Shimano 2x10 to 1x11 conversion on a budget
Moderator: Moderator Team
Hi folks
On my CX bike I'm currently running Ultegra 6700 2x10 with 50/34 and 11-28. I like the fact that it's bombproof and can take some abuse - getting snagged in brambles and down narrow wheel ruts etc. The rear mech is short cage 6700 so max capacity is 30t officially. I'm finding the 34x28 ok offroad but a lot of my riding is on a chalk & flint downs escarpment with short (250ft high) but steep (20-30%) climbs and currently when getting out of the saddle I lose traction on the rear wheel over loose surfaces. i'd like to run a 1:1 ratio to spin up them a bit easier while keeping weight over the rear wheel.... so something like a 34 rear cassette is required and I'm also toying with going 1x11, but the Force1 groupset is £700 over here and no availability, so I found a cheap XT M8000 drivetrain upgrade kit with rear mech, cassette, rapidfire trigger shift https://www.bike-components.de/de/Shima ... it-p49644/
Now, apart from looking a bit messy with the trigger shift under the drop bars, is there any reason why not? The MTB cassette should fit my Fulcrum Racing 5 DB wheels with a 1.85mm spacer, I also frequently use the tops over rough ground and being able to shift from there does have an appeal, as does braking without the whole shift lever moving inwards, which can easily happen on a bumpy, rutted downhill.
I'm currently running Juin Tech R1 cable / hydro brakes so will likely just need some bare drop bar brake levers such as TRP RRL or SRAM S-900?, then lastly I'd like to change over to single front chainring, any good options for Ultegra 6700? Or would it be better to replace the crank altogether?
Any advice or tips welcome. Many thanks
ETA pic of bike
On my CX bike I'm currently running Ultegra 6700 2x10 with 50/34 and 11-28. I like the fact that it's bombproof and can take some abuse - getting snagged in brambles and down narrow wheel ruts etc. The rear mech is short cage 6700 so max capacity is 30t officially. I'm finding the 34x28 ok offroad but a lot of my riding is on a chalk & flint downs escarpment with short (250ft high) but steep (20-30%) climbs and currently when getting out of the saddle I lose traction on the rear wheel over loose surfaces. i'd like to run a 1:1 ratio to spin up them a bit easier while keeping weight over the rear wheel.... so something like a 34 rear cassette is required and I'm also toying with going 1x11, but the Force1 groupset is £700 over here and no availability, so I found a cheap XT M8000 drivetrain upgrade kit with rear mech, cassette, rapidfire trigger shift https://www.bike-components.de/de/Shima ... it-p49644/
Now, apart from looking a bit messy with the trigger shift under the drop bars, is there any reason why not? The MTB cassette should fit my Fulcrum Racing 5 DB wheels with a 1.85mm spacer, I also frequently use the tops over rough ground and being able to shift from there does have an appeal, as does braking without the whole shift lever moving inwards, which can easily happen on a bumpy, rutted downhill.
I'm currently running Juin Tech R1 cable / hydro brakes so will likely just need some bare drop bar brake levers such as TRP RRL or SRAM S-900?, then lastly I'd like to change over to single front chainring, any good options for Ultegra 6700? Or would it be better to replace the crank altogether?
Any advice or tips welcome. Many thanks
ETA pic of bike
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- bikerjulio
- Posts: 1900
- Joined: Fri Dec 11, 2009 10:38 pm
- Location: Welland, Ontario
I had the same dilemma as you. I had been vacationing back in my home territory and riding on the North and South Downs using a 10-speed cross bike with 50/34 and 12-30.
It just wasn't enough to get up the steep pitches. After thinking through various options, I settled on a Deore crankset, 40/26 and FD. Nothing else changed. It actually reduces the chain takeup required too. Worked perfectly for what I needed, at minimal cost and complexity.
Since then, there have been "road" type cranksets introduced with that kind of tooth count. Like these direct swap for Shimano https://www.suginoltd.co.jp/us/products/road/ox.html So, that's another approach, just not quite such low gearing with 44/30 as lowest.
Note that this approach requires a frame using a clamp type FD mount as a braze-on isn't going to get low enough.
It just wasn't enough to get up the steep pitches. After thinking through various options, I settled on a Deore crankset, 40/26 and FD. Nothing else changed. It actually reduces the chain takeup required too. Worked perfectly for what I needed, at minimal cost and complexity.
Since then, there have been "road" type cranksets introduced with that kind of tooth count. Like these direct swap for Shimano https://www.suginoltd.co.jp/us/products/road/ox.html So, that's another approach, just not quite such low gearing with 44/30 as lowest.
Note that this approach requires a frame using a clamp type FD mount as a braze-on isn't going to get low enough.
There's sometimes a buggy.
How many drivers does a buggy have?
One.
So let's just say I'm drivin' this buggy...
and if you fix your attitude you can ride along with me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GekiIMh4ZkM
How many drivers does a buggy have?
One.
So let's just say I'm drivin' this buggy...
and if you fix your attitude you can ride along with me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GekiIMh4ZkM
the XT rapidfire pod won't fit on a drop bar. You won't get the clamp round the bend.
You'd be better of running the road STI with a converter, as JScycle suggests. If you kept your current STI then you'd be 10 speed though, not 11.
If you're happy to stay 10spd then you can get 10spd MTB mechs which can handle 11-36 cassettes (cheaper than 11spd mechs too).
For the front ring, then any 5-bolt 110bcd narrow-wide ring will be fine. Superstar may still do cheap ones.
You'd be better of running the road STI with a converter, as JScycle suggests. If you kept your current STI then you'd be 10 speed though, not 11.
If you're happy to stay 10spd then you can get 10spd MTB mechs which can handle 11-36 cassettes (cheaper than 11spd mechs too).
For the front ring, then any 5-bolt 110bcd narrow-wide ring will be fine. Superstar may still do cheap ones.
Thanks for the replies chaps, as it's a band on front mech I should be able to lower it just fine. I have been reading up on Shimano HT2 MTB chainsets and have found a 10 speed M985 XTR 44 30 which might do the trick with a spacer or two for the 68mm frame
Bikerjulio - yes very similar terrain, I'm lucky to have direct access to the Ridgeway so I have miles of paths, bridleways and byways to explore which is brilliant
Bugger, that's quite a biggie. Thanks for confirming!
Bikerjulio - yes very similar terrain, I'm lucky to have direct access to the Ridgeway so I have miles of paths, bridleways and byways to explore which is brilliant
maddog 2 wrote:the XT rapidfire pod won't fit on a drop bar. You won't get the clamp round the bend.
Bugger, that's quite a biggie. Thanks for confirming!
converter
https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/products/tanpan
mech
Deore - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shim ... prod108792
XT - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shim ... -prod83163
ring
http://www.superstarcomponents.com/en/r ... w-wide.htm
oval - http://www.superstarcomponents.com/en/r ... w-wide.htm
cassette
XT- http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shim ... -prod52281
SLX - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shim ... -prod52312
I wouldn't go 2x10 personally. 1x10 (or 11) is just so much better, IMO.
https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/products/tanpan
mech
Deore - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shim ... prod108792
XT - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shim ... -prod83163
ring
http://www.superstarcomponents.com/en/r ... w-wide.htm
oval - http://www.superstarcomponents.com/en/r ... w-wide.htm
cassette
XT- http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shim ... -prod52281
SLX - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shim ... -prod52312
I wouldn't go 2x10 personally. 1x10 (or 11) is just so much better, IMO.
- bikerjulio
- Posts: 1900
- Joined: Fri Dec 11, 2009 10:38 pm
- Location: Welland, Ontario
OP on the spacer issue. Shimano provides 3 x 2.5 mm with an MTB style crank. I used 1 on the DS and 2 on the NDS and chainline was identical to the road setup.
@mad. I'd agree that there is a nice simplicity to a 1x setup, but the whole point of this switch is also to get usefully lower gearing. If limited to a 34T in front, it would need a 40T big sprocket to get as low as my 26 T ring x 30T solution.
A cassette more like this perhaps? http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ca/en/sunrace-mx3-10-speed-shimano-sram-cassette/rp-prod149194?gs=1&utm_source=google&utm_term=&utm_campaign=Chain+Reaction-CA-PLA-PLA-All-DT-SE-Shopping+QLB+Generic&utm_medium=base&utm_content=mkwid|scygkztcL_dc|pcrid|45501330212|pkw||pmt||prd|544233CA
But then I'm not sure the MTB RD will work with road shifters.
Perhaps a hanger extension and use the existing RD? Even simpler. http://fitwerx.com/wolf-tooth-roadlink-derailleur-hanger-extender-review/ Will work fine on a 1x drivetrain because on a 11-40 cassette chain takeup required is 29T - ie no problem.
This the cheapest solution for sure. All that's changed is chainring, cassette, and extender. Every thing else could stay.
@mad. I'd agree that there is a nice simplicity to a 1x setup, but the whole point of this switch is also to get usefully lower gearing. If limited to a 34T in front, it would need a 40T big sprocket to get as low as my 26 T ring x 30T solution.
A cassette more like this perhaps? http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ca/en/sunrace-mx3-10-speed-shimano-sram-cassette/rp-prod149194?gs=1&utm_source=google&utm_term=&utm_campaign=Chain+Reaction-CA-PLA-PLA-All-DT-SE-Shopping+QLB+Generic&utm_medium=base&utm_content=mkwid|scygkztcL_dc|pcrid|45501330212|pkw||pmt||prd|544233CA
But then I'm not sure the MTB RD will work with road shifters.
Perhaps a hanger extension and use the existing RD? Even simpler. http://fitwerx.com/wolf-tooth-roadlink-derailleur-hanger-extender-review/ Will work fine on a 1x drivetrain because on a 11-40 cassette chain takeup required is 29T - ie no problem.
This the cheapest solution for sure. All that's changed is chainring, cassette, and extender. Every thing else could stay.
There's sometimes a buggy.
How many drivers does a buggy have?
One.
So let's just say I'm drivin' this buggy...
and if you fix your attitude you can ride along with me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GekiIMh4ZkM
How many drivers does a buggy have?
One.
So let's just say I'm drivin' this buggy...
and if you fix your attitude you can ride along with me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GekiIMh4ZkM
Cheap-as-chips Sram 10-speed MTB derailleurs will work up to 11-36, sometimes even more. You can drive one with a SRAM TT barend shifter, 10s or 11s will both work with the 10s changer, just match the shifter to the cassette. Much better than a trigger on a drop bar.
Or go with a mid-cage Shimano derailleur and a road link or a knockoff -> https://www.aliexpress.com/item/MTB-Mou ... f40ca23311
Or go with a mid-cage Shimano derailleur and a road link or a knockoff -> https://www.aliexpress.com/item/MTB-Mou ... f40ca23311
MTB RD won't work with road STI unless you use a converter
Yes, you can buy a wider 10spd cassette than the std Shimano - like the Sunrace 11-40 and 11-42 - but even with a MTB 10spd mech you can experience capacity issues on the biggest sprockets. People get round this by using either a goatlink, or a RadR cage, or screwing the b-screw right in, and there is some success in this. But that's with a MTB RD. Any road RD will struggle bigtime with a 11-42. Only the goatlink has a chance of working I suspect.
Yes, you can buy a wider 10spd cassette than the std Shimano - like the Sunrace 11-40 and 11-42 - but even with a MTB 10spd mech you can experience capacity issues on the biggest sprockets. People get round this by using either a goatlink, or a RadR cage, or screwing the b-screw right in, and there is some success in this. But that's with a MTB RD. Any road RD will struggle bigtime with a 11-42. Only the goatlink has a chance of working I suspect.
- bikerjulio
- Posts: 1900
- Joined: Fri Dec 11, 2009 10:38 pm
- Location: Welland, Ontario
Any road RD will struggle bigtime with a 11-42
I'd agree with you there, but 11-40 stands a chance of being OK with the extender. There's really three issues to discuss:
1. Clearance to the big sprocket. Assuming that the RD will normally clear a 30T sprocket, then a 40T has a 20 mm greater radius. The extender link provides 22 mm, so should be enough to clear.
2. Takeup. A short cage RD will handle a total chain wrap of 32T. So on a 1X setup a 11-40 needs 29T, so no problem there.
3. RD "following" the cassette. This is where a road RD on an extender is not going to be optimal, as the sprocket clearance is presumably going to increase more than ideal as the RD travels down the cassette. Things will work though, i'm not sure how well. Presumably it's shifting precision that will go off.
I'm only talking theory here. If OP was interested in this approach then more research on users experiences with the extender link might be useful.
There's sometimes a buggy.
How many drivers does a buggy have?
One.
So let's just say I'm drivin' this buggy...
and if you fix your attitude you can ride along with me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GekiIMh4ZkM
How many drivers does a buggy have?
One.
So let's just say I'm drivin' this buggy...
and if you fix your attitude you can ride along with me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GekiIMh4ZkM
I used a woolftooth road link on my sram etap wifi rd for riding I'm the alps this year.
Crankset set-up was a 46/34 sram red
Rear cassette was a sun race 11/40 c/w woolftooth......this set-up shifted seamlessly with the etap and got this 18st monster up all the climbs, even the col d'telegraphe
Crankset set-up was a 46/34 sram red
Rear cassette was a sun race 11/40 c/w woolftooth......this set-up shifted seamlessly with the etap and got this 18st monster up all the climbs, even the col d'telegraphe
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Short cage low gears: 40/42 cassette with Single vs 28/32/36 cassette with Triple without big chainring
Code: Select all
rings cs low gear capacity rear shifts following front shift
34 × 11-42 0.81 31 (SS)
34 × 11-40 0.85 29 (SS)
39-30 × 11-36 0.83 34 (SS) 1
39-26 × 11-32 0.81 34 (SS) 2
39-24 × 11-28 0.86 32 (SS) 3
'