Single chainset obsession?

[Coopz]

Walking around the local bike shop the other week, pretty much every mountain bike over $1500 had a single front chainset. I know it simplifies the bike and gives it a small weight reduction over a traditional 20-30 gear twin or triple setup. Yet when I rode my friends hardtail last weekend with a SLX 20 speed I loved it, fast gearing on the open roads, ultra low gears for the steep climbs. I got back on my duelie with its 11 speed and I really missed those extra gears especially peddling on the road where I'm maxing out at less than 30k.
Is this just a fad or are single chainsets here to stay? 10 years ago they were a rare sight.

 

[Cardy George]

My understanding is you can blame SRAM for their inability to make a decent front derailleur and their ability to market not having one as a benefit. Kinda like what VHS did to BETA all those decades ago.

Doesn't make it easy for the more educated (ie you and me) to buy a 2x chainring though. If anyone knows where I can I'm keen to know.

 

[Jpez]

I blame SRAM for Covid 19 too.
Single chainrings are here to stay.

 

[moorey]

I blame SRAM for Trump.
Nuts to front rings.

 

[Mattyp]

I blame SRAM for shit brakes

 

[moorey]

I blame SRAM for shit brakes

I blame Avid for that rot.

 

[Mattyp]

yeah but SRAM decided to buy out avid, could have just let it die and we might now live in a very different world.

 

[Flow-Rider]

Walking around the local bike shop the other week, pretty much every mountain bike over $1500 had a single front chainset. I know it simplifies the bike and gives it a small weight reduction over a traditional 20-30 gear twin or triple setup. Yet when I rode my friends hardtail last weekend with a SLX 20 speed I loved it, fast gearing on the open roads, ultra low gears for the steep climbs. I got back on my duelie with its 11 speed and I really missed those extra gears especially peddling on the road where I'm maxing out at less than 30k.
Is this just a fad or are single chainsets here to stay? 10 years ago they were a rare sight.

Yeah, pretty sad, all my bikes are x2 or x3 and not looking forward to spending all my savings on 1 x 12. I can most likely get away with 1 x11 for most trails rides but when I start doing the longer stuff I like the extra gearing.

 

[oliosky]

I blame both shimano and sram for not being able to engineer a decent front mech. 1x is as here to stay as dropper posts, tires that grip despite their weight and 29ers that can turn a corner. Sorry.

 

[Tim_the_Clyde]

The problem isn’t the chain set....your pedalling on the road


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[The Duckmeister]

I blame Avid for that rot.

SRAM made them worse.

 

[ashes_mtb]

God knows why we need 20 or 30 gears. Or even 11 or 12 for that matter.

If I can't get up a hill with my 1x8 it shouldn't be climbed really. They're known as push bikes for a reason.

 

[Coopz]

The problem isn’t the chain set....your pedalling on the road


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Have to get to the trails first..

 

[bear the bear]

I blame both shimano and sram for not being able to engineer a decent front mech. 1x is as here to stay as dropper posts, tires that grip despite their weight and 29ers that can turn a corner. Sorry.

Shimano makes very good front derailleurs, they are just not specced on most recent bikes.
Even with Shimano 12spd you can still get a front derailleur if you so desire.

 

[oliosky]

Shimano makes very good front derailleurs, they are just not specced on most recent bikes.
Even with Shimano 12spd you can still get a front derailleur if you so desire.

Why would you though? Narrow/wide and 11 speed changed the game entirely. Chain stays on, bike stays quiet and you get a 32x50 climbing gear and 32x10 pinned gear. Have to say less than 1% of my riding ever makes me wish I had more than a 32x10 to roll over... May just be slow.

 

[moorey]

SRAM made them worse.

Agreed...but Avid gave it to them on a plate.

 

[Calvin27]

ast gearing on the open roads

Get a road bike.

Honestly on my mtbs, it;s usually click click click on the ups or downs. No time to think - am i cross chaining or will the terrain get steeper or descend? Fistfull of gears when you need it.

 

[Sethius]

Just buy some vyro.

First Look: Vyro AmEn1, a shifting crankset alternative to gearboxes

It’s been almost four years since we first looked at the unique shifting crankset concept from Vyro, but now having just spent a week riding a pre-production version we have a better sense for their alternative crank that delivers some advantages over both 1x and double setups. By moving the big...

bikerumor.com

 

[Daniel Hale]

God knows why we need 20 or 30 gears. Or even 11 or 12 for that matter.

If I can't get up a hill with my 1x8 it shouldn't be climbed really. They're known as push bikes for a reason.

i’m with you, was 1x1 but now have a more fancy 1x9..i’m surprised how well an alivio rear der. holds a chain, 34t max cog

 

[Daniel Hale]

. Have to say less than 1% of my riding ever makes me wish I had more than a 32x10 to roll over... May just be slow.

agree’d, where r u riding u need such high speeds? i currently have a 38t oval paired with campy 12t, so 3.18 ratio on my steel gravel bike with drops, heaps plenty for gravel kom theft, even on 4-5deg downslopes