MTB for flat gravel. Gearing problems.

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TonyM
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by TonyM

Hi,

I am using my MTB for flat gravel currently and I see that I am only using the 42x13 to 42x15. I will ultimately have to replace my chain and cassettes more often and I actually would like to have a better gearing now.

The bike has an XTR crankset (FC-M980, Hollowtech 2, 42x32x24) and the cassette is a XT 11-32.

Is there any way to get a more adequate gearing for flat gravel?
I didn’t see any XTR chainring above 42 for example.

Or should I switch to XTR M980 double chainset with a chainring bigger than 44 or 46 for example? Can I then keep my current left crank with Stages PM?


What do you think?
Any ideas?

by Weenie


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mattr
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by mattr

TBH, whatever you do is going to cause issues, you're using such a narrow range of gears. Bigger ring will just mean you wear out the two or three sprockets further up the cassette.

One solution might be a single large (cx sized) chain ring and a road cassette.

It's a big old gear though, what's your cadence like?

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TonyM
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by TonyM

I ride currently on flat gravel so around 90rpm like in the road bike.

jemima
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by jemima

Curve Grovel ti.

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TonyM
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by TonyM

Thanks!

The idea with the road cassette is interesting as I could find some CS-6700 Ultegra 11-23 and 12-23 that at least give me more gears between 25km/h and 35 km/h. And together with a 44T that should be fine I think.

The cleanest route would be to change my 3x to a 2x system. I would need to swap the crankset (3x to 2x) and the front derailleur and I could keep my Stages powermeter and the front shifter that operate 3x and 2x as I just learned.

Marin
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by Marin

Why not go 1x and use a road cassette? There's tons of 1x chainrings out there (but get a Wolftooth if there is one) and you can ditch the left shifter, front der & cables.

mattr
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by mattr

mattr wrote:
Wed Jun 20, 2018 9:18 pm
One solution might be a single large (cx sized) chain ring and a road cassette.
:wink:

Also, have a play with http://www.gear-calculator.com/# and see whats going on.

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TonyM
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by TonyM

Marin wrote:
Thu Jun 21, 2018 7:46 am
Why not go 1x and use a road cassette? There's tons of 1x chainrings out there (but get a Wolftooth if there is one) and you can ditch the left shifter, front der & cables.
I would like to keep my left XTR crank with the Stages powermeter.
XTR M980/985 etc.. doesn't have any 1x crankset.

Or do you mean that I can mount a single chainring on my 3x crankset and use it as 1x?

mattr
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by mattr

Yes.

Marin
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by Marin

TonyM wrote:
Thu Jun 21, 2018 4:07 pm
Or do you mean that I can mount a single chainring on my 3x crankset and use it as 1x?
Exactly

by Weenie


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TonyM
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by TonyM

Short feedback:

I went for the cheapest option first and installed a road 12-23 cassette together with my 22-32-44 crankset. It works actually great as I have now more option for flat terrain. My FD however did not work well with the smallest chainring and the 12-23 (compared to the 11-34 that I had before). I am going to have a look at it now.

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