https://www.bikes.com/en/bikes/instinct/2019?tid=72
Saw a Rocky Mountain MTB, the same as, or similar to, the linked one, in my LBS a few days ago. The granny gear on the rear cassette was huge, with 50 teeth. The bike had a 1 x 11 drivetrain, with a 33-T front chainring and an 11-speed rear cassette (11T to 50T).
I realized that the resultant lowest gear ratio is not that crazy - 50/32 = 1.5625. That's similar to my ancient (2002) Rocky Mountain Fusion (with a triple front chainring - 22/32/42) - 32/22 = 1.4545 ... and with a 34T rear cassette, which I've used on occasion, that lowest gear would drop to 34/22 = 1.5454, just about identical to the 11-speed.
The only compromise would be the highest gear ratio - 11/42 (my old bike) = 0.262, vs. 11/32 = 0.34375.
However, the new bike is a 29er (vs. my old 26er), so my bike would have a slightly-lower low gear at the drive wheel.
2002 RM MTB
Distance traveled in lowest gear per crank revolution = 22/32 x 26" x Pi = 56"
Distance traveled in highest gear per crank revolution = 42/11 x 26" x Pi = 312"
2019 RM MTB
Distance traveled in lowest gear per crank revolution = 32/50 x 29" x Pi = 58"
Distance traveled in highest gear per crank revolution = 32/11 x 29" x Pi = 265"
Overall though, not much compromise for the weight savings and reduced complexity of having no front derailleur. (Anyone care to check my math?)
Saw a Rocky Mountain MTB, the same as, or similar to, the linked one, in my LBS a few days ago. The granny gear on the rear cassette was huge, with 50 teeth. The bike had a 1 x 11 drivetrain, with a 33-T front chainring and an 11-speed rear cassette (11T to 50T).
I realized that the resultant lowest gear ratio is not that crazy - 50/32 = 1.5625. That's similar to my ancient (2002) Rocky Mountain Fusion (with a triple front chainring - 22/32/42) - 32/22 = 1.4545 ... and with a 34T rear cassette, which I've used on occasion, that lowest gear would drop to 34/22 = 1.5454, just about identical to the 11-speed.
The only compromise would be the highest gear ratio - 11/42 (my old bike) = 0.262, vs. 11/32 = 0.34375.
However, the new bike is a 29er (vs. my old 26er), so my bike would have a slightly-lower low gear at the drive wheel.
2002 RM MTB
Distance traveled in lowest gear per crank revolution = 22/32 x 26" x Pi = 56"
Distance traveled in highest gear per crank revolution = 42/11 x 26" x Pi = 312"
2019 RM MTB
Distance traveled in lowest gear per crank revolution = 32/50 x 29" x Pi = 58"
Distance traveled in highest gear per crank revolution = 32/11 x 29" x Pi = 265"
Overall though, not much compromise for the weight savings and reduced complexity of having no front derailleur. (Anyone care to check my math?)