CX 1x10 Gearing

[homegrown08]

What gearing are people running for CX 1x10 (1x9 etc..) gearing?

I am currently set up with a 42T and 11-28 cassette, I have found it to be pretty good for most courses but it certainly has turned me into a bit of pedal masher.

What else are people running? As the courses get a little heavier I was thinking about dropping down to a 40T.

[sk_tle]

What gearing are people running for CX 1x10 (1x9 etc..) gearing?

I am currently set up with a 42T and 11-28 cassette, I have found it to be pretty good for most courses but it certainly has turned me into a bit of pedal masher.

What else are people running? As the courses get a little heavier I was thinking about dropping down to a 40T.

Just bought a standard crankset with a 53x39 and replaced the 53 ring by a carbon bashring. I would use a 42 if I was racing in elite but a 39 is fine. If you look at a gear ratio calculator such has sheldon brown's one, you will see the 39x11 with 32c tire will get you fast enough.

[Jacques]

39 with a 12-25

[zetroc]

42 x 12-25 here.

[suhacycles]

On that note, what's everyone's favorite chain keeper/watcher/catcher? Any experiences with the Paul one versus K-Edge?

[andrew]

After never getting into the big ring in a single race last year, I went 1x10 this year. 42x12-25. If I need an easier cog, I would be faster running. I use a salsa chain-guard on the outside and a 3rd eye on the inside. Absolutely zero shifting issues, no dropped chains, it is a great setup. If I was in a part of the country with a lot of mud, I might go with a bit easier gear, but here in Georgia we haven't had a muddy race in years.
Andrew

[mattsbeers]

I raced for years with a 1x and would never go back, lighter, less to break, in the northwest you never go fast enough to need a big ring. I think for a fairly fit guy a 42x12-27 was perfect. If you need more than a 42x27 you should be running! The Paul watcher is good but can be tricky to set up. I like a bash-guard sandwich if I had to choose.

[robin3mj]

42x 12-27
Bbg bash guard and dog fang.

[yakstone]

I use a 39 with a 13-29 on the rear with k-edge. I have also used the Pauls but with a bash guard the K-edge is easier to set-up. I live in Colorado and we do have some hills here.

[nate2351]

The best I've found is a bash guard on the outside and then a front derailleur with the outer cage ripped off. Its nice because you can use the limit screw to dial it in and it covers much more of the chain than a dog fang or k-edge. For gearing I like 44 - 11x32 with an XTR derailleur.

[homegrown08]

As far as the chain keeper, i am running an N - Gear Jump Stop with Salsa Chain Ring Guard, works great no issues at all. I would highly recommend the Jump Stop as it is super easy to set up and adjust.

[SeanEasley]

If you need more than a 42x27 you should be running!

I used to think this as well but one of our courses this year they hit us with a pretty long hill (about 70 yards) and halfway up I could no longer pedal the 42-27 and a few guys were riding past me as I ran up. Granted they had stuff like 36-46 and not a single ring like me, but if the hill is long enough its NOT better to run imo. 8th place is my worst finish in the past 4 weeks, and it was on that course mostly b/c of time lost on that hill each time around.

so to answer the question, I would go with a 39 or 40 if you can find one, and maybe 12-25 or 12-27 in back. If you can't pedal up in the 39-27 ony then would I agree that it's faster to run it regardless of how long the hill

best solution if you have the funds, get a 2nd bike and set it up double so you always have options. I added a bike mid season and its set up 38-42 in front.

[Guillaume]

When I was fit and won races I rode 45 x 11-28 (8speeds) now I'm with a 42 and ride for smiles.

[Oregonic]

39x11-28. Paul's chainkeeper. Once it's dialed, the setup works great. Also had good luck with a crossing guard/jump stop combo.

[sk_tle]

I realised that those chainkeepers are so expensive (except dog fangs), that it make sense to just use/buy a front derailleur. I ended up building my own crappy one out of a braze-on adapter and an old light mount. I would have used an old hacked front derailleur if I had one available at the time.

[Gradient]

I got this for $32 for a 1x9 configuration. Very adjustable and not unattractive and half th price of the Paul version: Products Description – ORIGIN-8

[Delicious]

I used to run a 42 single just like Ben Berden. I am however not Ben Berden so I switched to more mortal 39x12-26 gearing with K-Edge & cyclocrossworld outer chainguard. This is a more secure setup than chainguard + N - Gear Jump Stop I previously used.



I've since switched to a 2x (38/46) on the primary bike.

[suspectdevice]

What gearing are people running for CX 1x10 (1x9 etc..) gearing?

I am currently set up with a 42T and 11-28 cassette, I have found it to be pretty good for most courses but it certainly has turned me into a bit of pedal masher.

What else are people running? As the courses get a little heavier I was thinking about dropping down to a 40T.

Aren't you also running one of those new Sram clutch mtb deraileurs?
How's that working out.

[Delicious]

Aren't you also running one of those new Sram clutch mtb deraileurs?
How's that working out.

Not guilty. Campy 10 here. That was another guy on the Spooky Stuff thread...Truebeliever I believe.

[Moke]

I ride 90% of the time on my SS 39 x 17 or 18 gear. So when I jump on my 39 x 12 -27 it seems like I have a mtb selection of gears to choose from. When I was good I used to run the 42 x whatevers 6-8 speed was available in the era. At the pointy end of the elites/pros fields today it is sort of the exception to se a 1x10 rig, but they still use them. I just like the kiss solution of all my rigs.