I'm not opposed to spending some money. Let's say new Deore or used XT as a price point. I was thinking 1x10 but an 11 speed Shimano MTB cassette will also fit on a traditional 8/9/10 speed Shimano freehub, so that's an option.
Another concern is future parts availability. I'd rather not setup something with parts that are barely find-able now, only to completely vanish in a year when 13 or 14 or 15 or whatever speed comes out. Things are being made "obsolete" at a rapid pace today, especially in the MTB world. I don't want to capture a moment in time that vanishes and then the entire drivetrain is worthless if one part goes.
Originally Posted by
Happy Feet
Sunrace has some 9speed 11-50 cassettes among other things. I run an 8 speed 11-42 on my 26r with a triple up front.
What rear derailer are you using? I'm not aware of any 8/9 speed rears that will shift a 42T without the use of a Wolf Tooth RoadLink (which I would be willing to use.) Also, that is a lot of gear!