Vent: The shift from 3x to 1x drivetrains on commuter bikes is getting out of hand

I've been fixing bikes for about eight years now, and the change in what shops are selling for basic city bikes is wild. Back in maybe 2018, almost every hybrid or flat-bar commuter that came in had a 3x7 or 3x8 setup. Now, I'd say 90% of the new ones I see are 1x10 or 1x11. The shops push it as 'simpler' and 'less maintenance,' but for the average person just riding to work, I'm not sold. I had a customer last month, a teacher who rides five miles each way, whose 1x11 needed a new chain and cassette after just one year of use. The repair bill was over $150 because the 11-speed parts are just pricier. The gear range is often worse for hills too. Has anyone else noticed customers struggling more with wear and cost on these 'simple' modern drivetrains for basic riding?

3 comments

3 Comments

margareto2613d ago

Ugh, preach. (Seriously, you nailed it.) It's a solution looking for a problem on a commuter bike. That 'simplicity' is just shifting the cost and hassle to the back of the bike, and the gear jumps are too big for a comfortable pace. Feels like the industry just decided to sell everyone a mountain bike setup for the road.

wade87113d ago

Tried a 1x on my gravel bike and the jumps between gears drove me nuts on flat roads. You're either spinning too fast or grinding, never that sweet spot. Totally agree it's a mountain bike fix pushed onto everything else.

murphy.mason13d ago

Yeah, that "solution looking for a problem" line really got me. I was all about 1x until I tried it on my commuter and hated the big jumps.