Make that at least two.
I have been travelling a parallel bike lego path for proper (not gravel) bikepack racing. The purpose has mainly been to save weight (AZTR800 is really only 500 miles of riding and the remaining 300 miles is pushing, lifting and carrying your bike)
What I am really liking is how much quieter and smoother the drivetrain is with a nearly straight chain line with 1x3 or 1x4 with 11 speed spacers. Plus by using an XTR derailleur with a extra short cage made out of Zee and Saint cage plates I get a tonne of ground and mud clearance, and when looking at the bike from the left, the derailleur is hidden behind the brake rotor and people riding on my left side have confused my bike with a singlespeed.
I accept walking uphill a lot more when I have a loaded bikepack rig, but still want a lower gear for regular "North Shore XC" (Andrew gets credit for naming this OG category). So 2x4 might be my ideal set up to keep from using a longer cage rear derailleur. By adding a front XTR sidepull front derailleur and a friction shifter to have a 22x32 granny is lighter than adding a medium size cog (36t+) and a longer rear derailleur cage.
Jan. 15, 2024, 8:32 a.m. - taprider
Make that at least two. I have been travelling a parallel bike lego path for proper (not gravel) bikepack racing. The purpose has mainly been to save weight (AZTR800 is really only 500 miles of riding and the remaining 300 miles is pushing, lifting and carrying your bike) What I am really liking is how much quieter and smoother the drivetrain is with a nearly straight chain line with 1x3 or 1x4 with 11 speed spacers. Plus by using an XTR derailleur with a extra short cage made out of Zee and Saint cage plates I get a tonne of ground and mud clearance, and when looking at the bike from the left, the derailleur is hidden behind the brake rotor and people riding on my left side have confused my bike with a singlespeed. I accept walking uphill a lot more when I have a loaded bikepack rig, but still want a lower gear for regular "North Shore XC" (Andrew gets credit for naming this OG category). So 2x4 might be my ideal set up to keep from using a longer cage rear derailleur. By adding a front XTR sidepull front derailleur and a friction shifter to have a 22x32 granny is lighter than adding a medium size cog (36t+) and a longer rear derailleur cage.