1x road bike

[3rtt]

With 12 and 13 speed drive trains available now, do you think road bikes could go to 1x ?

[3rtt]

I think the group set manufactures have come on a long way since 3T ran 1x 11 speed with Aqua Blue. Hats off to them for running it in the Pro peloton.

Now there is wide range12 speed from SRAM 10-36. Plus the Campag Ekar 13 speed. Rotor also offer 1x 13 speed.

If my calculations are correct, at 90RM cadence using Campag Ekar 1x 44T chainring and 9-36 cassette with 700x30c tyres, velocity speed is 35.5mph.

Not too shy ?

[3rtt]

ScotHill said:

Don't the 12 speed cassettes and the dinner plate sized 11 speed cassettes cost a bomb to replace though?

To be honest, the respective replacement cassettes are pretty much a similar price, if you are comparing like for like. Ie Shimano Deore with Deore, SRAM Force with Force.
If you are swapping from 2x to 1x with larger cassette, you will need a longer cage rear mech.

[3rtt]

Kawasicki said:

I live in a hilly area. We have competitive club training rides where we have friendly races both to the top and bottom of the hills. Some of the hills are so steep I can’t manage much over 10km/h going up and I descend the same hills at around 70-100 km/h, often in a group... until the last 200m where it turns into a sprint to the line.

I have a 52-36 at the Front and an 11-28 cassette. I desperately need a 11-30 cassette or change the small ring on the front to 34.

I think a 1x wouldn’t suit how I ride.

I have a friend who lives in the English lake district which has very steep climbs in places. He runs a 1x etap set up with 46T chainring and (dinner plate) 10-50 cassette on his road bike..... It covers all the hills and top speed. I have to admit, it takes some getting used to the look of this on a road though.