Gears: going from 3x9 to 1x11

[hab1966]

I'm looking to buy the wife a new mountain bike, as an upgrade to her current bike which is running 3x9 gears.

I'm looking at both hardtails and full suspension, but the full suspension frame will only take 1x gear sets, the hardtail will take a 2x gear set.

I've been sent a gear ratio table showing the range of different sets and also been playing around with gear ratio web pages and realise im not going to be able to cover the full range of the 3x9 on a 1x11 set up, nor fully on the 2x set up.

My bike is still old school gearing also, so ive no experience of riding 1x gear sets.

I know that on some rides the wife does use the granny gears but im hopeful that she will be able to adjust! If not its an expensive mistake!!

I'm just wondering what other peoples experiences are in making the change to a 1x gear set and if they miss the gearing of a 3x setup?

[joshleb]

What crankset does the 1x bike have? Want to be able to use 30t or even 28t if she isn't the strongest pedaler, but not all cranksets accept lower than 32t.

Want cranks that have direct mount chainrings compared to the traditional spider.

[hab1966]

I've settled on both bikes being the SRAM GX groupset. 10-42 range at the rear. 32T up front with the option of 30,32,34,38 and 38.

I think the 32T will be okay and she will just have to learn to adapt! She's very competant on a bike, its just our current riding doesnt include as many hills as we used to cycle a few years ago. Id hate for her to hit a hill and have to push due to lack of gears, but i dont think this will last.

With a new bike, im hoping we hit the hills again, though we have a 4yr old who cycles with us who we have to consider when we pick a route.

[tjdixon911]

I have 2 bikes running SRAM 1x11 Set-ups, A Full Sus which is currently running a 32t chain ring - had a recent trip to the Peaks and I found it ok on most of the climbs, there were a couple of climbs I couldn't manage but neither could the Guys running 3x10, 2x11 (both HT 29ers) and 1x11 (30t - FS) - we were around 25 miles into the route and I was cramping up which didn't help!

My Hardtail 29er is running 34t chainring and I can pretty much keep with the 3x10 geared bike on most things (incl road sections).

I only recently switched the chainrings between bikes as I felt they were better suited the other way round - I had previously done a Peaks trip on the FS with the 34t, the 32t made it slightly easier..

I've been a convert to 1x for a while, previously 1x9 and 1x10, the SRAM 10-42 cassette is a massive improvement (in ratios) over the 9/10speed set ups.

Some of the SRAM Parts look expensive to replace though.

[joema]

a 30 or 32T on the front and 42t on the rear should be easy enough to pedal up anything but the steepest gradients. And shouldn't leave her spinning out when its downhill.

Switching from 3x9 you only lose a couple of ratios. 1x11 is great.

[The_Jackal]

I have the GX setup too with a 32T and it is only the steepest hill you will struggle with. At that stage though you will have more of a problem with the front raising up.
One less shifter to worry about is a far bigger advantage.
Make sure your mech hanger is rock solid though as any play will make gears 1 and 2 a bit rough.

[ecsrobin]

I have 2x10 on my giant 29er FS I can't remember the last time I used the granny ring, I run a 34T up front and can tackle any hill and I am certainly not fit or quick. the only reason I haven't gone 1x10 is because I'll need new cranks as they have an odd PCD.

[Craikeybaby]

I went from 3 x 9 to 1 x 10 (32T at the front and 11-36 at the back) and it is only on the steepest of hills at trail centres that I've had a problem. With 42T at the back and the option of 30T at the front she should be fine.

[FD3Si]

32 here with a 1x11 10-42.
If I ever have to use the granny ring, the main issues are keeping the front on the ground and rear end traction. I'd be very surprised if you have issues.

[WestyCarl]

New front chain rings are very cheap (£20) and easily changeable (10mins). If after a few rides she struggles with hills, either up or down, it's very easy to change the front chain ring. 1 x 11 is much better than 3 x 10.

[hab1966]

Thanks for all the responses.

I think im going to take a punt and buy her a Bird Aeris GX with the 32T upfront to begin with and see how she gets on.

[snotrag]

Just going through the same as well, I've flitted between 1x, 2x and 3x drivetrains for years, long before wide range cassettes were available. Few points to note -

- Don't worry about running out of gears at top speed on tarmac sections - it really doesn't matter. A 32-11 still allows 23/24mph at reasonable cadence.

- When you don't have the option of bailing to a granny gear, often you find that you actually get up the hill faster! Its not that you need the low gear, its just an easy cop out sometimes.

- Remember that wheel size makes a difference - your wheel size is effectively your 'final drive ratio'. So someone who manages a 32t on a 27.5 might need a 30t on a 29er (I've not done the maths, but its definitely a noticeable difference0.

[hab1966]

snotrag said:

Remember that wheel size makes a difference - your wheel size is effectively your 'final drive ratio'. So someone who manages a 32t on a 27.5 might need a 30t on a 29er (I've not done the maths, but its definitely a noticeable difference0.

Thats a good point. The new bike comes with 27.5" wheels and her old bike (3x9) has 26" wheels.Not sure if that makes things better or worse now!

[Pablo16v]

I would probably opt for a 30t ring just to be on the safe side then if she feels she's fit enough change to a 32.