Shimano drivetrains 2011
For the first time, the Japanese company is also offering double cranks for the new ten-speed XTR. While the "Trail" all-mountain groupset still offers a choice between double or triple, the race version comes with three different double setups. The following crank ratios are available for the XTR, with the first two belonging to the All Mountain version:
- 42/32/24
- 38/26
- 40/28
- 42/30
- 44/30
These cranks can be combined with either an 11-36 or an 11-34 cassette. In order to achieve the highest possible overall gear ratio, you should (almost) always choose the large sprocket with 36 teeth. This comes with the following gradation: 11-13-15-17-19-21-24-28-32-36.
The best-selling Deore XT and SLX will also come with ten gears at the rear in the coming season. However, almost everything else remains the same: Both will continue to be equipped with triple cranks, only the gradation has been changed. Instead of the old 44/32/22 gradation from the nine-speed era, the chainrings have been moved a little closer together and are therefore more finely graded (42/32/24), with an 11-32 sprocket also available for the Deore XT.
SRAM drivetrains 2011
US shifting giant SRAM is moving down the two-speed range for its ten-speed drivetrains, from the top XX groupset to the X7. While the super-light components of the XX are only available with double cranks (39-26 or 42/28), the X.0, X9 and X7 each also have a triple option with 44/33/22 teeth. The following cranks are therefore available:
- 42/28
- 39/26
- 44/33/22
There is a choice of 11-32 and 11-36 sprockets, although these are graded differently for the small sprockets than Shimano. The 11-36 has the following gradation: 11-12-14-16-18-21-24-28-32-36. For people who can do without the 11-tooth sprocket, the Americans offer a cassette with 12-36 teeth (12-13-15-17-19-22-25-28-32-36) for the X9 and X7.
In addition, X.0, X9 and X7 will be continued as nine-way groups.
You can find more information on this topic in the January issue of BIKEwhich from 14 December at newsstands lies.
The free PDF contains an overview of all current tenfold circuits and compares the translations of the different systems with each other.
