SRAM GX1 1x11 Rear Derailleur: Rider Review

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Mountain bikes take an incredible amount of abuse. If you haven't had a catastrophic mechanical failure, consider yourself one of the lucky ones. It happened to Patrick's girlfriend when her rear derailleur took a hit at a race in the SoCal Enduro series and left her coasting down the trail. Read below to see how she finished and how Patrick saved the day!

Introduction

A few weeks ago my girlfriend was smashing through berms and slaying sections at the first race of the SoCal Enduro Series in Big Bear, California. On the last segment of the race, she managed to destroy her rear derailleur wrapping the chain around the cogs. She was able to coast down the rest of the trail, securing a 1st place trophy for the weekend.

As her boyfriend and personal free labor mechanic, I inspected the damage on the bike (a 2017 Julianna Roubion Carbon S build). The rear derailleur cage had been kinked, the chain was twisted and bent, and the derailleur hanger had a small bend. At a minimum, she needed a new rear derailleur and chain; which led me on the common man’s internet search, scouring for the best deals.

Worldwide Cyclery provided a clean, easy, online platform that allowed me to get the correct parts at the best price. I ordered a SRAM PC-1130 Chain, GX 1x11 Speed Long Cage Rear Derailleur, and a Derailleur Cable. As a Ventura local, the local pickup option from Newbury Park, CA, meant that I could grab the parts and throw them on before a dinnertime night ride.

Installation and Performance

With a quick tweak of the Park Tool DAG 2.2 Tool, sliding of the cable, greasing the derailleur, and snapping the chain, we were in business. After double-checking the limits and setting the tension, it was like Calvin Jones from Park Tool himself was the last person to work on the bike (or any of the boys from Worldwide Cyclery). 

Need tips on how to expertly install a rear derailleur? Check out our guide in this link here. 

That following weekend we headed back to Big Bear for a rowdy weekend of slapping laps with the crew. The girlfriend was flabbergasted by the fresh, clean feeling of a new derailleur and set up. She exclaimed on the trail, “This is the best my bike has felt since we bought it!” Once the cable stretched, the shifting held strong and crisp throughout the weekend.

As the weeks passed and the seasons have changed, the GX 1x11 Derailleur has held its own. Upon close inspection, the derailleur has begun to take on the next set of violent trail abuse. It continues to maintain a solid operation of moving chains over gears as the bike plummets down gnarly trails. The scuffs and scratches have also informed me that we need to work on line choice in the upcoming weeks.

Take away

The Sram PC-1130 Chain, GX 1x11 Speed Long Cage Rear Derailleur, and a Derailleur Cable, that I ordered from Worldwide Cyclery, helps provide a reliable shifting drivetrain for serious and recreational trial shredding shenanigans.