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Race with 1X9 set up?

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rydbyk

· mnoutain bkie rdier
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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I have done a bunch of endurance races over the years. Anyone go with 1X9 ever and use it as a preference? I know that the course can dictate what is used at times, but I just wanted to hear your pros/cons on racing 1X9.

Note: I have yet to convert to 1X9

Gracias!
 
#2 ·
Works for some of the pro's like Kabush and Absalon on some courses.

The positives are less weight, less hardware and less stuff to fail. One of the negatives is you may not have the gear range to cope with widely varying conditions if weather changes during the race.
 
#3 ·
I've been running 1x9 all this year, and it's proven to be a pretty good setup for me.
A lot of the negatives people talk about, haven't been a problem for me. The biggest problem I had was getting it setup. If you decide to switch to 1x9, make sure you chain is as tight as you can possibly get it, and your chainguide is as low as it will go without touching the chain.
If possible I'd recommend getting a few chainrings and change them out depending on the course, maybe a 32, 34 and a 36 maybe even a 38 for flatter courses.
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
COLINx86 said:
I've been running 1x9 all this year, and it's proven to be a pretty good setup for me.
A lot of the negatives people talk about, haven't been a problem for me. The biggest problem I had was getting it setup. If you decide to switch to 1x9, make sure you chain is as tight as you can possibly get it, and your chainguide is as low as it will go without touching the chain.
If possible I'd recommend getting a few chainrings and change them out depending on the course, maybe a 32, 34 and a 36 maybe even a 38 for flatter courses.
Click to expand...
How much of the chain can you cut? If you get your chain dialed in for 32, can you still run a 38 w/no issues?
 
#6 ·
I just removed 2 links from the chain, and put a single speed 32 tooth up front. I had a couple chain drops, so, thats why I made the switch. I've race almost all year on a 1x9 setup, and I like it a lot. Its pretty simple, almost like a single speed, but not quite.
 
#7 ·
rydbyk said:
How much of the chain can you cut? If you get your chain dialed in for 32, can you still run a 38 w/no issues?
Click to expand...
didn't really think about that, was kind of tired when I posted.
I really doubt that you could run a 32 and 38 with the same chain. Honestly I only have a 34 and a 36, but I only ever run the 36t.

Maybe have two chains, one chain cut to be used with a 32t and 34t, and another one for the 36t and 38t. You could even just get a cheaper chain for which ever two you'd use less, and have a nicer chain for the 2 you'd use the most.
 
#8 ·
Works quite well for me, I had a lot of problems with chain dropping and chain suck especially in muddy races. Wanted to give 1x9 a try so I brought an MRP guide and a 36 and 38t chainrings. Haven't used the 38 yet as I still only have a 32-11 cassette. I think that you need to rely on your climbing to be strong. I don't spin out on the flats but I did notice in a 100km race that the downhills are a little bit slow compared to the geared people, but single track and climbing were as quick, climbing generally a bit quicker because you are forced to push a harder gear. I would suggest trying it and seeing whether it works for you.
 
#11 ·
Changed over to 1x9 mid-July (34tx11-34) for Midwest xc racing and it worked really well. One less thing to think about and no problem with the gearing. Forgot about it for my trip out to Montana and surprised myself on what I could climb when I needed to. I just kept reminding myself that I was still riding an easier gear than most singlespeeders and I had to suck it up.

To me, the major pluses are weight loss in components, less thinking while riding and forcing myself to ride faster while in a harder gear.
 
#12 ·
Iowagriz said:
Changed over to 1x9 mid-July (34tx11-34) for Midwest xc racing and it worked really well. One less thing to think about and no problem with the gearing. Forgot about it for my trip out to Montana and surprised myself on what I could climb when I needed to. I just kept reminding myself that I was still riding an easier gear than most singlespeeders and I had to suck it up.

To me, the major pluses are weight loss in components, less thinking while riding and forcing myself to ride faster while in a harder gear.
Click to expand...
yes! :thumbsup: thats what I was trying to say, and it didnt come out too well.
 
#13 ·
i have raced 3x, 2x, and 1x.

3x has too much redundancy and the small ring is pretty much useless for xc racing.

1x doesn't have a wide enough range with 9speed (haven't tried it with 10), in my experience i found that i either wanted a bigger gear on faster sections or wanted a smaller gear for recovery after an attack on a climb.

2x seems to work best (even for 9speed rear).

only race this year that i was glad i had a triple was at Fontana. the "elevator" climb was brutally steep and i was able to spin a bit later in the race without losing too much time. the XX 2x10 setup probably would have been fine if I had the smaller rings but the larger ones on my HT would have had me off and hiking much sooner.
 
#14 ·
I would really like to be able to run a 1x9 or 1x10. The weight savings and simplicity are really attractive.

I know from experience that when racing I need a bit easier gear. A climb in pre-ride that I can do in my middle ring is a granny climb when I enter it all ready pinned. Around here steep climbs are part of racing, and only the best can get away without a granny.

If I was going to go with a single it would probably be with a 30 front and 11-36 10s rear. A 30-11 is still a big gear, not that much smaller then 44-16, which big ring and three up in the back on a typical set-up. here, where descents are slow and technical, that should be more than enough.
 
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#16 ·
whybotherme said:
i have raced 3x, 2x, and 1x.

3x has too much redundancy and the small ring is pretty much useless for xc racing.

1x doesn't have a wide enough range with 9speed (haven't tried it with 10), in my experience i found that i either wanted a bigger gear on faster sections or wanted a smaller gear for recovery after an attack on a climb.

2x seems to work best (even for 9speed rear).

only race this year that i was glad i had a triple was at Fontana. the "elevator" climb was brutally steep and i was able to spin a bit later in the race without losing too much time. the XX 2x10 setup probably would have been fine if I had the smaller rings but the larger ones on my HT would have had me off and hiking much sooner.
Click to expand...
I had those thoughts too. But, theres always guys on single speeds faster than me, so, if I have a 9 speed I cant complain about gearing :eek:
 
#17 ·
I've been racing 1x9 almost all year. I don't think I'd ever go back to a double and definitely not a triple. I switched from a double to 1x9 when chain suck started to rear its ugly head.

My finishing results have improved steadily all year. In the spring I raced cat 2, and just upgraded to cat 1 for the fall series. I just landed my second podium in cat 1 (19-29) on Sunday (2nd place).


I agree with Fakie... Whenever I feel like crying how everyone has so many more gears than me, I think about the guys racing the PRO class on single speed bikes and KILLING it. Surely I can get by with 9 times the amount of gears!

I love it for the simplicity, weight reduction, decrease in drive train issues and no more chain drops. It's like the half way point between a single speed and a geared bike. There's a lot less chance of equipment failure with this setup as well and I can run my trusty bash guard.

I could see MAYBE going back to a double if I was constantly riding stupid steep continuous climbs up in the mountains, but we don't have any 1,000+ footers in central Texas. I have all the gears I need on my 29er with a 32 tooth front, and 11/34 cassette. Spinning out is pretty much never an issue for me either.
 
#20 ·
nathanbal said:
why does 1x9 have less chainsuck issues?
Click to expand...
There is nowhere for the chain to get stuck, there is a ton of room between the (one) chainring and the chainstay
I have been running 1x9 for the past year and love it, no chainsuck even in long 50-100 mile muddy races and with a 36 front ring I can go as fast as I want on the road, if I spin out I'm better off tucking in and coasting like a SS. What I noticed on a long point to point endurance race is that I would catch the SS guys on long steep singletrack climbs because they were walking, then I would catch the GGG's (granny gear guys) as they spun 80 rpm while only going 2-3 mph while the slowest I can go is around 4-5 mph
My new Orbea will have a 2x9 setup until I can figure out a way to change it to one x nine
 
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