I have a 1x7 for my hard tail commuter/gravel bike and that’s been fine for me for 4+ years
My road bike that I got this year is 2x10, but I never use the small chainring, and that is more than enough ratios. As someone who prioritizes cadence over speed, the jump in the ability to fine tune my gearing from 7 to 10 speeds was pretty amazing. Looking at ratios of 11sp cassettes, I imagine the returns wouldn’t be worth having to upgrade my entire drive train.
It’s also worth considering industry trends/standards as well. While still available, 7sp cassettes are on the outs for most brands, outside of big box stores. While my commuter has a lot of sentimental value, I’ve definitely put more money that it’s currently worth into replacing worn out parts over the past COVID year.
Last edited by nel e nel; 12-06-21 at 08:16 AM.