So, SRAM have countered Shimano's 2011 XTR and XT 10-speed groupsets with their own models - all the way down to X7:
http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/sram-x9-and-x0-components-first-look-25741
http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/new-10-speed-sram-x7-unveiled-25411
Does anyone here really want X7 level gear to run 2x10? As I see it, there's:
Pros -
Improved chainline from 2 rings upfront
Slight weight decrease from losing 1 ring and skinnier chain, negated by
Cons -
Slight weight increase from bigger rear cassette (if going the 36t option) and more solid freehub required to handle the torque
Much lower range of gearing
Thinner chain = much increased wear on rollers, particularly on dirt
Thinner chain = Powerlinks less reliable (on the road at least, they're replaced by single-use-only "Powerlocks")
Incompatible with almost-universal 9-speed
Does anyone shift gears on their 11-32t 9-speed XTR cassette and think "gee, I really wish each shift was 11% closer in ratios"? I don't know about everyone else but probably 50% of the time I shift, it's 2+ gears on my cassette at once.
I can understand the carbon chi-chi crowd rushing their way towards a dozen gears on the rear cluster so they can stay within 2% of their chosen cadance of 96RPM as they spin endlessly along. However, when mountain biking SS is getting more popular than ever, surely some of the durability, simplicity, cost of SSing isn't lost on the geared crowd?
I'd seriously take a quality 8-speed group for both road and MTB use for the extra durability, and I'm having 10-speed groups whose Cons outweight the Pros thrust at me.
http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/sram-x9-and-x0-components-first-look-25741
http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/new-10-speed-sram-x7-unveiled-25411
Does anyone here really want X7 level gear to run 2x10? As I see it, there's:
Pros -
Improved chainline from 2 rings upfront
Slight weight decrease from losing 1 ring and skinnier chain, negated by
Cons -
Slight weight increase from bigger rear cassette (if going the 36t option) and more solid freehub required to handle the torque
Much lower range of gearing
Thinner chain = much increased wear on rollers, particularly on dirt
Thinner chain = Powerlinks less reliable (on the road at least, they're replaced by single-use-only "Powerlocks")
Incompatible with almost-universal 9-speed
Does anyone shift gears on their 11-32t 9-speed XTR cassette and think "gee, I really wish each shift was 11% closer in ratios"? I don't know about everyone else but probably 50% of the time I shift, it's 2+ gears on my cassette at once.
I can understand the carbon chi-chi crowd rushing their way towards a dozen gears on the rear cluster so they can stay within 2% of their chosen cadance of 96RPM as they spin endlessly along. However, when mountain biking SS is getting more popular than ever, surely some of the durability, simplicity, cost of SSing isn't lost on the geared crowd?
I'd seriously take a quality 8-speed group for both road and MTB use for the extra durability, and I'm having 10-speed groups whose Cons outweight the Pros thrust at me.
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