If you were close to XC race podium riding on 1x12 drivetrain, you'd win it on 2x11. Here's why...

This is the third part of 1x12 drivetrains review.

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[pietwessels]

At last, someone who is not afraid to talk sense!!! Well done.

[williammorris]

So true. I'm an older xc racer (60+years) and appreciate having a wider ratio of gearing for those extra steep climbs and also for the long fast flats. I'm a consistant podium finisher and can contribute part of that success against 1x12 racers to having a wider range on courses that need more top speed or those extra steep climbs. I ve been running a 3x10 close ratio system, 26t, 32t, and 40t chainrings up front and 11to 46 on the rear and have raced on over 40, races in Thailand, and a couple in Colorado and Utah. You can get a wider ratio and save energy on a 2x11 or a 3x10 at only a small gain in weight. And Not have to remove and add different chainrings according to each new course you ride like the 1x12 serious racers often do. Even if I didnt race, I'd prefer more gears to choose from :-)

[rayka]

My son is a mtb cross country racer and we switched this year from 1x12 back again to 2x11 . So much better now, and feels that he has indeed more power on the steepest climbs. He also can more save his legs because he has more gearing options and no big gearing gaps like the 1x12. The weight savings you have with 1x is not worth it in his opinion. He never want to go back to this crazy chainline, so yes... 2x all the way (So let's hope for him they make frames compatible in the future for 2x ...wich i'm afraid)

[bendevonport]

I have noticed this chainline problem on my bike. But I'm not worried too much about loosing watts. I am worried about accelerated wear on components that are expensive to replace.

[steveco]

Absolutely agree. I got 1x on my gravel bike and there's a lot more friction and grinding noises compared to my 2x bikes, especially in wet muddy conditions.

[johndef]

Just went back to 2x10 from a 32 front 11-42 rear.
Now 32-22 front 11-36 rear. Equilavent to a 52 rear 1x when in 22-36 combo. Much tighter ratios. Really enjoying it.

[pellin-unleashthebiker]

I had a chain fail last week on my 1x12 that could only be explained by this problem you address here. Never had this kind of failure on my 3x9 I used and abused for 10 years.

[upgrade]

Still on my old 3x9 drivetrain..still loving it

[jonasbielskis]

Sram 10 years ago: Do not cross chain!!!
Sram today: cross chain as much as you want :)

[paullindley]

I will start by saying I am not a competition rider, I just love building bikes and riding trails with my friends and family, recently I built myself a full suspension enduro style ride with all the top parts, Fox forks, seat post and rear shock, full Shimano XT 1x drive train, including hydraulic disc brakes. After riding our local bike park over 5 different weekends I started to notice a noise from the drive chain, when in the lower gears as I was climbing back up the hill, it sounds like, when the derailluer is not set right and chain is dragging on a cog. Once I was home, I put the bike back in the service stand and inpected it to find the source of the noise. I found it was coming from the 36 tooth chain wheel at the crank, as the chain leaves the wheel heading towards the derailluer, the chain is catching on the tooth and making a clicking sound, at this point I realized that the is no solution to my problem and I would have to live with it.
After watching your video I concur that the chain line is the problem, I like your videos, keep up the good work.

P.S. I have a hardtail with Shimano XTR Di2, I also found a engineering design flaw with it

[zrna]

Agree! totally Agree about loosing Watts. But 1x is useful to XCO, because even loosing Watts, is faster change gear with 1x system. Specially with electronics rear derailers, when you go Uphills and downhills everytime in few seconds almost without time to anticipate the gear. In XCM races, totally agree with you. But the Marketing try to sell this idea that 1x is the best scenario in both disciplines XCO and XCM. 

You could make a good video, with AXS. The AXS app, can give you the information about how many time in one race you are using which gear. and than, you can estimate Lost watts.

Good Video. Thanks.

[jawg]

Currently have 1x 12 but I loved 2x10 so much

[sanadanosa]

Rocking 2x11 here. Used to have 1x before. 2x is actually not that complex compared to 1x. I just shift down 2 rear gears when I move to bigger chainring. Feels like shifting up 1 rear gear.

[الجناحالعسكري-سك]

Exactly as I was thinking, and everything you said in this video is logical and there is no dispute. Thank you for this clear explanation.❤❤

[Aprendeinglescantando]

Thats the reason why i keep 2x11, and againts all normal reason, my upgrade was from m8000 2x11, to di2 XTR 2x11, instead of the normal 1x12 gx axs or similar, even I had both to decide in front of me, the closest gear steps, save my legs on my 80k plus rides much more than a 1x11 or 1x12 drivetrain that I use before !! Now 2 more of my parthner group ride are trying to get 2x11 instead of their 1x12, the saving watss, always find the best cadence, dont have a price !!! Marketing give us less for more money (1 chainring less, 1 shifter less and FD less) saving costs for them, and taking more from our wallets, also I think for 60k or less rides, is ok to ride 1x12, but for long marathon for me 2x11 is the best choise, my next step for me would be the new shimano 2x12 that has even more range, hope get a di2 version also ! Nice video sickbiker keep on doing like that !!!!

[centraldom]

Interesting because any of my biker friends in 1978 could have told you that the angle of a 1x12 (they did not actually exist then) would be very bad for the chain aside from the friction it would cause. It was the reason that chainrings had two and three rings on early bikes. Not so much for easy uphill but more to keep your chain from breaking from the severe angle. Granted...the distance in cassette rings was wider because the rings themselves were wider. I am amazed I that there are 12 rings in nearly the same space as 5 or 6 but still the angles were severe. Your points on this are very well done. Looking around, I doubt two chainrings and a front derailer will be back in vogue. At least on mtbs.

[thRiflesOCI]

Still using 3x9 and enjoying the benefits of fast pavement with quick climbs.

[mikesherman]

Danny, great topic. Several studies have found that the combined friction from cross chaining and from the derailleur jockey wheels can be as much as 12 watts. That is power you are putting out that is not reaching the rear wheel. That is one reason why people racing a single speed often finish high in the standings against geared bikes.

[yoshicarballido]

That's indeed a situation that comes with a 12s cassette, but the chainline can't be much more to the biggest gears, because the interference between the gears itselves. When the chain is at the biggest gear the chain line crosses over the 2nd gear but passes gliding over that 2nd gear without touching it because it's smaller. If the straight chain line passes right at the center of the cassette, the problem described above (chain crossing over a next gear) comes to happen on both edges of the cassette, causing a bigger problem in the 11th gear, because it's bigger than the 12th, so the chain can't avoid to touch and friction the teeth of the 11th gear and have friction in and outside the links and in the chainplate and in the derailer pulleys. So, in order to avoid a bigger chaos, the chain line must be charged a little bit more to the smaller gears side.

[krbndlls]

1. In a muddy or bumpy conditions there's a high chance of FD malfunction including chaindrop or chain jumping up and downwards. 1x wins
2. On punchy climbs that are usual for XC you have to push a lot of watts, same as rolling resistance, friction is a constant and depends on chainline, meaning you have much higher relative loss if you push 250W vs 800W. 2x wins but slightly
3. Again, on punchy climbs you have to react fast to rapid descend or attack, and changing gears under load with RD is much more reliable than with FD + you don't have time. This is the reason why in road racing such climbs are often attacked on big chainring with huge bend in chainline. 1x wins
4. Regarding the range which allows you to pedal comfortably or with bigger range of gears, 2x obviously wins.
The bend for 1x12 is crazy and assymetrical chainstays is a really cool solution, but in my opinion 1x11 is fine as it is. You might need different chainring or cassette depending on the course, but other that that I see no problem in 1x for racing purposes. It might be less efficient but it certainly more reliable.