"I didn't say both options are equivalent," but you did say, "Instead of the big 50 or 52 cog you can just as easily run 1x11 with a smaller chainring (and have a cheaper, lighter, and less complex setup)."
I mean, sure. You could also just as easily run a single gear.
1x11 has less range. If you think that's a loss or not - whether nor not you missed it prior to 1x12 - is up to you. I'd also wager $1000 you can find a pile of reviews of early 1x setups lamenting the loss of gear range, resolution, or both.
Oct. 23, 2023, 11:27 a.m. - Cooper Quinn
"I didn't say both options are equivalent," but you did say, "Instead of the big 50 or 52 cog you can just as easily run 1x11 with a smaller chainring (and have a cheaper, lighter, and less complex setup)." I mean, sure. You could also just as easily run a single gear. 1x11 has less range. If you think that's a loss or not - whether nor not you missed it prior to 1x12 - is up to you. I'd also wager $1000 you can find a pile of reviews of early 1x setups lamenting the loss of gear range, resolution, or both.