Help me swap out my MB drivetrain to gravel/Cyclo 1X
03-01-19, 09:31 AM
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Help me swap out my MB drivetrain to gravel/Cyclo 1X
Hey guys, I have a rigid 29er with Shimano XT 1X drivetrain. I use this bike in inclament weather, some gravel rides, and when riding with slower roadies. Right now it has an XT 34T in the front, and an XT 11-46 cassette in the back. I'm looking at going with a 1X 38-40T in the front, maybe 11-34-11-40 in the back. What do you recommend? 
03-01-19, 11:09 AM
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Just buy different chainring and cassette. You already have long cage rd so you can run whatever you want. For that XT crank I think the max you will be able to go is 38t.
https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/...nt=30847173125
38T and 11-42 s not a bad combo.
https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/...nt=30847173125
38T and 11-42 s not a bad combo.
Last edited by gus6464; 03-01-19 at 11:14 AM.
03-01-19, 11:59 AM
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Yeah, 38t is the max chainring size you'll be able to find for that Shimano 96bcd asymmetric crankset.
I think a 38×11 is a good high gear for a bike with wide tires and flat bars. If you want higher you'll have to change the crank.
Why do you want to change the cassette? Closer gear spacing? I think having a 46t low cog is a nicer feature than having ultra-close spacing, but that's my opinion.
I think a 38×11 is a good high gear for a bike with wide tires and flat bars. If you want higher you'll have to change the crank.
Why do you want to change the cassette? Closer gear spacing? I think having a 46t low cog is a nicer feature than having ultra-close spacing, but that's my opinion.
03-01-19, 12:04 PM
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You can also go drop bar too with the Toughroad if you want. All you would need is a set of Shimano R7020 hydro shifters and a tanpan and you are in business. All the new Shimano road hydro stuff uses the same hoses as MTB so you can run MTB calipers with road shifters.
03-01-19, 12:08 PM
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Yeah, 38t is the max chainring size you'll be able to find for that Shimano 96bcd asymmetric crankset.
I think a 38×11 is a good high gear for a bike with wide tires and flat bars. If you want higher you'll have to change the crank.
Why do you want to change the cassette? Closer gear spacing? I think having a 46t low cog is a nicer feature than having ultra-close spacing, but that's my opinion.
I think a 38×11 is a good high gear for a bike with wide tires and flat bars. If you want higher you'll have to change the crank.
Why do you want to change the cassette? Closer gear spacing? I think having a 46t low cog is a nicer feature than having ultra-close spacing, but that's my opinion.
My advice is to dial in the chainring first for the higher gears, then see if you don't need/use that 46t low gear often enough to keep it.
03-01-19, 01:05 PM
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Yeah, 38t is the max chainring size you'll be able to find for that Shimano 96bcd asymmetric crankset.
I think a 38×11 is a good high gear for a bike with wide tires and flat bars. If you want higher you'll have to change the crank.
Why do you want to change the cassette? Closer gear spacing? I think having a 46t low cog is a nicer feature than having ultra-close spacing, but that's my opinion.
I think a 38×11 is a good high gear for a bike with wide tires and flat bars. If you want higher you'll have to change the crank.
Why do you want to change the cassette? Closer gear spacing? I think having a 46t low cog is a nicer feature than having ultra-close spacing, but that's my opinion.
03-01-19, 03:23 PM
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Some great info here guys. I just ordered the 38T, 96mm BCD Wolftooth chainring along with a new XT chain. Thanks!
03-02-19, 08:21 AM
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Get nice drop bars of the adventure style go with bar end shifting as it is cheap and flawless......Make it fit comfy = the key
03-03-19, 09:07 AM
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I ride 11-42 with a 40t chainring and am relatively happy with it. On more "road" type rides, I've been toying with getting an 11-34 or so, for smoothness.
My current cassette has 36 as the penultimate gear and then 42. I rarely use either unless I'm towing the baby trailer uphill or I'm doing things on the gravel bike that might be considered more mountain biking.
My current cassette has 36 as the penultimate gear and then 42. I rarely use either unless I'm towing the baby trailer uphill or I'm doing things on the gravel bike that might be considered more mountain biking.
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