1X Conversion: Pros & Cons - Tech Tuesday #91

It's Tech Tuesday, and Calvin and Ben are here to debate the pros and cons of converting to a 1X drivetrain, and offer some tips on how to get the most range out of a single-chainring setup.

Questions or comments? Leave them below!

➤ Tools & materials used:
• CP-1.2 Cassette Pliers -

➤ Fix It:
Did you know that Park Tool is the #1 resource for bicycle repair education?

➤ About Park Tool:
Since our founding in 1963, Park Tool has been the leading name in bicycle tools. Our YouTube channel is an extension of our mission to be the ultimate resource for mechanics and riders of all skill levels. Here you will find comprehensive repair help tutorials for a wide range of components and processes, as well as troubleshooting guides, tips and tricks, and information on the latest Park Tool products.

[paulfiorillo]

"Where's all my low gears? They're in the trash."

[chinowashere]

"My legs cramping looking at that shift already."
LMAO!
Thank you, Park Tool for making this video, and Calvin and Ben for making it entertaining.
Please keep up the good work.

[jaman]

you guys make the best bike mechanic videos by far, no one even gets within a billion miles of being close. thy you so much

[TMan]

thank you for this, was hoping to one day go 1x9 but i think I'll stick to my 3x8.

[mrjack]

I recently decided to go to a 1x11 from a 2x9. Like this video, I only lost my lowest gear and my highest gear. Two gears I hardly used. And I don’t have to worry about the weird lack of gears I was having in between the 2 chainrings. Even after a local bike shop worked it, I couldn’t get past the bottom 5 gears on the small ring and the top 5 gears on the big chainring. I really only had 10 gears with a huge step in the middle. With the new 1x11, I can seamlessly go through all 11 gears in the back with no fear of slipping off the front ring.

[NoBrakes]

A nice, drama free breakdown of what's involved in a 1x switch. I would like to point out that not all riders are going to find the cassette bodges necessary. I was riding 2x10 on 26" a few years ago (36, 22/11-34) and I switched to 30/11-34, (I was early enough into the cassette life that I only had to swap the front ring and the chain.)

With that swap I lost two low gears that were unusable, (at my low level of fitness, it is easier to pedal squares in a slightly higher gear than spin a 17 gear inch to 19 gear inch low ratio at the rpm needed to avoid falling over, ) and one gear up top that I only used downhill, (Once again, at my low level of fitness, I'm not realistically pushing 82 gear inches on flat ground with high volume mtb tires.) For the price of a NW ring, a new chain and a little effort, I got linear shifting and a front ring that is much easier to clean.

Every rider's riding style, fitness level, and wheel size will affect this, so doing the math and being honest about what gears you will use can help avoid a lot of heartache, (And yes, that might mean sticking with 2x for some riders.) I personally love 1x so much that I even converted my road bike to 1x10, (But 1x road is a whole different kettle of fish.)

[CaLiDaRi]

I was thinking of converting to 1x from 3x, now I think 4x is better after watching this video

[charlesholland]

even with a 3 by i still always ride 1 by. so yesterday i finally ditched the old rings and put on a narrow wide. if anything, it’s quiet!

[CDOES]

This is the Best 1x vs 2x comparison video I have ever seen! Thank you!

[srdjanbabic]

I cannot emphasise how much Park Tool videos mean to me. Thank you guys!!!

[AirplaneFreak]

Me 10 years ago with Walmart bicycle:
GEAR IS GEAR!

[CRGT]

This is the best video I've seen about 1x, and now I'm moving to 1x. Thanks!

[jerrybear]

1x is simple and fun, 2x gives more range but more complex, 3x is like 2x with a death spike chain guard.

[markgoproductions]

Love those graphs! Great work visualizing the difference, Park Tool team :)

[Doofball]

I feel like I'm 5 again, watching a skit on some PBS show (like Reading Rainbow) all about bike gears... thanks for that.

[wc]

I grew up riding 3x... always wondered if we needed that many gears... took 3 decades (longer for some others) for bike manufacturers to realize... Now everyone say 3x are complicated... I just find ironic... But I still loved these Parktool guys, entertaining & educational.

[kirkjones]

I have been kicking myself, for not discovering these videos much sooner. These have got to be the most informative, out there. I could have saved myself a bit of grief. Keep up the good work.

[saintless]

As always, appreciate the humor. Appreciate the graphs too. Lost me at the end though, 1x for full suspension 12 speed bikes and that's it, thanks! 3x doesn't require thinking or printing out charts, just pick the ring that makes the most sense for the terrain and if it changes drastically enough, move to another chainring; even a cave man can do that.

[tazz]

its been 5 years riding x01, i've never had any complains i can go at 45 km/h without insane cadence, and i can climb easy, no gaps in gears, just perfect. cant believe its not the only way

[mikefule]

The bike industry is pretty clever. Club riders used to ride hilly 100 mile days fixed or single speed, and when Sturmey Archer brought out the 3 speed hub gear, club riders demanded (and got) a close-ratio version and a non-coasting version! Then the industry started to sell 5 speeds (1 x 5) to us as "necessary". Then the industry brought in "10 speed" which was 2 x 5, but with the front chainwheels being 52/48 (hardly any difference) and the rear cog was 12-24t. (Yes, "chainwheels" because detachable chainrings were not available.) Imagine our surprise and delight when they brought out "15 speed" (3 x 5) and "wide ratio blocks" that went "all the way up" to 28t! Then a friend bought a 12 (2 x 6) and it was amazing. Now my wife's bike has 2 x 9 and the shift levers alone would cost £200, and one of my bikes has 2 x 10. And after all that the cycle industry is selling us special parts to convert us to the next big fashion of "1 x drivetrains" which is where we started. Meanwhile, I have as much fun riding cross country on my fixie as I do on anything else.