I’ve been running 38t for some years now- took the 40 off after my first bike pack trip down the oregon coast on my 11x 11-42 rival setup. Let the folks at Garbaruk know it was ur recent video on the 10-52 that got me off my dime, and did the ratio technology 12x conversion w the Garbaruk cassette. Spin city. Love it!
My gravel bike now has a 38 tooth chainring with an Eagle AXS XX1 10 - 50 cassette, and this combination is pretty much perfect. I can climb just about anything and I rarely run out of top end speed getting to the gravel.
I think you are probably spot on. I rode a 38T chain ring with an 11-51 cassette for 2-3 years and it was enough for almost anything. Mostly I'd have 1 or 2 cogs left, which came in handy on hot days or/and really steep stuff. The top end was a wee bit short. Didn't matter in the dirt or riding solo. But it was definitely hamster city in a group on the tarmac. Cheers
Already won my like and comment for that soothing brazilian song you put into the editing. I found your channel to be very entertaining specially from the point of view of a 22y like me seeing what i will be like in my old age still cycling, because i love this sport/hobby and i cannot see myself not doing it for the rest of my life! Love from Brazil!
Some advice from an older cyclist who lives in America, the land of the middle aged, self imposed pre-diabetic who is functionally old before their time...never stop riding. Eat smart. Stay strong. Live like a long life means something. But most of all, never stop moving! gg
I just switched to a 38t Chainring and paired with an 11spd Garbaruk 11-46 Cassette. My initial experience is that it needs to marry to my KMC chain that was very smooth on my Shimano XT 11-42 cassette. I will take it on some steep climbs and see how it feels.
Since your goal is staying out of the 52t aluminum cog it seems to be working. My one 1x bike I am running the smallest common chainring on it's 4x104bcd setup and it was the right call for my usage since it's an enduro mtb. Heck unless I am on a group road ride I tend not to push the biggest gear since it means you are going really freaking fast, so reducing top end for more bottom just makes sense for mostly solo riding.
I have a different hack for my chainline, instead of just rarely or never using my biggest cog, I use cassettes that fit on a Shimano HG freehub which always have the smallest cogs loose. I then ditch my smallest cog and put a spacer behind my cassette to improve chainline. It works perfectly for me because having a nice chainline matters moree than range, since there aren't any big climbs in my area anyway, at most a good 120m or 400ft, which I can power up in a lowest gear of 42/28 just fine. That gets me a nice tight upper range of the cassette for a perfect cadence on the mostly flat places we have here. 42/12 isn't a huge top gear either but it's enough for me, it gets me just above 50 km/h or 31 mph which is plenty for me.
Have you ever experimented with an oval chainring? I've had one on my mountain bike for a while but have never tried one on a gravel or road bike. I prefer the oval to a round on the MTB but can't really articulate why.
Run oval on ALL my bikes, gravel, road (I run 1x even on road bike- 46x 10x44 axs xplr) and mtb. Easier on the climbs and it just feels more natural when pedaling. Use garbaruk, stone snd alugear for ovals
I run a 34t single ring with a 12-32 cassette (combined a 12-25 with an 11-32). It's enough for ~23 mph; beyond that I coast and try to stay alive. I don't have any major climbs/descends in this area. A 10t cog would be a complete waste for me.
Hah! I will put in a good word for you, but I expect it will avail little! I actually did not shorten the chain...yet, and I still had tension on the chain in the 10T (still had der travel to go), but if this is a keeper, then I will likely see if I can remove a link. Good question. gg
Me thinks the increased time of the 12 tooth is probably when u didnt turn off your computer and it sat in that gear after your ride, driving home? Changing to a 38 from a 40 on the same ride shouldn’t affect that ratio time usage much at all.
Ah...good thinking. I wondered the same but when I looked I was about 4 cogs up on the cassette. SO if it was counting that, it would have been another cog. gg
I’ve been running 38t for some years now- took the 40 off after my first bike pack trip down the oregon coast on my 11x 11-42 rival setup.
Let the folks at Garbaruk know it was ur recent video on the 10-52 that got me off my dime, and did the ratio technology 12x conversion w the Garbaruk cassette. Spin city. Love it!
My gravel bike now has a 38 tooth chainring with an Eagle AXS XX1 10 - 50 cassette, and this combination is pretty much perfect. I can climb just about anything and I rarely run out of top end speed getting to the gravel.
I think you are probably spot on. I rode a 38T chain ring with an 11-51 cassette for 2-3 years and it was enough for almost anything. Mostly I'd have 1 or 2 cogs left, which came in handy on hot days or/and really steep stuff.
The top end was a wee bit short. Didn't matter in the dirt or riding solo. But it was definitely hamster city in a group on the tarmac.
Cheers
Already won my like and comment for that soothing brazilian song you put into the editing. I found your channel to be very entertaining specially from the point of view of a 22y like me seeing what i will be like in my old age still cycling, because i love this sport/hobby and i cannot see myself not doing it for the rest of my life! Love from Brazil!
That was a great tune, yes? I have no idea what they were saying, but it had a great 'groove' to it.
gg
Some advice from an older cyclist who lives in America, the land of the middle aged, self imposed pre-diabetic who is functionally old before their time...never stop riding. Eat smart. Stay strong. Live like a long life means something. But most of all, never stop moving!
gg
i just lookd at this yesterday, glad to see I was on the right track thank you sir
I just switched to a 38t Chainring and paired with an 11spd Garbaruk 11-46 Cassette. My initial experience is that it needs to marry to my KMC chain that was very smooth on my Shimano XT 11-42 cassette. I will take it on some steep climbs and see how it feels.
Since your goal is staying out of the 52t aluminum cog it seems to be working. My one 1x bike I am running the smallest common chainring on it's 4x104bcd setup and it was the right call for my usage since it's an enduro mtb. Heck unless I am on a group road ride I tend not to push the biggest gear since it means you are going really freaking fast, so reducing top end for more bottom just makes sense for mostly solo riding.
Agreed.
gg
Very much enjoying this series, great info. Thanks GG!
It's been a fun journey for me too...more to come.
gg
I have a different hack for my chainline, instead of just rarely or never using my biggest cog, I use cassettes that fit on a Shimano HG freehub which always have the smallest cogs loose.
I then ditch my smallest cog and put a spacer behind my cassette to improve chainline. It works perfectly for me because having a nice chainline matters moree than range, since there aren't any big climbs in my area anyway, at most a good 120m or 400ft, which I can power up in a lowest gear of 42/28 just fine.
That gets me a nice tight upper range of the cassette for a perfect cadence on the mostly flat places we have here. 42/12 isn't a huge top gear either but it's enough for me, it gets me just above 50 km/h or 31 mph which is plenty for me.
Wow. That is different!
gg
I LOVE that mountain! Thanks for the nostalgia (from NC).
Home boy? Yeah...what a great thing to have in my 'side yard'. I like to keep going to Magic Mtn as well, but it needs to cool some yet.
gg
2x ftw :)
You need to define win!
gg
Have you ever experimented with an oval chainring? I've had one on my mountain bike for a while but have never tried one on a gravel or road bike. I prefer the oval to a round on the MTB but can't really articulate why.
Run oval on ALL my bikes, gravel, road (I run 1x even on road bike- 46x 10x44 axs xplr) and mtb. Easier on the climbs and it just feels more natural when pedaling. Use garbaruk, stone snd alugear for ovals
Funny you mentioned that...stay tuned.
gg
I run a 34t single ring with a 12-32 cassette (combined a 12-25 with an 11-32). It's enough for ~23 mph; beyond that I coast and try to stay alive. I don't have any major climbs/descends in this area. A 10t cog would be a complete waste for me.
34x12 at 23mph! Spin to win baby!
gg
@@oldguyandabike on a 47c tire that's ~95 rpm @ 23 mph for a short time, ~85 @ 20 for a more extended time. That's all I need.
Very timely. I’m thinking of switching to a 38. Did you have to change your chain? Feel free to have Garburuk send me the free one you didn’t need!😂
Hah! I will put in a good word for you, but I expect it will avail little! I actually did not shorten the chain...yet, and I still had tension on the chain in the 10T (still had der travel to go), but if this is a keeper, then I will likely see if I can remove a link. Good question.
gg
Thanks!
Me thinks the increased time of the 12 tooth is probably when u didnt turn off your computer and it sat in that gear after your ride, driving home? Changing to a 38 from a 40 on the same ride shouldn’t affect that ratio time usage much at all.
Ah...good thinking. I wondered the same but when I looked I was about 4 cogs up on the cassette. SO if it was counting that, it would have been another cog.
gg