[bikesdirect]

Now that most people have heard that upper end Shimano & Sram will be going 10 speed; have you thought of which you would prefer on a new bike?

Our main debate in the office is 20-speed vs 30-speed. With the option of 20 speed in many groups besides XX - will people prefer 20-speed. One guy we have that is already riding XX says most buyers will want 20-speed ~~~ but several of us think most customers will prefer the 30-speed setups over 20.

With 20-speed and 30-speed choices
And with X7, X9, XO, XX, SLX, XT, XTR offering lots of crank & cassette options
What do you think you would prefer in a new 29er?

 

[BruceBrown]

Now that most people have heard that upper end Shimano & Sram will be going 10 speed; have you thought of which you would prefer on a new bike?

Our main debate in the office is 20-speed vs 30-speed. With the option of 20 speed in many groups besides XX - will people prefer 20-speed. One guy we have that is already riding XX says most buyers will want 20-speed ~~~ but several of us think most customers will prefer the 30-speed setups over 20.

With 20-speed and 30-speed choices
And with X7, X9, XO, XX, SLX, XT, XTR offering lots of crank & cassette options
What do you think you would prefer in a new 29er?

20 speed (using the cassette with a 36T) will cover most everyone's bases on a 29"er. Front rings in 26/39 or 27/40 for me will do. But I'm already running 2 x 9's on most bikes and have been for a few years. Easy transition for me (except the cost) if and when I upgrade.

BB

 

[vizsladog]

20 speed should do it. Even do a 32-22 front with the 12-36 1o speed would be awesome....

do i smell you first f/s 29er coming???

 

[Rone Turner]

RIP 9 with 1x 9 XX drivetrain with 32T single up front. Really liking this setup.

 

[bikesdirect]

20 speed should do it. Even do a 32-22 front with the 12-36 1o speed would be awesome....

do i smell you first f/s 29er coming???

Yes
after over a year and four proto-types; I think we have hit on one of the best 29er FS frames out there. But it is easily still 6 months out

However, we will do 10-speed on lots of HTs also -- both 26 & 29

I am hearing that some people would go 1x10
I like this; but I would think more people would like 2x10 or 3x10

And I am starting to think 2x10 will be more popular than 3x10
however I see other builders are going 3x10 on most 2011 models
so it is an interesting set of options

 

[Captain_America1976]

i think 2 x 10 will be fine for most people.

 

[zandr]

I think triple cranks are completely stupid, especially given the new wide range 2x10 options. Hate hate hate triples.

 

[tiflow_21]

2x10 on the higher end 'race' bikes, 3x10 on the lower end 'recreational' bikes.

I'll likely be going to 2x10 and never looking back once production systems other than xx start becoming available. I run doubles on my cross and road bike and have no question the shifting in front and usable gear range in the rear is superior. I'm fairly dissapointed right now since I was hoping to make the jump this race season, but it sounds like we might be waiting awhile until the parts are available. Also a bummer that shimano is doing the trickle down thing and XT doesn't appear to have a 2x crank yet. Might just force me to the SRAM side of the fence depending on XTR pricing.

 

[Rone Turner]

Sorry meant 1 x 10 XX, with 30 T front.

 

[big_slacker]

Granny isn't needed for 99% of riding situations anyway, I think a 1x10 with 32 or 24 up front would be a great way to reduce complexity and weight. It would serve just fine for most XC riding situations. 2x10 with a 44 tooth for flatter racing courses maybe?

I mean personally I think 1x8 is great for a FS bike so I might be the wrong person to ask.

 

[vizsladog]

Got any teaser pics of it???

Yes
after over a year and four proto-types; I think we have hit on one of the best 29er FS frames out there. But it is easily still 6 months out

However, we will do 10-speed on lots of HTs also -- both 26 & 29

I am hearing that some people would go 1x10
I like this; but I would think more people would like 2x10 or 3x10

And I am starting to think 2x10 will be more popular than 3x10
however I see other builders are going 3x10 on most 2011 models
so it is an interesting set of options

 

[Furball the Mystery Cat]

I prefer 3x10. I ride up and down steep mountains. Most climbing is in the middle ring, but it's nice to have the little granny for the extremely steep parts. I also like the big ring of a triple for the downhills.

Granny isn't needed for 99% of riding situations ...

I like riding that 1% of steep climbs.

 

[customfab]

completely depends on your price point.

 

[jjmurch1]

You cant please every one, Going 3X10 would give people the option to just remove what they don't want.

 

[morandi]

I think the Sram 2x10 is great in theory if you:
A. Ride a hardtail or fairly light rig
B. Ride where there are not very many steep long climbs
C. If your rides are 2 hours max
Otherwise, for me personally, the gearing just isn't low enough. I ride a 30lb full suspension rig with wide tires, built for abuse. I like to whip the cream rather than churn the butter. I ride a 20/32 with an 11-34 in the back. I use every inch of my gearing, and could see even going to an 11-36 in the back. Personally I think triples are stupid. I think that the gearing set ups that the big S companys are coming out with are inadequate for 29er use.

 

[Mikecito]

Yes
after over a year and four proto-types; I think we have hit on one of the best 29er FS frames out there. But it is easily still 6 months out

However, we will do 10-speed on lots of HTs also -- both 26 & 29

I am hearing that some people would go 1x10
I like this; but I would think more people would like 2x10 or 3x10

And I am starting to think 2x10 will be more popular than 3x10
however I see other builders are going 3x10 on most 2011 models
so it is an interesting set of options

I think it makes sense to have a 3x10 for max options.
Can you give us any idea of what the price range will be on your new FS 29ers?
I'm really looking forward to seeing what you come out with.

 

[big_slacker]

Totally depends on the rider's fitness and style as you mention below with your whip the cream comment. I actually removed the granny (and replaced the big ring) on my old FS and basically did the opposite of what you have listed below. 27 lb bike, long climbs, steep climbs, most rides over 2 hours. I'm a stand and mash type of guy, I was standing and bobbing an 8" travel DH bike up hills last month, just can't get my SSer legs to spin fast enough. Wears me right out.

But it makes no diff if bikes are sold 3x10, its not like the front rings don't come off. :thumbsup:

I think the Sram 2x10 is great in theory if you:
A. Ride a hardtail or fairly light rig
B. Ride where there are not very many steep long climbs
C. If your rides are 2 hours max
Otherwise, for me personally, the gearing just isn't low enough. I ride a 30lb full suspension rig with wide tires, built for abuse. I like to whip the cream rather than churn the butter. I ride a 20/32 with an 11-34 in the back. I use every inch of my gearing, and could see even going to an 11-36 in the back. Personally I think triples are stupid. I think that the gearing set ups that the big S companys are coming out with are inadequate for 29er use.

 

[willtsmith_nwi]

A compact double should do the job for "most" riders. Obviously if you're doing long hard uphill slogs for miles, you'll probably still need a triple.

 

[muzzanic]

I was a triple ring fan & for the life of me I couldn't think of going 26/39 because I used my granny gear.

But I did a deal with myself to go XX on my new Jet9 if I could drop 15 Ib,& I droped the weight & went XX & 26/39 & found that I had been droping to many gears & making it harder on myself.

Now running 30/39 up front & loving it,You would be suprised what happens to the mind set when you have to push what you have got.

2x10 rocks

 

[Harry Zimmermann]

Depending on where you live, a big ring can be a mighty handy thing. There's about fifty miles of great riding within a half hour ride from my house, and a big ring makes riding in traffic doable. I wasn't using my granny ring much at all until I went to big wheels. Now it's a pretty nice thing to have, but I still don't like shifting into and out of it. Oh well.

If we have to put up with the fussiness and expense of ten in the back, then a 2x10 with the appropriate size rings might be just the ticket. The best part of nine speed with a triple is that most riding happens in the middle ring. Shifting between the two front rings a lot would get to be a drag, I would think.