XX - Time to throw away you X.0?

Thats what I have been wanting and putting together in my mind for my N+1 coming later in the year now I dont have to modify an XTR 3 ring crank to take two chainrings yes yes yes.

Actually - the bike Gazza had to borrow on Saturday morning only had 2 rings. Think it's owner said they were 29/44 and used in conjunction with 11-34 cassette.

I don't have an issue with less gears so long as they cross the same range, which means you'd want more teeth on the largest cassette cog. Which I can't see them doing. If this XX doesn't give a larger range then you can get with current dual ring + 11-34 cassette then why bother?

some pro racers would like a narrower pedalling stance

Yeah - but think the chain stays would get in the way wouldn't they? I know there's next to no clearance on the Rush between the cranks and rear triangle as it is. Guess there are some skinnier frames around then?

I read somewhere a few years back Trek and Lance went to great lengths to a) build a time trial with a very narrow profile and then b) keeping this a secret. The narrower the bike the less wind resistence, the improved riding position, etc, etc.

Somehow I don't think this translates that well to MTB riding, especially with the larger tubing, front suspension forks and the constant changing of riding positions, etc.

Hi Paul

I remember interviews with Graeme Obree back in the day talking about low Q chainsets. He always regreted telling a reporter that part of his home made bike ( on which broke the world hour record in 1993) was made from a dismantled washing machine. He was always slightly unconventional, but this made him sound positively nutty. It was also the only thing people wanted to talk about.... similar to his great rival, Chris Boardman's comment 'It's not about the bloody bike' after winning Olympic track medals etc ( Everyone believed that the Lotus superbike won the medals, Boardman was merely a passenger).

Sorry, back on topic.... the washing machine part which Obree used was apparently the main bearing from a front loader which was both beautifully made and very narrow... ideal for a bottom bracket in fact. It moved his knees and ankles significantly closer together. The rear triangle of the bike was designed around this bottom bracket.

I was reminded of this just recently when watching the movie 'Flying Scotsman' which has a great scene where Obree's wife comes home to find her new washing machine spread all over the kitchen floor and her husband lying on his back, legs in the air, pedalling imaginary pedals at about 120rpm.

Great movie about a true renegade. ( some pretty thick Scottish accents in places.... if anyone needs a translation, let me know !)

CB