Make my stock Checkpoint a 1x - Go!

"What I want: less invasive solution than switching to Force 1. "

Rival 1? 

Zurichman wrote:Dang I want to go the other way from 1x Sram Rival to 2x Shimano. Before I would do the change if I was you. I would ride a 1x unless you already have.

Zman

dangle wrote:Take off the front derailleur, chainrings, and cables connected to the front derailleur. You may have to re-wrap your handlebars to get the FD housing out.

Buy a 1x chainring in the 38-42 tooth count range for your current crankset. Here's a really popular one that also happens to be located in the midwest (not mine). https://www.ebay.com/itm/WOLF-TOOTH-ELLIPTICAL-110-BCD-ASYMMETRIC-4-BOLT-FOR-SHIMANO-CRANKS/113085159956?hash=item1a54669a14:g:jEYAAOSwJIJbKx-m

The chain will probably be a 'close enough' length that you won't have issues. No other changes needed, just start pedaling.


Once you start encountering hills that are too much for that combo, grab an 11-40 11 Speed Shimano mt bike cassette (XT or SLX, weight is the only difference) and a Wolf Tooth RoadLink Extender to make your current rear derailleur fit the 11-40 cassette. You probably want a new chain at that point. If you left your original chain on and it's under 750 miles, you may not need one though. Generally people will do a new chain when installing a new chainring or new cassette, but that probably isn't necessary with such a new bike/chain.

Gearing is a personal preference, but you should be able to climb nearly anything and still hit nearly 30 mph when needed with that range.