Hello everyone!
I would like to install the groupset from this bike (see picture) on my commuter. Shimano Ultegra 3×9
It is not hilly where I live. Would it be possible to change from 3 chainrings to one chainring at the front?
What do I have to consider?
by Sicknek
13 Comments
If you get the right parts, yes
Just take the outer and inner chainring off. If you want to use the large chainring, move that into the middle position.
Only issue you might run into is that the chainring nuts basically act as sleeves supporting the chainrings. When you remove one chainring from the equation, those sleeves will be too long. You can grind them down, buy shorter ones, or add spacers to fill the gap.
Get dedicated 1x crankset with the correct axle lenght if you are gonna use octalink (what you have here) or square taper, which should be more then enough for commuting, this specification should be given by the manufacturer when buying the cranks. Also try to go with the 2nd chainring teeth count, because if you go bigger, then you might not be able to fit the cranks as the chainring will hit the chainstays.
Take it to bike shop. You need a pro that figure length of bb axle. If you don’t the chainline will be off and chain will skip for sure.
I would go for 2×9 or 1×7 to reduce wear and stress on chain
Mainly that the chainrings/cranks fit your bottom bracket.
It might also be worth considering changing the cassette if you need, as a cassette geared for 3×9 could be suboptimal for 1by. Either you’re missing some fast gears or some easy gears.
I had my local shop put a 1x on my Surly Disc Trucker and it’s been great.
You have to consider that those chainrings are designed to help the chain come off, so chain drop will be an issue. You’ll want something to help prevent it. Narrow wide chainring or install a chain catcher/chain guide.
Simplest thing to do, however, is just to not shift.
Nope. Is it possible, sure. Not worth the hassle. If you really want to go 1x, invest in a new/used 1x groupset.
With 27 POTENTIAL gear ratios, most of them useless, how many of the 27 do you actually use ? Keep the one front chainring that you want to use the most and put it in the position of the middle front chainring.
Mega9 is super versatile and pretty much universally compatible within that speed.
I converted 3x to 2x. If you go 1x and it’s not that hilly it depends entirely on how fast you want to go. For this kind of bike I’d be looking at a 40 or 42t chainring with an 11-40 or 11-42 cassette. Any bigger and you’ll want to go up to 10 or 11 speed.
If you have a deore/xt/lx Mega9 derailleur it will easily clear an 11-36, but you may need a wolf tooth hanger extender if going up to 11-40+. This is another argument for sticking with 3x or 2x
If you do, make sure the chainring is narrow-wide otherwise the chain will jump off constantly.
If you didn’t understand a word I just said I would go watch some YouTube tutorials. Park tool and rj the bike guy, as well as spindatt have all done 1x conversion series.
Yeah but give that triple Ultegra to me, I want one
The intent of a 1X is to capture much (but rarely all) of the gearing range of a multi-chainring drive train without the hassle of maintaining a front derailleur. When you just drop two chainrings without widening the range of your rear cassette, you are not accomplishing the goal. It’s no better than just not shifting on the front.
But if it’s not hilly where you live, maybe your goal is less ambitious–to just simplify your bars and crank. In that case, pick a chainring and go for it. In theory, all chainrings should’ve been tested to work with your cogs already, so chainline isn’t an issue. If it, you can swap out for a dedicated single crank later–if it’s even available in the size you want.
I feel like a move to 2×9 might offer more benefits – a 2x front mech isuch less faff than a triple, but with the ability to keep a wide range with closer spacing than you’d get with a 1×9. But up to you of course, and you may prefer the simplicity of 1x, but not mind the big jumps between speeds on a 1×9.
(My bias/pinch of salt to go with my comment: I love my 11-21 cassette on my TT bike, with its 56-45 chainrings…😂)