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1x8 Drivetrains and Oval chainrings?
- Thread starter BikeGremlin
- Start date
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Hi,
A good question. Briefly put:
It's your bike - do whatever makes you happy and it doesn't matter what anyone else says or thinks.
My thoughts (a longer answer, with explanations):
There are two things worth discussing here: "low-speed" 1x drivetrains, and modern oval chainrings.
).
Today it is possible to find wide-range cassettes, even with "only" 8 speeds, like the 11-42 cassette you mentioned.
However, those cassettes are more difficult to find and more expensive compared to the "normal" cassettes - at least in my country.
You also need a rear derailleur that can handle such cassettes (again, availability and price can be a problem, depending on your location and budget).
Some of the pros and cons of 1x drivetrains are still present with 1x8 as well.
Still, if you are aware of the downsides and are happy to live with them (or at least give it a try), I see no reason why you shouldn't.
Modern oval chainrings seem to be completely missing the point, for reasons I discussed in chapter 3 of this article:
https://bike.bikegremlin.com/2272/vintage-road-bicycle/#3
Some riders love those modern oval chainrings, and if they are happy, I'm happy, but I think they are a nonsense and a poor design.
P.S.
Based on my latest chain durability experiment, 8-speed chains are cheaper, but not any more durable than say 10-speed chains. It boils down to the chain quality, not the number of speeds. Lower-speed chains may be technically stronger (thicker/wider), but that is not relevant for human-powered bicycles.
A good question. Briefly put:
It's your bike - do whatever makes you happy and it doesn't matter what anyone else says or thinks.
My thoughts (a longer answer, with explanations):
There are two things worth discussing here: "low-speed" 1x drivetrains, and modern oval chainrings.
1x8 drivetrains
My first multi-speed bicycle was a 1x6. It worked OK, but I lacked the flexibility offered by my younger brother's 3x6 - and my next multi-speed bicycle was a (used) 3x6 (paid for by painting houses during the summer school break ).Today it is possible to find wide-range cassettes, even with "only" 8 speeds, like the 11-42 cassette you mentioned.
However, those cassettes are more difficult to find and more expensive compared to the "normal" cassettes - at least in my country.
You also need a rear derailleur that can handle such cassettes (again, availability and price can be a problem, depending on your location and budget).
Some of the pros and cons of 1x drivetrains are still present with 1x8 as well.
Still, if you are aware of the downsides and are happy to live with them (or at least give it a try), I see no reason why you shouldn't.
Oval chainrings
Old Shimano BioPace had bad marketing, but a good design (I rode those cranks for years).Modern oval chainrings seem to be completely missing the point, for reasons I discussed in chapter 3 of this article:
https://bike.bikegremlin.com/2272/vintage-road-bicycle/#3
Some riders love those modern oval chainrings, and if they are happy, I'm happy, but I think they are a nonsense and a poor design.
P.S.
Based on my latest chain durability experiment, 8-speed chains are cheaper, but not any more durable than say 10-speed chains. It boils down to the chain quality, not the number of speeds. Lower-speed chains may be technically stronger (thicker/wider), but that is not relevant for human-powered bicycles.