vinuneuro

I like 2x for hilly and mountainous areas to get keep tight cassette ratios, but it's incredibly flat in the Chicago area that I don't need much range. The goal is to reuse most of the existing 6800 hydraulic setup on my Diverge.

Only changes would be:
-Remove FD
-RX800 RD
-1x crankset: undecided

Would there be any issue using the left RS685 shifter to only actuate the brakes? I welcome any feedback on this setup.

DrIsotope

You can easily retain your current crankset, just put a narrow-wide ring on it. I've never run 1X with a dedicated 1X crank, and my chainring lines up with the 6th cog, right in the middle of my 11-speed cassette. Wolftooth probably the way to go for the NW ring, they make 'em up to 50T.

And yes, you can absolutely use the left shifter just for brakes. My first 1X setup used a 105 setup for levers, and I just ignored the vestigial shift levers. You can actually lock it out, by basically using a short length of shift cable, fastened so that the shift levers cannot be actuated. I've seen a YouTube video explaining the process, but it was several years ago.

shoota 

I have the same group and was thinking about doing the same thing. The only difference is that I need the RD to clear an 11-42. Would a RoadLink + the Ultegra RX800 clear that?

wsteve464

Use it for your dropper post lever?? Is there a way to take the shift lever off, that would be my choice just to keep it out of the way.

DrIsotope

Probably. I got a 6700 GS to clear an 11-42 using a Roadlink, but the RD was definitely being asked to do more than it wanted too-- just not enough spring tension. I've no experience with the clutched RX800, but I imagine it should be better than a straight-up road derailleur designed for a 32T max.

Unused shift paddle to actuate a dropper is great-- I wish I had thought ahead and bought Rival 22 HRD levers instead of the Rival 1 HRD I got, because my dropper routing would be even cleaner. The PNW Roadie Lever is great, but using the shifter that's already there would be even better.

shoota 

I did some research and it turns out they make a specific Roadlink for the RX800 now. RoadLink DM: https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/...c9e9ca1f&_ss=r

Just ordered it.

DrIsotope

It will definitely work with a direct-mount. Replacing the 6700, I used a Wolftooth direct mount paired with an XT RD and a pull-correcting pulley (Shimano road levers to Shimano mountain RD,) and it was great.

shoota 

Maybe I'm thick, but what's the difference between the normal roadlink and the direct mount?

edit: Oh wait, the DM replaces the rd's stock mount. Got it.

DrIsotope

The direct mount actually replaces the top arm on the derailleur. With the regular one, the pivoty-bit on the RD connects to the Roadlink, so the parallelogram of the RD is now a bit wonky.

The regular Roadlink is a bit of a bodge, the direct mount is just a longer top arm for the RD, to clear bigger cogs.

shoota 

Sweet. Apparently the stock RX800 can clear a 1X setup with an 11-42 by itself.

redlude97

Yep, on most bikes it can. I'm running 2x 50/34 11-40 with the RX800 and have some room left to play with on the b-screw, 1x with a 38-42T should be no problem

vinuneuro

Unfortunately my bike came with a the current gen FSA SL-K Light crankset. It's an outstanding crankset but like many others today uses a proprietary asymmetric bolt pattern that isn't compatible with other chain rings.

Probably the biggest concern with reusing a 2x crankset would be chainline.

DrIsotope

Well, if you have to buy a new crank anyway, might as well go with 1X. That FSA uses a truly asymmetric bolt pattern, it seems.

And again-- no real chainline issues with a 2X crankset. I've never used a dedicated 1X crank. My current crank is a Rotor 3D30, which replaced an FSA Gossamer. With the narrow-wide in the outer position, the chain is dead straight in the 6th cog.

redlude97

Some chainrings offset chainline to center for 2x cranksets like sram and wolftooth. Others do not like raceface. I had problems with a raceface nw on a 2x shimano crank on a bike with short chainstays but not with a sram 5 bolt nw or dedicated 1x crankset

jeffreythree

Have you seen these chainrings? https://shop.fullspeedahead.com/en/t...inring-1x-3256
I was looking for 110mm ABS narrow wide chainrings for a road powerbox crank.

vinuneuro

Thanks, I hadn't come across this. Do you know if it is offset slightly to correct the chainline for 1x?

Edit: at $92 for a chainring it's more economical to sell my crankset and get a Force 1 instead. FSA's pricing has always been pretty steep.

https://www.fsaproshop.com/FSA_PRODU...370-0032017050

redlude97

or hang on to it until you are fully commited to 1x

DrIsotope

Not really a budget 1X setup once Force 1 gets involved, is it?

vinuneuro

At retail prices perhaps not. I purchased a new (takeoff?) Force 1 crankset today for $140. My SL-K light will fetch $100-150 on ebay.

In any case, budget was meant in the context of not getting a 'dedicated' 1x groupset a la Force 1 or GRX.

vinuneuro

I probably will do just that but I don't see how this won't work out. It's so flat here I will be using an 11-28 cassette with a 38T ring. This should give me all I need given how much of the range I'm using in the current 50/34 + 11/32 setup.

https://ritzelrechner.de/?GR=DERS&KB=...25,28&UF2=2168

jeffreythree

The one I posted a link to is only $69, but the price changes when you go to buy it? Weird.

There is someone selling some on ebay for about $52 shipped, by the way. I am waiting for FSA to get back to me after they test fit some on a Powerbox crank, but they did say they were specifically corrected for making the SL-K cranks 1x.