I think it probably matters less and less as terrain gets less technical - although I even find it clunky on pumpy trails. Plus many riders don’t care. But yes, there are budget friendly options with much better than 17* engagement they could have chosen to spec.
I do often wonder how many PM team members actually ride budget builds though. For example, regardless of whether you’re a Shimanophile or a SRAMalamadingdong no one whose ridden SX for three minutes is putting it on bikes when Deore exists. Hell, BOX and MicroShift eat it’s lunch too. Clearly SRAM build should start at the NX level and even then it’s hard to argue any value case until I’m riding GX v. XT. And I generally choose SRAM now at GX+ if I’m asked.
Dec. 16, 2021, 11:07 a.m. - Andrew Major
I think it probably matters less and less as terrain gets less technical - although I even find it clunky on pumpy trails. Plus many riders don’t care. But yes, there are budget friendly options with much better than 17* engagement they could have chosen to spec. I do often wonder how many PM team members actually ride budget builds though. For example, regardless of whether you’re a Shimanophile or a SRAMalamadingdong no one whose ridden SX for three minutes is putting it on bikes when Deore exists. Hell, BOX and MicroShift eat it’s lunch too. Clearly SRAM build should start at the NX level and even then it’s hard to argue any value case until I’m riding GX v. XT. And I generally choose SRAM now at GX+ if I’m asked.