Single chainring on route 2500 km of accepted compromises

Imagine: you're cycling on a route Winding roads, the wind in your hair (or under your helmet, let's be honest), and your bike seems to float like a silent ghost. No suspicious clicking, no chain dancing salsa between chainrings. Welcome to my single-chainring world, where I've traded the complexity of a double drivetrain for the zen-like simplicity of a single chainring. SRAM Force AXS en testand its version with a single crown at the front. After two months of winter training, flat tarmac under gusts of wind and rough hills, I give you my verdict: it's a revolution… or almost!

By Guillaume Judas – Photos: ©3bikes.fr

Let's start with the good news, because, let's face it, In cycling, people prefer to talk about gains rather than suffering. (We'll keep that for 12% gradients). First, the weight: 210g less! Yes, you read that right. By removing the second chainring and its front derailleur, my bike became as light as a pro cyclist after a detox. That's the equivalent of two fewer energy bars in your pocket. Or, for those with a bigger sweet tooth, a whole croissant. It won't change your life, but it will change your bike. And the cyclist's ego, that very particular muscle always quick to ignite with a gain in mass comparable to half a bar of chocolate.

This weight gain with the monowheel should nevertheless be put into perspective. It depends on the groupset (there's less to be gained with a high-end groupset than with an entry-level one because the front derailleur is lighter) and the choice of cassette to compensate. Because a cassette with many teeth is heavier.

But the real masterstroke is the yieldWith the chain line centered precisely in the middle of the cassette, unnecessary friction and energy loss are greatly reduced. It's as if your pedaling has been recalibrated by a Swiss engineer: smoother, more efficient. Noise has also almost disappeared. Much less of that clack-clack Annoying, it makes you sound like a novice mechanic. The SRAM Force AXS 1x groupset purrs like a well-fed cat, leaving only the sound of tires biting into the asphalt. And I noticed the same thing on a Rival AXS groupset. on a bicycle testI like it.

More streamlined, more user-friendly

Add to that a theoretical aerodynamic gain (impossible to measure without a wind tunnel, but in cycling, we believe in invisible miracles). Fewer protruding parts mean less wind resistance, and potentially a few watts saved for the last climb.

The maintenance also seems like child's play.No more front derailleur adjustments, less dirt accumulating in the nooks and crannies. The chain stays clean longer, as if it had a subscription to the local car wash. And aesthetically, it's pure minimalism, although that's primarily a matter of perspective. The bike resembles a piece of contemporary art: clean, elegant, without those unnecessary protrusions that make double drivetrains look like a poorly decorated Christmas tree.

12 sprockets actually used

More the very first avantagWhat I see in it is the optimal use of the cassetteOn a typical 80km ride on flat terrain with a reasonable elevation gain of 600 to 700m, I can use almost all the sprockets on a well-equipped 12-speed cassette.tagUnlike the double chainring, where some sprockets gather eternal dust (you know, those designed for "versatility" but never touched, like that overly fancy suit at the back of your wardrobe), here, everything is used.

Okay, I admit, I don't often use the 10-tooth cog with my 50-tooth chainring. A 50/10 gear ratio is the same as 55/11 for those who aren't familiar with the equivalents. It's a huge difference, and a 48-tooth chainring would probably be better suited to my (aging) level. But it's no use: I prefer the pedaling feel with a "big" chainring and more teeth in contact with the chain. So I don't regret my choice. It remains economical and logical, while giving the impression of being an efficient cyclist, not a waste of teeth..

A cassette to choose with care

Of course, nothing is perfect in this cycling world, where even the most carbon fiber high-tech can crack under pressure. Among the disadvantages, the first is the limited range of developments.With a 12-speed cassette optimized for flat terrain or gentle inclines, you quickly find yourself lacking gears when the slopes get steep. Not ideal for a spontaneous getaway.tagNo, unless you enjoy pushing your bike while waltzing with your thighs on fire.

So, I had to equip myself with three cassettes and even two chains of different lengths (because, yes, changing the cassette means adjusting the chain, otherwise the rear derailleur will be forced to do a wide split). I'll take the 10-28 for challenging outings, which I love cruiser on the 15, 16, 17 tooth sprockets without any gaps to disrupt my metronome-like cadence, worn down by 40 years of cycling habits. The 10-30 is a bit more reasonable for climbing the few hills around my house that are 15% over a few hundred meters, and which I never actually take for pleasure. But I lose the 16-tooth cog, the one I love. The 50/30 is the equivalent of a 40/24. On my other bike and my Shimano 2x12-speed drivetrain, I then have two extra cogs at the rear. It's tough, but it works. Finally, the 10-36 It allows me to have roughly the same gear range as with a 54-40 and 11-30 Shimano cassette. But be careful of the gaps between the sprockets. You go from a 13-tooth to a 15-tooth sprocket, then from a 15-tooth to a 17-tooth sprocket. So it's not ideal for those who want to ride fast on flat terrain.

But just so you know, Jonas Vingegaard won the last Vuelta, riding 16 out of 21 stages on a unicycle.with the 10-36 cassette. The gaps in the gear range don't seem to bother him, just as they don't bother newcomers too much. A generational thing, no doubt. The Dane did, however, go back to the double chainring for the 5 stages with the most elevation gain. Because a 12-speed cassette and two chainrings generally make 15 different gears, and they don't overlap. There's no getting around it: it's more versatile. Even with a single chainring and 13-speed drivetrain like SRAM's gravel drivetrain or Campagnolo's new version of its 13-speed groupset, it's still not quite there.

Basically, The single chainring forces you to anticipateYou might wonder where you're going to put your wheels on your planned ride. It's therefore essential to choose your setup carefully before setting off, unless you want to bitterly regret it while riding. It's like going hiking in flip-flops: fun, but not always practical.

Not the perfect solution

In the end, I loved this experience. The SRAM Force AXS 1x drivetrain converted me to rolling minimalism.It's clean, streamlined, almost philosophical. I'm even wondering if I shouldn't permanently adopt this type of transmission, to simplify my life as a cyclist and focus on the essentials: pedaling and enjoying myself. But be careful, it's still a compromise.In a world where terrains change faster than fashions, you will always have to juggle the options. After all, cycling is like life: lighter is good, but sometimes a little more versatility prevents regrets at the top of the climb..

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