Going from 2 x 10 to 1 x 10..... the problems and trying to solve them, and the last snow of winter (maybe)

After Barrie converted to 1 x 11 I've been toying with the idea myself when it suddenly became apparent that going 1 x 10 was going to be considerably cheaper and I was only losing one gear somewhere in the middle of the range. After a go on Barrie's bike I decided I needed a lower gear at the bottom end so plumped for a Suntour 11-46 cassette and also an oval 32 tooth wide/narrow at the front. The first short trial run proved to be nearly terminal for the rear derailleur as I hadn't adjusted the B tension screw enough and ended up with it twisted round but still in one piece. After some major surgery it went back to its rightful position and with a few adjustments it survived a 25 miler in the hills on Sunday morning. I'm still not satisfied that my gearing is low enough for the really steep stuff so I've ordered a 30 tooth front ring to try and solve that problem. (naturally it's oval and wide/narrow!) 

Testing the set up on Sunday what must surely be the last snow(?) of this long cold winter, strangely the advocates of global warming have been noticeably quiet lately!

Wet snow at this time of year is hard to pedal through and there were a few skids and slides on Sunday morning!