{"id":265986,"date":"2026-10-05T16:37:36","date_gmt":"2026-10-05T16:37:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/05\/spotted-blackwater-and-marginal-gain-rethink-the-1x-drivetrain\/"},"modified":"2026-10-05T16:37:36","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T16:37:36","slug":"spotted-blackwater-and-marginal-gain-rethink-the-1x-drivetrain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/05\/spotted-blackwater-and-marginal-gain-rethink-the-1x-drivetrain\/","title":{"rendered":"Spotted: Blackwater and Marginal Gain Rethink the 1x Drivetrain"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Blackwater Bicycles showed something pretty different at the CRAFTED Bike Show at Cane Creek. We saw it online, and now we’re wishing we’d seen it in person. <\/p>\n

Built in collaboration with Marginal Gain of Colorado, the bike uses a drivetrain concept called Orient. The new chainring has one simple goal: keep the chain straighter across more of the cassette. <\/p>\n

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View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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What’s the bit that everyone’s trying to improve for 1x?<\/em> <\/strong>Chainline, and no matter how close you get it, there’s always a compromise. Wide-range 1x drivetrains ask the chain to run at some pretty ugly angles in the biggest and smallest cogs. A gnarler angle means more friction, more wear, and less efficiency. But, maybe not for long. <\/p>\n

\"Orient<\/a>
(Photo\/Blackwater Bikes)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Orient Chainline<\/h2>\n

Blackwater and Marginal Gain <\/a>built the drivetrain around a different layout meant to reduce chain articulation across the range. The idea gets more interesting as cassette counts keep climbing. Marginal Gain says the concept could support 15- or even 16-speed setups while still keeping chain angles more reasonable than many current 1x systems.<\/p>\n

The setup was on a Blackwater <\/a>Splitfire at CRAFTED<\/a>. Where small builders and component makers had plenty of room to bring out the weird (and ultra practical) stuff.<\/p>\n

\"marginalgains<\/a>
(Image\/Marginalgains chainring 1X production video from Instagram)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Most drivetrain development is focused on adding another cog or making the derailleur smarter. Blackwater and Marginal Gain are looking at the problem from a different angl. Asking whether the chainline itself is what needs to change – Mind blown!<\/em> <\/p>\n