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More 2×10 Options…Little AND Big rings

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They say that if you have a great idea for something new, it’s already been done and can be found on the internet or in the adult film industry. A few months ago the 2×10 drivetrain entered my 135lb, skinny legged, high cadence life. As everyone should know by now, the gear ratios offered with the 2×10 are a little bigger then the 3×9. Which isn’t a big deal to a lot of people but, to me…it’s a small detail that has a huge impact.

Read more….Go on…Click.

My great idea for something new was smaller chainrings for the 2×10, which is no exception to the “great ideas rule.” At first I commissioned a small machinist to fabricate a 25t little ring to fit my SRAM XX bolt pattern. It was great but, after a while the relationship between the custom Ti little ring and the stock XX big ring seemed to weaken. Shifting suffered, and I found the gap between a 25t and a 39t to be pretty drastic at times. Thinking 25t/38t would be more my style. Did I mention that I’m a picky guy?

So…do I now have two ideas for something new? Maybe not but, it doesn’t matter anyway because it should already exist. Right? Right. Through the tides and waves of the internet, I’m introduced to the Italian company CarbonTi, who boasts a healthy stock of painstakingly well thought out and designed chainrings, bolts, and rotors. Yes, living up to the name, all made from carbon and titanium! Although bittersweet in my case, I find it…a set of 25t/38t chainrings, for the XX crank, that are made to be used together!

The Package with both rings is at my door in a few days (with green chainring bolts to match my bike!).

30 minutes later the installation is done and I’m riding out the door to the trails. The first thing I’m interested in testing out is the shifting from little ring to big. Not to be outdone by the stock XX big ring, the CarbonTi big ring has eight carbon fiber ramps that are recessed and are nestled between numerous smaller ramps milled from the Ti ring itself. Starting in the little ring I shifted back and forth as faster then I normally would, just to give it a kick in the pants. I was shocked at how well it accepted my abusive behavior by almost instantly shifting from ring to ring with a cassette like feeling.

Making my way to trail that I’m extremely familiar with and know how they’re “supposed to feel,” I start to focus on the gear ratio gap between the 25t and 38t. I’m excited about this. The transition from a triple to a double ring set up took some time to get used to and I’m liking the idea of having rings that aren’t so dramatically different, and with good reason. Dropping from the big to little felt closer to what I was used to on my old triple, normal, fast, and not having to compensate much by shifting in the rear. My (VA) hometown trails have a lot of descending that goes straight into climbing so, I’m a pretty tough critic about this.

I’m a bit of a durability snob, so I gave the rings the “Colorado test.” Unquestionably surviving the flight out there, we drive to Fruita and ride the Kokopelli trail and onto Porcupine Rim. If you don’t know anything about Porcupine Rim, just know that after the ride some friends of mine returned their rental bikes with missing pivot bolts and the shop mechanic said “eh…that’s Porcupine!” Needles to say, it was burly enough for me to slam and bend a few chainring teeth on 14 miles of slickrock descending. But it’s true, what they say about the elasticity of Ti. Back at camp I bent the teeth back with an adjustable wrench. Where I’d usually have fear of snapping of aluminum teeth, I eased the Ti teeth back to center. After spinning the cranks backwards a few times, the teeth sprung back so well, I couldn’t find which ones were the ones I bent back.

Virginia has some pretty big climbs, and I’ve got pretty skinny legs. These gear ratios are what’s making it possible for me to have a 2×10 drivetrain and feel good about it.

See it all at http://www.carbon-ti.com/

For other options, check the first post on my custom chainring experiments.

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14 Comments
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Sean Yeager
Sean Yeager
12 years ago

Yeah, Kyle… new chainrings, yadda yadda… You’re still slow. I’m also questioning that 135 lbs!

Hope to see you out on the bike this season! Kid and new house remodeling projects have set my season back quite a bit. ‘Cross it is!

Rob Breckenridge
Rob Breckenridge
12 years ago

Kyle, it took you 30 minutes to install your chainrings? For shame.
Also, you didn’t mention the lost carbon fiber ramp. Has that effected shifting at all?

dgaddis
12 years ago

Bet those are expensive.

Steve T.
Steve T.
12 years ago

I live in GA and tackle the same terrain on a 39/26, yet have felt a 38/25 would suit my style of ridding as well. Went to website you provided and was ready to order…yet could not. Did you order direct or through a reseller?

Thanks~

pimpbot
pimpbot
12 years ago

I’m holding out for a triple crankset that brings me a 20t again. Come on, folks! Give us 5 arm compact again! … or at least 4 arm 58.94 4 arm!!

spokejunky
spokejunky
12 years ago

Here’s the price list:

http://www.carbon-ti.com/pricelist/Carbon-Ti_Retail_2011.pdf

Go to Google currency converter for Euro to USD. Note this is with VAT included where normally Euro to US VAT is taken out. Apollo Components looks to be Carbon-Ti’s US distributor.

http://www.google.com/finance/converter

Zip
Zip
12 years ago

Specialized has a 24-38. I have been told they will fit an XX crank, but have not tried it. Have them on order so time will tell.

greg
greg
12 years ago

epic sworks 29 comes with 24/38t truvativ rings. stock.

ShopMechanic
ShopMechanic
12 years ago

@pimpbot Actiontec makes a ti 20t and a 21t for 64/4 bolt circle. The 20 doesn’t work so well due to compromises that have to be made to clear the bolts, but the 21’s are great.

fleche1454
fleche1454
12 years ago

Okay i held my tongue last time but this time i need to say it
buy a triple, you still have the X-9 triple derailleur on the bike pictured too
its clear to me as a mechanic you are not fast enough to need XX cranks
and lets be real here, no amount of weight savings the 2×10 is giving you is making your ride better.
XTR comes in a triple, its a super stiff crank, still blingy like you clearly like and shifts great and has a super wide gearing range.

KyleRodland
KyleRodland
12 years ago

“its clear to me as a mechanic you are not fast enough to need XX cranks”

OUCH! How WOULD you know anyway?

Androo
Androo
12 years ago

@fleche1454

I don’t think anyone is really pretending that 2×10 is about weight savings. It’s about less shifting – and more precise shifting – at the front ring.

Dave T.
Dave T.
12 years ago

It’s clear to me as a mechanic you are not Italian enough to need those green bolts either.

Chipollini
12 years ago

No, no, more gears are needed.. Mate a hammerschmitt internal crank with an XTR triple rings, then use SRAMs Dual drive rear hub and run a 10 speed mountain cassette think about your gears! 1:6 gear ratio change up front w/ 3 rings x 3×9 in the back… Mind blown!

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