Shimano DIY 1x 9 speed

Hi All,

So here we have my Shimano DIY 1x (aka DI-1-by – see what I did there…) set up, works beautifully on my cross/commuter bike!

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a539/Ben2BS/IMG_3334_zpscictq6jr.jpg

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a539/Ben2BS/IMG_3343_zpsikyw1j1b.jpg

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a539/Ben2BS/IMG_3342_zpsmepxj5bt.jpg

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a539/Ben2BS/IMG_3345_zpskox3nxzu.jpg

So to cut a long story short, I converted my 2010 Giant Seek 4 to drop bars and STI’s, 3×8 speed, clunky and heavy. Got fed up of the appalling performance of the front triple so swapped it out for an FSA 50/34. Recently upgraded my road bike to 105 11 speed, so the Tiagra 9 speed shifters and cassette from my road bike got put on my cross bike.

I spend a lot of time commuting on my cross bike and, even when cyclocross-ing, never use the whole 50/34 11/32 range, instead I seem to spend a lot of time shifting between the big and little rings. I managed to pick up a 42t chainring for less than a tenner from good old ebay, and I stuck that on.

Simples. Shimano 1x set up that works excellently around town, the 42/11 high ratio is more than enough fast enough for commuting and cyclocross, though the 42/30 is somewhat hard to push uphill with my panniers etc, so I have an 11-34 cassette on the way!

My bike looks a lot cooler now and it’s lost about half a kg in weight (still 10kgs though!).

Cost of this cheap conversion

Tiagra shifters – free
Rear mech – £15
Chainring – £10
Chainring bolts – £1.50
Cassette – free (though buying a new one to tackle hills £15)

Not bad considering I should make back a fair bit selling all the other bits and bobs that came off my bikes during their upgrades!