This post is based on something I did around June 2020. I’m writing it now from the notes and photos I kept.

This bike was my first bike in Germany, a Kalkhoff Voyager Pro. I bought it soon after I moved here and used it for many long rides. Some of the memorable ones were from Buxtehude to Hildesheim and Hannover, and another one to Cuxhaven. Biking is one of my hobbies, and this bike was a big part of that phase.

At that time, it had a 3x9 drivetrain.

The problem

On paper, having 3x9 gears sounds flexible, but in my case it was not very useful. Most of my rides are on flat roads, so I rarely used the front gears. Instead of helping, the front derailleur made things more annoying.

Shifting in the front was not always smooth, and sometimes the chain would drop. Also, I had to think more while riding, which I didn’t like. For my usage, it felt like unnecessary complexity.

Before: original 3x9 setup

The idea

So I decided to simplify the setup and convert the bike into a 1x11 drivetrain. The idea was simple: remove the front derailleur completely and handle all shifting from the rear.

This would mean fewer moving parts, cleaner look, and less thinking while riding.

Doing it myself

I wanted to try this on my own, mostly to learn. So I brought the bike into my apartment and bought a repair stand and bike repair kit. Then I ordered the parts from bike-components.de.

Main parts I used:

• SRAM 11-speed cassette
• SRAM NX rear derailleur
• new chain with a master link
• 32T oval chainring

Along the way, I had to remove the old drivetrain, take off the tyres, install the new cassette, remove the front derailleur and shifter,and adjust the rear derailleur properly. Some of this was new to me, so I had to figure things out step by step.

The process

It took around two weeks to finish everything. Not because it was very difficult, but because I was doing it after work. Also, this was during the peak Corona time, so some parts were delayed.

There were a few moments where I had to pause and double-check things. For example, I was unsure about alignment and chain length. But slowly, everything started to make sense.

Me figuring out the right chain length before cutting it

The result

By mid July, the bike was ready.

After: converted 1x11 setup

The difference was immediately noticeable. The setup felt much cleaner and easier to use. No more front derailleur, no more chain drops, and shifting became straightforward.

Even today, the bike still works well. It is now my secondary bike since I moved to an e-bike, but I still use it from time to time.

What I would change

The only thing I am not fully happy with is the 32T oval chainring. Because it is relatively small, I sometimes feel like I have to shift too often, especially on flat roads.

A slightly bigger chainring would probably suit my riding style better. I might change that when I get some time.

Reflection

Looking back, this was a simple but meaningful project for me. It was not just about upgrading a bike, but also about learning something new with my hands. I liked the process of figuring things out step by step.

It was also a good break from coding. No screens, no abstractions, just tools and a real problem.

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