S40 Chainring - for lower gearing

[MaxLean]

My older model S40 has a Shimano ultegra triple 52-39-30 and a 12-30 casette, I've been up 14%+ with touring load on that.

Not sure if the SHimano triple is still available

Since someone may read this thread looking for a good option (as I did) here is my tentative solution. The new Shimano 105 12-speed mechanical group (with the Shimano hydraulic brakes). with the 50-34 crankset and the choice of either 11-34 or 11-36 cogset. Nice, tight gear spacing, but sufficient range for most situations. What is very interesting is that the cogs are identical until the three largest. Not much of a gear spacing sacrifice to gain a slightly lower bottom gear If you need it.

i plan to make sure Robert Holler doesn’t see any compatibility issues.

 

[Gofer]

I have a ethirteen trs 12 speed cassette with a 9 to 52 cluster. This is paired with a SRAM go eagle derailleur and a 42 tooth chainring.

How is the durability on your ethirteen cassette?how is your speed on the 9 tooth cog and your climbing on the 52T cog

 

[Gofer]

How is the durability on your ethirteen cassette?how is your speed on the 9 tooth cog and your climbing on the 52T cog

I am looking at that cassette for my Q-45

 

[David Lalejini]

I watched a YouTube video of someone using a 11-50 cassette with the Sram Apex1, which is way bigger than Sram recommends (42). I also found a 38t oval chainring from Absolute Black made for the Apex1, with the narrow wide tooth design for 1x drivetrains. I'll test this tomorrow. My goal is to get a low gear for loaded touring in mountains, not worried about speed. The jumps between gears is going to be big though.

 

[David Lalejini]

I watched a YouTube video of someone using a 11-50 cassette with the Sram Apex1, which is way bigger than Sram recommends (42). I also found a 38t oval chainring from Absolute Black made for the Apex1, with the narrow wide tooth design for 1x drivetrains. I'll test this tomorrow. My goal is to get a low gear for loaded touring in mountains, not worried about speed. The jumps between gears is going to be big though.

Did some adjustments on the first ride, seemed to work good. Occasionally it still doesn't shift smooth, i.e. the chain doesn't drop immediately to a smaller sprocket, but that only happens on one cog. Adjusting a little the other way reverses the issue. Derailleur is noisy in 50t cog, but I expect that. However, it is not touching the 50t cog. Still might try a wolf tooth road link, but can live with it as is. The 11-46 might be better, but that low gear (38t x 50t) felt great going up steep inclines.

 

[SteveY]

Did some adjustments on the first ride, seemed to work good. Occasionally it still doesn't shift smooth, i.e. the chain doesn't drop immediately to a smaller sprocket, but that only happens on one cog. Adjusting a little the other way reverses the issue. Derailleur is noisy in 50t cog, but I expect that. However, it is not touching the 50t cog. Still might try a wolf tooth road link, but can live with it as is. The 11-46 might be better, but that low gear (38t x 50t) felt great going up steep inclines.

I hope that works for you without needing to purchase a new derailleur. Here is a link to a video I found -

. I am tempted to do this, but sadly my Cruzbike collection is only N+0, so my S40 must handle touring, road, and gravel. The 1x setup it comes with isn't high enough for the roads (I spin out on flats and downhills) or low enough for the steeps with a load. I think I need to convert to a 2x.

 

[David Lalejini]

I hope that works for you without needing to purchase a new derailleur. Here is a link to a video I found -

. I am tempted to do this, but sadly my Cruzbike collection is only N+0, so my S40 must handle touring, road, and gravel. The 1x setup it comes with isn't high enough for the roads (I spin out on flats and downhills) or low enough for the steeps with a load. I think I need to convert to a 2x.

I miss the range of a good old triple.

 

[Midnight]

Ray (@rfneep ) of this parish fitted his S40 with a Granny gear on the casette rather than a smaller chainring. I bought it off him a year and a half ago and it's very good. Specifically it's a Wolf Tooth GCX 46t which has replaced the stock 42. And in all honesty if I get to the bottom of that one it's so steep that walking's just as quick.

20200818_122742

• McWheels
• Aug 18, 2020

The final iteration with B&M light mounted to boom clamp and wired through the frame.

Nice ride McWheels

 

[Y.P. 'Max']

Hey all - I have been asked a few times about this so I thought I would post it here.

The S40 uses the Apex 1x - which has asymmetrical 110 BCD chainring bolt pattern - so just getting a smaller chainring won't do the trick.

Here though is a good source for one that will work - its also a narrow/wide which is critical IMHO for the wider 1x systems. It looks like they only have 42T in stock and an option for a 40T, not sure if anyone makes a 38T... but the key is that it has to be an asymmetric 110 BCD.

As with most components - companies are making the days of "mix and match" go away with these types of special setups - but thats an area we have no control over.

https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/products/110-bcd-asymmetric-4-bolt-for-sram-cranks

I've been running a 38T Alugear in the front for the past year. Best change I've made so far. It took only about 10 minutes to install. I removed the original chainring, did a quick clean, positioned the Alugear, replaced the 4 mounting screws and bolts with liberal locktite and, took 4 links out of the chain. I didn't need to buy a new spider or crank or anything, just bolted it in. I recommend a torque wrench if you can swing it.

Alugear 38T Chainring for Sram

 

[David Lalejini]

I've been running a 38T Alugear in the front for the past year. Best change I've made so far. It took only about 10 minutes to install. I removed the original chainring, did a quick clean, positioned the Alugear, replaced the 4 mounting screws and bolts with liberal locktite and, took 4 links out of the chain. I didn't need to buy a new spider or crank or anything, just bolted it in. I recommend a torque wrench if you can swing it.

Alugear 38T Chainring for Sram

 

[David Lalejini]

Another 38t option if you want to try oval. https://absoluteblack.cc/sram-apex-1-oval-chainrings-38t-premium/