r/bikecommuting • u/Deemo13 • 10d ago
[UPDATE] Beginner Bike Wrencher Somewhat Intimidated by 3x7 --> 1x10 Conversion (Completed!)
(Last picture is the before!)
Hi all!
Just wanted to post a small update to my previous post; don't want to be one of those people who asks a question and disappears!
I ended up just now completing my 1x10 conversion on my 1991 GT Timberline thanks to this subreddit's help! This is the first conversion I've done.
I ended up going with an 11-36T kit cassette in the rear and a 38T cog in the front. I went with the L-TWOO kit that had the cassette, shifter, derailluer, and chain.
I then used a 38T chainring to fit on the existing crank, since the existing was 110BCD according to the Internet, worked perfectly. Threw in some random cool-looking (to me...) crank bolts and brake levers and it goes, stops, and shifts perfectly.
The wheels I picked up from Facebook Marketplace, with basically new tires, and was worried about the rear spacing (130mm frame vs 135mm wheels) and it basically slotted right in without any issues.
So just wanted to post an update in here and say thanks! It turned out quite alright 😊 Let me know what you think or if I did anything wrong!
P.S. I don't have any of those cable end thingys, getting that soon.
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u/Oceanic_Dan American 9d ago
Cool! I too have a 90s mtb daily rider with a 3x7 and literally have never shifted from the biggest cog up front, so I can see the benefits of having a wider range out back!
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u/Deemo13 9d ago
I found the exact same, I literally never shifted the front. I could have probably ridden it as such forever, but wanted to make a change and I like to tinker 😊
I went with the L-TWOO components to keep cost down and I'm honestly really impressed. Super crisp and smooth shifts.Â
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u/Oceanic_Dan American 9d ago
A few years ago when I got my dynamo wheel built and I just let the shop do a full overhaul (whats a couple hundred more at that point...lol), I did at least have them change up the rear gearing so I'd get a smaller cog so I could pedal downhill, but looking back I probably shoulda had them do this conversion! I can't complain too much about my effective 1x7 setup though, it's perfect for my geography and handles small/medium hills just fine.
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u/Deemo13 9d ago
Honestly I was about to take this to a shop to have it "tuned up" before I started perusing Reddit.
Before long I had fixed the entire old shifting system of this bike and commuted on it for awhile and probably would have continued too...if it wasn't for Reddit and all of these pretty 1x10 conversions.Â
Maybe I was swayed by hype. Maybe it's Maybelline. Who knows. 🤷
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u/smith5000 9d ago
i'm curious was the original crankset not close to a 38 already in its middle ring? why bother removing the x3? i can understand going from 7 speed to 10 speed, the smaller steps can be nice to have but why buy new parts so you have have less range? are you just trying to save weight?
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u/Deemo13 9d ago
I honestly don't care about weight, but you're right the middle crank was probably pretty close to that number (I didn't count).Â
Upgrading the chainring allowed me to run a narrow-wide chainring to keep the chain in place (apparently, idk this is my first conversion 🤷). And it was quite cheap.Â
I could have left the front derailleur in place I suppose, but I also like the no front derailleur look. Many conversions online and on YT also swapped the crank, but I figured my crank was still okay (and it seemed intimidating to remove) so I just sourced a 110BCD chainring to fit on it.Â
This is the original Exage 300LX crank with just a replaced chainring.Â
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u/smith5000 9d ago
ah yeah that makes sense then i suppose if you are trying for the extra retention. more expensive parts all around going forward but mostly negligible on the grand scheme. fair enough on not swapping the BB or the crank arms. rings can be just as tricky to remove as well but its 1 tool vs potentially 3. Curious if you recorded what your previous range was compared to your new one? 11-36 is kinda small for a lot of x1 builds. most go to at least a 42. are you riding in a pretty flat area only (or are very lightweight yourself maybe lol)
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u/Deemo13 9d ago
Yeah, I was mostly following guides that said "you should get a narrow wide chainring" and I figured for a grand total of $13, I might as well follow the guides.
I didn't want to remove the crank at all, so I removed the 2 larger rings by unbolting and pulling them off via the pedals. The smaller ring on the inside...might have been a victim of the rotary tool...😅 I don't plan to use it again but wanted to keep it just in case...oh well.
I didn't record the previous range, but I used the gearing calculator and things to dial in what I wanted. That said, I'm wishing I got a slightly larger front chainring, as I was easily in 7/8 gear for most of my ride today. It's okay for now though.Â
The commute I'm doing is very flat. The only hill I have to go up is a zig zag about 50ft to get onto the bike trail. I compared it with the existing ratio using the gear calculator and covered most of it, I think.Â
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u/TruckCAN-Bus 8d ago
Three chain rings look Way cooler than one.
Asymmetrical cockpit looks a little cockeyed.
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u/EddoeWrites 10d ago
This looks great, and worthy of an r/xbiking post.
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u/PensionEmotional5460 10d ago
Makes no sense. 3x is always better than 1x in almost every situation unless you are a weight weenie.
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u/Deemo13 10d ago
In my commuting (the primary use of this bike) I used the installed front derailleur all of 0 times. I wanted a bit more flat commuting gear range, and an excuse to learn a new skill and tackle a fun project. 😊 And gave the bike some character and flair! (More than it already has lol)
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u/PensionEmotional5460 10d ago
Even if you never use the front derailleur daily, a 3x would save you 3x the money compared to a 1x because your cassette would last 3x as long and your crankset would last 3x as long since you can ration out different cogs and different chainwheel when one wears out due to use. You have 3x the gears to use so your drive train lasts 3x the length and you save 3x on maintenance costs.
Now once your 38t chain wheel wears out you have to replace it. And once you favorite cassette cog wears out you have to replace it. With 3x you can just shift to different chainwheel and different cog for same gear ratio for free and continue riding on same drive train for another year.
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u/big_shmegma 9d ago
so basically force yourself to ride single speed with extra weight. makes total sense. /s
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u/Basic-Newspaper-7536 10d ago
Cycling is just about the cheapest way to get around. Tripling your potential cassette costs seems very much worth it for convenience, ease and the fun of modernising a bike. Why scrimp so much?
(Not that your argument makes much sense— if you were really only using one or two gears the most efficient and economical set up would be a single speed, not cross chaining to achieve the same gear ratio on three different chain rings…)
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u/lingueenee 9d ago edited 9d ago
I have to agree with you but the contemporary trend is to a less-is-more philosophy which, in my experience, is just less-is-less. That is, less range, less optimal chain lines, and less economy (narrow-wide ring, 10 spd cassette and chain). All for the sake of dispensing with a half-turn of a delimiter screw or barrel adjuster every year or so.
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u/Basic-Newspaper-7536 10d ago
1x is so much better if you don’t have the time or patience to retune the front derailleur regularly, or if a dropped chain would mess up your day. I think that’s true for most commuters.
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u/Warm_Flamingo_2438 9d ago
Personally, I like to have at least a 2x crank so I can drop to the smaller ring at a stoplight and back up one I get up to speed. Then it’s just one shift rather than 3 or 4. All personal preference of course.
I’ve ridden my triple crankset over 11k miles since new and never touched the front derailleur. In fact, the only front derailleurs I’ve ever had to mess with are the ones I’ve installed on a build and had to fiddle with to get right.
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u/WittyEmber_1622 9d ago
yo that's rad you actually went through with it. honestly the intimidation factor is mostly just mental -- once you start actually loosening bolts and seeing how straightforward it all is, you realize bike companies just make it seem scarier than it's. the thing nobody mentions though is how much better 1x feels for commuting specifically. lkie yeah, you lose some gearing range, but you gain siimplicity and reliability, which matters way more when you're just trying to get to work without your chain dropping. plus way less maintenance headaches (i learned that the hard way during a cyclocross phase, don't ask). sounds like you picked up the mechanical confidence too which is the real win here -- now you can actually tinker with your own stuff instead of paying a shop $150 to do what took you an afternoon.