even when you're not using it as a dérailleur. He recommended it to me because I ride single speed. He said that you can mount it and then adjust it to be as tight on the chain as possible so that the chain then wouldn't be able to slide off. He also said that you could bend it in a bit to "snug" it up to the chain.<br />
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Not sure if this would help any of you, since you all are riding geared bikes. But I'm sure that the theory still applies. I ran 1x10 last season with a…tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2008-05-30:1198434:Comment:24542008-05-30T15:06:59.101ZRouleurBoyhttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/RouleurBoy
I ran 1x10 last season with a jump stop on the inside and a FSA carbon chain guard on the outside. Worked like a charm with SRAM Rival. The problem you may run into with double guards is chainstay clearance. With SRAM, you can even gut the left shifter to lose a little weight off the rig. I ran a 12x27 cogset.
I ran 1x10 last season with a jump stop on the inside and a FSA carbon chain guard on the outside. Worked like a charm with SRAM Rival. The problem you may run into with double guards is chainstay clearance. With SRAM, you can even gut the left shifter to lose a little weight off the rig. I ran a 12x27 cogset. I've used a 42 front ring wit…tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2008-05-30:1198434:Comment:23412008-05-30T01:13:05.371ZCurtishttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/Curtis
I've used a 42 front ring with a 12-27 casette setup for 5 years. There have been no recent courses where I've needed an easier gear. I have needed an extra gear for a long flat sprint like the cyclesmart race. I switched over to a single front after losing a race when I dropped a chain. The single front means I will never have that problem again.
I've used a 42 front ring with a 12-27 casette setup for 5 years. There have been no recent courses where I've needed an easier gear. I have needed an extra gear for a long flat sprint like the cyclesmart race. I switched over to a single front after losing a race when I dropped a chain. The single front means I will never have that problem again. I'll back up what Jeremy says…tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2008-05-28:1198434:Comment:22312008-05-28T22:03:42.173Zvanwacxhttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/vanwacx
I'll back up what Jeremy says. I'd like to know what the arguments are for single ring ... Minimize dropped chains? Lighter? Simpler? I think that all of those reasons have pretty convincing counter arguments.<br />
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I like my double setup. Last year, I went with a 44/38. Most races I just stayed in the 44 but when I wanted that 38, it was really nice to have. I never dropped a chain either.<br />
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For me, the double ring setup was the cheapest option as well. I didn't have to buy guards.
I'll back up what Jeremy says. I'd like to know what the arguments are for single ring ... Minimize dropped chains? Lighter? Simpler? I think that all of those reasons have pretty convincing counter arguments.<br />
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I like my double setup. Last year, I went with a 44/38. Most races I just stayed in the 44 but when I wanted that 38, it was really nice to have. I never dropped a chain either.<br />
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For me, the double ring setup was the cheapest option as well. I didn't have to buy guards. I would recommend going 1x1.…tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2008-05-23:1198434:Comment:20112008-05-23T14:05:15.002ZJose Rodriguezhttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/JoseRodriguez
I would recommend going 1x1. It will make things lighter, cheaper, and you don't have to worry about much breaking. The most complicated part is deciding which gear ratio suites you best. Out here in the Mud Haven of the Cross Crusade in Portland, OR, most of our races are completely in mud. A LOT of people break derailleurs out here during races. Especially when the races go out to the corn fields, hehee.<br />
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It's all fun and games out in the mud & rain!!!
I would recommend going 1x1. It will make things lighter, cheaper, and you don't have to worry about much breaking. The most complicated part is deciding which gear ratio suites you best. Out here in the Mud Haven of the Cross Crusade in Portland, OR, most of our races are completely in mud. A LOT of people break derailleurs out here during races. Especially when the races go out to the corn fields, hehee.<br />
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It's all fun and games out in the mud & rain!!! I agree. Courses in the US se…tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2008-05-11:1198434:Comment:15882008-05-11T14:36:21.131ZAdamhttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/Adam
I agree. Courses in the US seem to have far more steep but ridable hills than the Euro-style courses, which seem to get faster and faster. Granted, it's pretty flat here in Florida.....
I agree. Courses in the US seem to have far more steep but ridable hills than the Euro-style courses, which seem to get faster and faster. Granted, it's pretty flat here in Florida..... Thanks for the replies. Given…tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2008-05-07:1198434:Comment:14612008-05-07T17:08:25.194ZJMackhttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/JMack
Thanks for the replies. Given that this fall will be my first cross season, I'm leaning towards going with the double chainring setup. I can always go to single ring if I realize that I'm only using certain gear range for the races I'm in, right?
Thanks for the replies. Given that this fall will be my first cross season, I'm leaning towards going with the double chainring setup. I can always go to single ring if I realize that I'm only using certain gear range for the races I'm in, right? My experience is that you jus…tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2008-05-04:1198434:Comment:13612008-05-04T18:01:38.994Zjeremybhttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/jeremyb
My experience is that you just dont get the gearing you need with a single ring setup. Maybe I was just never strong enough, but I found myself running and dismounting while others were riding up some gnarly steep hills. Dont believe it when they tell you, "if you need to change gears, its faster just to run". This just isnt true. With courses more and more rugged, hilly and mtn bike inspired, dual chainrings is necessary. If you're a pro in UCI races, they just dont have the hills that you'll…
My experience is that you just dont get the gearing you need with a single ring setup. Maybe I was just never strong enough, but I found myself running and dismounting while others were riding up some gnarly steep hills. Dont believe it when they tell you, "if you need to change gears, its faster just to run". This just isnt true. With courses more and more rugged, hilly and mtn bike inspired, dual chainrings is necessary. If you're a pro in UCI races, they just dont have the hills that you'll find here.<br />
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In parting, I'd say its possible, but I think you'll be shooting yourself in the foot. Its a step in the direction of racing single speed against a group of geared racers. You could do better.<br />
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Oh and one more thing: Ive never had a chain drop with a dual ring setup and I had many with a single ring. And I tried every possible combo with a short chain too. This is the main reason I went back to the dual ring. JMack,
1x10 works fine - som…tag:cowbell.cxmagazine.com,2008-05-04:1198434:Comment:13442008-05-04T00:09:31.034Zandrewhttps://cowbell.cxmagazine.com/profile/cyclocross
JMack,<br />
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1x10 works fine - some pros use it, but the one down side is that the 10 speed chains have a reputation of being less durable, and sometimes breaking. Because you'll be shifting through the extreme angles, I might as a precaution replace the chain a bit more frequently than you would on 9 speed. I've seen a few chains out on the course last season, and am guessing it's due to 10s, but that's just a guess. We've broken one chain while riding cx, and it was on a 10s equipped test…
JMack,<br />
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1x10 works fine - some pros use it, but the one down side is that the 10 speed chains have a reputation of being less durable, and sometimes breaking. Because you'll be shifting through the extreme angles, I might as a precaution replace the chain a bit more frequently than you would on 9 speed. I've seen a few chains out on the course last season, and am guessing it's due to 10s, but that's just a guess. We've broken one chain while riding cx, and it was on a 10s equipped test bike.<br />
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Definitely get some combo of guards/guides - an outer guard with either an inner guide (jump stop) or dualies. See Josh's comment about mud/ice buildup with dual guards. The extreme angles, missing chainring, combined with the fact that you can't easily shift back into the chainring while riding makes the guides/guards essential. If you go single speed, you can drop them though with good chain tension.<br />
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As for gears, what level of racer are you, or expect to be? In general, a 42t front ring is the normal, and combined with a 12-26 or something like that, you should have a decent range for all courses. If you're just starting out riding/racing, some folks use mtb cassettes 12x28,11x32, etc for lower gears. In general if you're riding in a 32, 34, you might even be faster racing, but nice for training, trail riding, etc. You could go with a 38, 39, and maybe get a cassette that starts with an 11.<br />
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Good luck!