I switched my Force 22 1x drivetrain for AXS and regret it. I had the Ratio 12 speed kit installed, Red 12 speed cassette, Force D2 12 speed crank and I loved everything about it. I prefer the mechanical lever feel, but I also wear mechanical watches and still use a pen. Mind you im a data engineer, so I’m not technology averse.
Alas, I would have needed to rebuild the master cylinders in the brakes which convinced me to convert to electronic instead. If I could turn back time I would have just gotten the mechanical to work.
Oh, I was hoping to get a 11-40 cassette working with my 48-32 chainrings.
I’ve already got 11-36 with the Force 22 rear mech, that’s not officially supposed to work with that range.
Does anyone know where I can find the actual cage lengths for the different cage options for SRAM GX 10 speed rear mechs??
My searches have failed to find this simple basic detail.
I’d really like to know how much the cages vary.
I’m assuming this old generation didn’t have offset top jockey wheels since they were still compatible with 2x & 3x chainrings. @Dave_Rome ?
You should definitely talk to a good shop about your front derailleur, there’s no way it should be rotating around like that and if that’s really all that’s wrong with it, I’d figure out if it’s something that can be fixed before considering other options.
For what it’s worth, I’ve been in a similar situation in terms of having an “old” bike that I really like but with Force 22 that was starting to wear out . For me, I ended up going to Force AXS D1 (so, the previous generation that you still see on last year’s bikes, at least here in the US), and while I really liked the idea of sticking with mechanical, now that I’ve been riding electronic for a couple of years, I think there are some definite upsides to it.
The biggest one is just that you don’t have to futz with cables anymore, and they never go out of adjustment. I ended up dropping from a group ride a couple of weeks ago to help a buddy whose front derailleur cable snapped, so it’s not like the mechanical groups don’t have common ways they fail too. For me, because I do all of my own work on the bikes, including building them up initially, it’s worth it, and the only time I’ve had any problems with AXS was when I forgot to put the batteries back on after charging them. I always carry a spare now, but I’ve never had to use it.
I’d also say that the difference between the braking on the Force 22 and Force AXS D1 is notable, I feel like I have better control over the bike. I have another bike that has the newer E1 Force on it, and that’s a massive jump over either, so if you’re going to do it, go for the E1 or at least the shifters and calipers.
Finally, I don’t run SRAM front chainrings on my 2x bikes simply because the range is either too high (46/33) or too narrow (43/30) for me, and I’ve had great luck running something like the Rotor 46/30 or 48/31 rings that are designed to go on a 4x104 BCD. You can get a 4x104 BCD spider that fits on the 3 bolt SRAM cranks.
Wow, that was an exhausting few weeks!
I decided on Sunday - YES I AM going to get the Crux - I can justify it to myself… only to find the last one in my size in stock in Australia was sold, except for one in a shop in Melbourne.
Thanks to Jase, I’m now getting the last current model Crux available in the eastern states of Oz.
Thank gawd that saga is over. (Please don’t jinx the delivery!)
Aaaand now @Dave_Rome releases his new podcast discussing how 1x13 really isn’t enough gears yet.
THREE days after I get my new 1x13 bike.
Thanks universe. That’s just mean.
