CX gearing options

[Gfi3]

I apologize if there is already a thread on this subject here, but I couldn't find one.

Just bought a cheapo cx bike (KHS CX 100) to give racing a go this season. At my first race last week I noticed a number of riders with a single ring up front. My current setup came with compact cranks 50/34 and an 11-32 in the rear. Seems like an ideal setup to swap to 1 x 10.

I didn't find myself using either high or low extreme of my gearing and I'm drawn to the simplicity of the 1x system.

Anyone have experience with this or a good recommendation for front chainring size? Or overall gearing in general? What do my fellow cx racers on here run?

Thanks!

[alioup]

46/36 is the go-to for most people.

[spartanKid]

42 w 11-28 is a pretty common 1x9/10/11 set up. Some pros will run 44T front single rings depending on the course.

46-36 is the most common double set up on new bikes. 46-38 is what most pros run. 44-34 is out there as well.

If you've got 11-32 in the back, I'd look at doing a 42 or 44 single ring, or a 46-36/38 set up, depending on if you're going to be using the bike ONLY for racing or for other stuff as well.

I run 44-34 with an 11-28, the goal being to stay on the 44 as long as possible, as dropping to the 34 during races is slooooow, but I like the 44-34 for taking the bike on trails and gravel roads and things.

[vav]

46-34 and 11-32 on my Zanc CX. Perfect for most of my riding. Buy a 46t 110 bcd chainring and call it a day.

[Gfi3]

Thanks. I don't intend on using it for much else besides racing. I'm leaning towards going with a 42 up front and leaving the 11-32

[RacerJRP]

Personally for a single ring setup I am a fan of the 40t up front. run it with 11-28 or 11-32 depending on the course.

[christian]

I run 39t w 12-25 for racing. I'm slow though.

[Hepmike]

Keep in mind if you go with a single ring up front, you're going to need a K-Edge or Paul C chain catching system, or you're just going lose your chain. The K-edge stuff worked great for me, the Paul C is very sensitive to get setup properly.

[Dromen]

I like that the forum allows my obvious answered and semi stupid questions....

So i just remove the RD, inboard chainring and add the chain catcher and im officially a 1X9/10/11? Gotta be something else.....

[11.4]

I'm not sure why 36/46 is the industry OEM standard. Unless your cross is dead flat or has some paved stretches, the 46 is just a chain guard. I think Richard Sachs still does like a 34-42 and he's damned fast. Most of the riders I know that can win a race in the US, short of the few elites, can do just fine on a single-speed 40-42 or a 34-42 or at most 34-44.

If you want to do a single front chainring, then really think about setting up your bike completely differently. Do a rear derailleur with a clutch like the new XTR (which works with Dura Ace) so you maintain chain tension, don't use too much chain (most people take off a 46 and forget they need to shorten the chain), and use a ring with high teeth and mixed widths so the ring simply stays in place. With that, it has to get pretty gnarly for you still to need a chain guard. I've seen a few very fast riders using a Saint rear derailleur and riding chopped flat bars on the front -- you can use basic XTR or XT cockpit hardware and with the bars narrow, you can squeeze through all kinds of holes in the pack. It sounds odd at first but it's actually pretty cool and it's fast. You can use a Saint crankset too if you can work out the clearances and Q-factor, but it has great gearing for cross. In short, it's time to re-think cross. Unless you are collecting UCI points, be open to different ideas and look at everything that the MTB side of the world has brought to the market. Shimano has now finally made them compatible with road, and it opens a lot of opportunities.

[11.4]

Originally Posted by Dromen

I like that the forum allows my obvious answered and semi stupid questions....

So i just remove the RD, inboard chainring and add the chain catcher and im officially a 1X9/10/11? Gotta be something else.....

You mean remove the FD? Yes.

And as I said in the post just above, shorten your chain. Consider getting a clutched rear derailleur. Get a chainring made for single-ring. Probably you will want a wider range on your cassette -- this is where an 11-speed 11-32 Ultegra or an 11-speed 11-36 or whatever from the mountain stuff is useful.

[Dromen]

yea FD.

I was thinking, WiFLi RD w/ 46X11/32, standard chain with Chain catcher. Wanna use components i have laying around to try it. OR is the WiFLi with SS chain and no chain catcher a better option. Bet your going to say, with the WiFLI you better use the SS chain and catcher.

[thirdgenbird]

Originally Posted by Hepmike

Keep in mind if you go with a single ring up front, you're going to need a K-Edge or Paul C chain catching system, or you're just going lose your chain. The K-edge stuff worked great for me, the Paul C is very sensitive to get setup properly.

Did they change the Paul keepers? I've heard they were troublesome but I just installed one on a 1x10 mountain bike and had no problems setting it up without rub in any of the gears. Easier than setting up any front derailleur.

[Hepmike]

Originally Posted by thirdgenbird

Did they change the Paul keepers? I've heard they were troublesome but I just installed one on a 1x10 mountain bike and had no problems setting it up without rub in any of the gears. Easier than setting up any front derailleur.

Not that I'm aware of. The issue is it can look like it is correctly installed/spaced, until you hit just the right kind bump and it will come off and there's no way you're getting it back on without using a wrench. Ruined 2-3 CX races for me. I switched to K-Edge and so far so good .

[bcroslin]

What options are there for running a different (smaller) big ring on Shimano CX-70 cranks? I've got a a 46/34 but definitely need something smaller to replace the 46.