Show me your vintage 1x setup
#1
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Show me your vintage 1x setup
Hey friends,
The whole "1x" setup (narrow-wide chainring up front, large'ish freewheel/cassette setup in the rear) has been white hot for a few years now (2016?). I've seen the trend go from modest 9-speeds in the back to 11 and 12 with cassette rings that are comically candy-colored, anodized dinner plates.
I know that this type of setup can be done tastefully, isn't visually jarring and in a way that compliments our classic aesthetics. I've got a couple of projects that I'm considering a similar 1x setup for, but I wouldn't want to go anywhere near as nuts as the current trends. So, let's see your setup. Road bikes, gravel, mountain/ATB, porteur, 60s vintage, 90s vintage, whatever, I want to see them all.
The whole "1x" setup (narrow-wide chainring up front, large'ish freewheel/cassette setup in the rear) has been white hot for a few years now (2016?). I've seen the trend go from modest 9-speeds in the back to 11 and 12 with cassette rings that are comically candy-colored, anodized dinner plates.
I know that this type of setup can be done tastefully, isn't visually jarring and in a way that compliments our classic aesthetics. I've got a couple of projects that I'm considering a similar 1x setup for, but I wouldn't want to go anywhere near as nuts as the current trends. So, let's see your setup. Road bikes, gravel, mountain/ATB, porteur, 60s vintage, 90s vintage, whatever, I want to see them all.
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The Simplicity of Vintage Cycles
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I road this until my narrow-wide chainring wore out, which did not take long. Reconfigured now I would want a better quality narrow-wide ring if I did it again since the cheapo one I put on it wore out so fast. Without the narrow-wide the chain falls off over large bumps. As soon as I put on the narrow-wide I noticed more resistance/friction. 44/36 lowest gear
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#3
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Schwinn and competitors made a ton of 5 speed derailleur bikes in the bike boom. They had 14-34 freewheels. The same bike with 11-36 on a freehub (and aluminum rims) would be pretty great for a townie.
At the front you want a smaller ring to center that cassette range. You can get other ring sizes for Ashtabula cranks. Probably a 38-42 for normal road going tires on a townie. As for a guard, I’ve found my MTB with a 1x30t front won’t ingest pant cuffs and shoelaces as much as the 22-32-42 did because they’re further from it and there’s no toothy outer ring to snag them in.
At the front you want a smaller ring to center that cassette range. You can get other ring sizes for Ashtabula cranks. Probably a 38-42 for normal road going tires on a townie. As for a guard, I’ve found my MTB with a 1x30t front won’t ingest pant cuffs and shoelaces as much as the 22-32-42 did because they’re further from it and there’s no toothy outer ring to snag them in.
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#4
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This is pretty much what I always do when building up a vintage based commuter for someone - this was for my niece. Outer chain guards are easy to find and paint if necessary, and I like to use modern cranks with outboard BB. If you need a bigger gear range, use a cassette hub and space for whatever wide range rear derailleur you find.
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When I was growing up in England during the 1960s, pretty much all derailleur bikes were 1x, either 1x5 or 1x4. I don't think I had ever seen a front derailleur in real life until I moved to the US and encountered the ridiculously heavy Schwinn Varsities (which obviously needed lower gearing simply to counteract their massive weight).
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grocery getter at our bach
~3km flat ride across the river into town to the shops
9km to the hot pools
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~3km flat ride across the river into town to the shops
9km to the hot pools
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73 Super Sport 1X6 with indexed thumb shift
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That, Monsieur, looks gorgeous. The drive-train proportions look just right, and it has this subtle well-engineered look about it that can only be French. A piece of art.
It reminds me of this:
It reminds me of this:
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#16
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^^^^. I don't say this often but hey, cool car
. Problem regarding the 44T is, Brussels is a bit hilly and my knees are the weak link.
BTW, I don't think a product of the Dangre Brothers has ever been called artful before, not even in French!
![Wink](images/smilies/wink.gif)
BTW, I don't think a product of the Dangre Brothers has ever been called artful before, not even in French!
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![Smilie](images/smilies/smile.gif)
Anyway, while Dangre may not be the most-coveted brand, this frame looks to be of quite decent quality. And its color and badges work very well visually in this application. And then there's that wonderful headbadge, of course.
#18
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Here's my take on a 1X.
It uses an 8 speed Alfine internally geared hub.
![](https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikeforums.net-vbulletin/600x461/imga1593cropped_8d6bc43a613b9e2a1fe1df175ec1e25180cba420.jpg)
When building this, I flirted with the idea of using a 14 speed RollHoff IGH the cost and cabling kept me away. I often wonder if I made the wrong choice.
It uses an 8 speed Alfine internally geared hub.
![](https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikeforums.net-vbulletin/600x461/imga1593cropped_8d6bc43a613b9e2a1fe1df175ec1e25180cba420.jpg)
When building this, I flirted with the idea of using a 14 speed RollHoff IGH the cost and cabling kept me away. I often wonder if I made the wrong choice.
Last edited by Bad Lag; 11-05-22 at 11:38 AM.
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#20
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![Roll Eyes (Sarcastic)](images/smilies/rolleyes.gif)
Besides, if these conversations are had, those looking to find out more can then use the search feature and won't have to disturb your regularly scheduled discussion topics.
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The Simplicity of Vintage Cycles
The Simplicity of Vintage Cycles
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I think 1x setups are certainly C&V. Consider, for example, this 1970 Raleigh Sprite:
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#23
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Tony Oliver's 753 touring ATB (Fig. 65/66 of Oliver's book) was 1x and just about perfection.
#24
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OP said, "... can be done tastefully, isn't visually jarring and in a way that compliments our classic aesthetics. ... So, let's see your setup. Road bikes, gravel, mountain/ATB, porteur, 60s vintage, 90s vintage, whatever, I want to see them all."
Last edited by Bad Lag; 11-05-22 at 05:56 PM.
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Most my bikes are/were 1x
Rola 01 by iabisdb, on Flickr
Frejus 01 by iabisdb, on Flickr
Frejus001 by iabisdb, on Flickr
Frejus 01 by iabisdb, on Flickr
Umberto Dei 01 by iabisdb, on Flickr
Viscontea 001 by iabisdb, on Flickr
Pecorari 001 by iabisdb, on Flickr
1953 Bianchi Selvino 033 by iabisdb, on Flickr
Bianchi Sport 099 by iabisdb, on Flickr
1948 Frejus 004 by iabisdb, on Flickr
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51427334282_b0a9ff38d4_k.jpg)
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/868/39828023440_2cbf4a4d96_k.jpg)
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/4754/38919108425_840dcdceea_k.jpg)
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51879350408_2fae73df91_k.jpg)
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/1555/25900591501_0e59d7e099_k.jpg)
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/8787/17124040465_3d6634e4ef_k.jpg)
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/7587/16503873593_8247249527_k.jpg)
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/8875/17123725204_dd7dc02f42_k.jpg)
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/8539/8982430664_7363e861de_k.jpg)
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/8122/8640786241_8997b9df81_k.jpg)
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