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« on: November 23, 2014, 09:03:17 PM »
Foamman1,
I have a 1X10 on my air 9 alloy. I previously had an xtr-980 3x10 setup. I could only use the middle and outer rings (32/42) due to my derailleur rubbing my tire in granny gear. I never could use my granny gear so I essentially had a 2x. I decided to try a race face narrow wide ring on my crank and remove the shifters /derailleur. The best I can recollect I lost about 1.2 lbs by removing the shifter and derailleur and a few more ounces removing the chain rings and racing them with a race face narrow wide 34t. I don't miss the other gears at all. IMO, do a 2x crank if your budget allows an attach a narrow wide in 1x. If you don't like the 1x you can always go 2x.
The terrain I live in is mountainous (Appalachians) and the 34t crank x 36 cassette serves me well. Large, steep climbs are a suffer fest but do-able. So any long endurance a races with lots of ascent (6500ft+)would definitely be a 32t. If you have an area with a lot of flats where you could wind up a 36t would be good for top end.
As far as the race question I have not raced with my 1x yet. However, in a timed run at a local trail; my trail my times were coonsistantly better by a few seconds ......and that was full on hard as I could go race pace. My climbing has become much better due to the change from a 32( in previously mentioned 3x) to a 34. Oh, another great thing less brainwork. All you have to do is keep that rear derailleur going.
Last but not least - BHS sells great products. I built my first set of wheels with their latest hub. Quality stuff and easy to maintain.
Check out chain reaction cycles they have 1x drive trains at pretty incredible prices. If you don't care to wait 20 days to shipping from Britain.