The Cape Epic Journey

Before I forget.

A while back I posted that I was looking at going the 2×10 route, and was trying to decide what to do. Well, not long after that post my crank started giving me real problems, so it needed to be changed. I went to my LBS to replace it with a 3×10 crank, and told the guy there that I was looking at going 2×10 later in the year. He then asked me why I don’t just go 2×9 now. I was like WTF, can I do that with my setup? He said it was easy, and that I wouldn’t need to buy anything other than a new crank (which I was going to do anyway). So I went ahead and did it.

The 2×9 has taken a bit of getting used to, and with my lack of riding during winter, it is obviously taking a bit longer than it should. I did the Magalies Monster 70km (where the Horndog did really well) using my 2×9 setup, and it went well considering it was only my 2nd ride with the setup. The first being a short 40km ride.

I am looking forward to warmer weather so that I can get some more km’s in, and master the 2×9. I will be going to 2×9 later in the year still, I just won’t need to get a new crank. Gives me a change to save up, and on the plus side… I should be a lot stronger when I do switch from 2×9 to 2×10.

Sjoe. 2 posts in 1 day.

So since my crank is ever so slightly damaged from the Epic, I have been trying to decide on what route to go.  Do I simply by a replacement crank and carry on as I have, or do I move to a 2×10 groupset (or like SRAM like to call it 2×10 family).

Personally I am thinking of going to a 2×10 setup. Not because I want to lose weight on my bike setup, but simply because “less is more”. By this I mean the chain shouldn’t stretch as much and therefore maybe last longer… Obviously I don’t know if this is the case, but it makes sense to me. I was wondering how on earth I was going to afford the XX setup, but then SRAM went and released a 2×10 setup in X7/9 and X0. I’m sure these will come in at a lower price than the XX since they won’t be carbon. I’ve been looking at them quite a lot online, and I quite like the X9 “family”. So I’ll be riding my bike with the damaged crank for a while (unless I find a cheap crank for now) until the X9 is available. Hopefully it’s pretty soon.

Maybe a new bike with the X9 setup is the way to go…

Happy riding.