1x cyclocross thoughts

[mtb_frk]

I am thinking about trying 1x10 on one of my cross bikes this season. I'll probably get a sram cx1 42t ring and a clutch x9 rear deraillure to use with a 12-36 WiFli cassette and s700 shifters.
Is it worthwhile or just marketing hype? I really only use the small ring now, and the big ring only a few times a race, depending on the course. Just seems like I don't really need the big ring and the front deraillure.

[eBAUMANN]

Do it.

But also consider a wolf tooth ring instead, cheaper and made in america!
I have been racing/riding them on 3 cx bikes for the past 2 years, they are excellent.

Also, consider maybe a 40t ring. Depends on the terrain/use the bike will see, but I have found 40t to be the sweet-spot for a do-everything (cx races, gravel riding, etc) type cx rig.
Though with that 36 out back you might be ok on a 42 as well.

[Lewis Moon]

Do it. I ride the majority of my miles on my SSCX. I LOVE it. HODALA!
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-X065V1o81qQ/VQt6GwhwhlI/AAAAAAAABmQ/6yU46iMZyMo/w1166-h762-no/P1030241.JPG

Edit: Sorry, didn't catch the 1X10 reference.

[dzxc]

This will be my third season as 1x. Before it was 1x10, this coming season will be 1x11. Never had a single issue with a 42T Wolftooth chainring. Sometimes I have to push a little harder up a muddy hill than I would with a standard double, but really enjoy not dropping my chain and having a much cleaner/easier setup. When I got my new cx bike, after one ride I converted to a single front. It really is that good.

[1X10]

As what was stated above!!

I have only ever had 1X10 on all my cross rigs since 2005...

Mutted up Campy and never had any issues unless I really was pushing the life of a chain/cassette...

With the use of a narrow/wide and a clutch type rear der. it makes even more sense...

Enjoy

[mtb_frk]

I am running one of the sram red hidden bolt cranks, which it doesn't sound like wolftooth has a ring for yet. Looking around on their site it looks like I would have either use a washer or do some grinding on the bolt to get it to fit right. They were my first thought instead of the sram rings.

[shovelhd]

It's the in thing for SRAM sponsored riders.

[Lewis Moon]

Speaking to the 1x10 issue, if you really need to run a chain keeper up front (you still can ship the chain, just ask Wout Van Aert), why not just run a front der and keep the chain ring?

[shovelhd]

From what I see (I do not race cross, only officiate it) some guys keep the front dérailleur. Clutch rear dérailleurs negate the need somewhat.

[sparky33]

1X is great, never ever never going back to 2x for cyclocross.

SRAM CX1 is what I use, and it works.

[RobJ]

1x11 here too on my cross/all-arounder. Build going on now that will a Wolftooth 44 up front and SRAM CX1/Force RD with 11-36. Ran 11-32 before with various fronts and never needed much more. Used it to train on the roads too.

[sandyrs]

Speaking to the 1x10 issue, if you really need to run a chain keeper up front (you still can ship the chain, just ask Wout Van Aert), why not just run a front der and keep the chain ring?

For what it's worth, if you use a SRAM yaw front derailleur for cx... stop doing that. Or at least ditch the chain catcher. In the last lap of a mechanical-plagued race last year, I dropped a chain to the inside because the chain catcher didn't manage to stop it, and then couldn't get it back onto the inner ring because the chain catcher was blocking it. I ran the rest of the race.

I was using 44/34 gearing and after that experience, I basically never used the 34 and didn't really miss it, so I figured I was a good candidate for 1x. I recently switched to a 40T Wolf Tooth for the upcoming season but am keeping the Rival RD for now. So far I've ridden some pretty nasty trails with no drops.

[Lewis Moon]

For what it's worth, if you use a SRAM yaw front derailleur for cx... stop doing that. Or at least ditch the chain catcher. In the last lap of a mechanical-plagued race last year, I dropped a chain to the inside because the chain catcher didn't manage to stop it, and then couldn't get it back onto the inner ring because the chain catcher was blocking it. I ran the rest of the race.

I was using 44/34 gearing and after that experience, I basically never used the 34 and didn't really miss it, so I figured I was a good candidate for 1x. I recently switched to a 40T Wolf Tooth for the upcoming season but am keeping the Rival RD for now. So far I've ridden some pretty nasty trails with no drops.

I use one of these:
http://www.acecosportgroup.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/500x360/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/x/l/xl_cross_double_1.jpg
Beefy. I think the more flimsy road catchers have a tendency to flex and allow the chain to get behind the catcher.

[nooneline]

I used a 1x10 with a narrow-wide chainring last season. I had one chain drop. That's probably what I would have had with a double and a front derailleur.

Don't buy the 42t ring. Well - okay, if you're going up to a 36 and a WiFli, maybe it's fine. For conventional cassettes and RDs, I'd recommend a 40. I had a 42t last year - most of my cross racing previously had been big ring (44) only. So I figured the 42 would be fine, and that with a 26 or a 28 I'd be able to get up anything I needed to. This was mostly accurate... unless there were steep, difficult, long climbs in CX races - like Jingle Cross. So, okay, my choices didn't deal well with outliers. Everything else worked peachy.

The reason I like a 1-by setup is that during cross season I get a little bit lazy about maintenance. But, if I hit some foul weather, smooth and reliable front shifting is the first thing to go. It's nice to obviate that. The weight and simplicity are nice, I guess, but likely don't make much of a difference, and the optimal performance of a double is not something that I need as, ultimately, a dabbler in the discipline.

[GRAVELBIKE]

I am thinking about trying 1x10 on one of my cross bikes this season. I'll probably get a sram cx1 42t ring and a clutch x9 rear deraillure to use with a 12-36 WiFli cassette and s700 shifters.
Is it worthwhile or just marketing hype? I really only use the small ring now, and the big ring only a few times a race, depending on the course. Just seems like I don't really need the big ring and the front deraillure.

If you don't need the 42/12 high gear, you might want to run a smaller chainring with an 11-32 cassette instead. Smaller gaps, and a little better shifting, too.

[sandyrs]

I use one of these:
http://www.acecosportgroup.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/500x360/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/x/l/xl_cross_double_1.jpg
Beefy. I think the more flimsy road catchers have a tendency to flex and allow the chain to get behind the catcher.

Nice. That looks like a way better solution than the flexy SRAM one. Beefy for sure.

[mtb_frk]

If you don't need the 42/12 high gear, you might want to run a smaller chainring with an 11-32 cassette instead. Smaller gaps, and a little better shifting, too.

I wasn't really sure what gearing I need. I run a 36/46 12-28 type combo now. Only use the 46 on pavement or flat dirt sections if at all. So I was thinking a 42 with the big cassette would work ok. I've been holding off on getting the chainring though, just because I am not sure.

[ik2280]

I wasn't really sure what gearing I need. I run a 36/46 12-28 type combo now. Only use the 46 on pavement or flat dirt sections if at all. So I was thinking a 42 with the big cassette would work ok. I've been holding off on getting the chainring though, just because I am not sure.

I was asking myself the same question recently. Ended up going with a 38T Wolftooth ring and an 11-32. Will find out how it works this week.

What is that chain catcher?

[GRAVELBIKE]

I wasn't really sure what gearing I need. I run a 36/46 12-28 type combo now. Only use the 46 on pavement or flat dirt sections if at all. So I was thinking a 42 with the big cassette would work ok. I've been holding off on getting the chainring though, just because I am not sure.

I ran a 38t ring with an 11-36 cassette, and the high-gear was on the low side for paved road descents. Currently running a 42t ring with a 10-42 cassette, but that's for commuting and gravel riding.

[Lewis Moon]

I was asking myself the same question recently. Ended up going with a 38T Wolftooth ring and an 11-32. Will find out how it works this week.

What is that chain catcher?

Double XL chain catcher (http://www.acecosportgroup.com/k-edge-chain-catchers/cyclocross/cross-double-xl-chain-catcher.html)

[Britishbane]

I'm a fan of 1x for CX. I used it last year and for the first time ever never dropped a chain in a race (or elsewhere for that matter). I use a 42t wolftooth, shortcage x9 T2, with a max cassette of 30t and never had an issue. I rode up just about everything that was rideable or at least where it wasn't faster to just run.

[https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3868/18620577133_1fd1e532f1_b.jpg

[jonnyBgood]

I've been running 1x10 for some years now on my cyclocross bike and LOVE it.

I have a 42 tooth chainring with a custom chainring guard that a friend made (He works with carbon and made me a custom guard copied after another brand) with the K-Edge single chain catcher and have never lost my chain.

The 42 tooth works great for cyclocross PLUS when I want to take the same bike out for a road ride when things are crappy I can and not worry about not having enough gear.

[gospastic]

1x is nice, works for crits too :)

[mtb_frk]

Well I ordered a 42t ring and x9 rear deraillure. I'll give a try before the season starts and see how it goes.

[tmf]

Do you just leave your left lever as is when going to 1x or something else? I have Ultegra 10s levers on the cx bike.

[mtb_frk]

I'm just going to use my current lever. Im running hydraulic discs so I dont want a mismatched set of levers/brakes.

[Britishbane]

Do you just leave your left lever as is when going to 1x or something else? I have Ultegra 10s levers on the cx bike.

Yes. I cannot imagine fretting over the weight.