Cyclocross 1 x 11 Shimano XTR/Sram Rival 22 Project

Norco VFR 3 frameset. Why? Because it's Canadian folks! No really bec it's got my preferred off road geometry: Fisher Genesis style!

71/73

22.75" effective top tube
16.5" chainstays
11.5" BB
And a nice slope to the top tube which happens to be flat at seatube for carrying.
Also disc ready with beefy dropouts too.

SO, onto the goodstuff: The 1x11 drivetrain.

Sram Rival 22 11 speed shifters + Sram X7 Type 2/2.1 = COMPATIBLE

+ Shimano XTR M9000 11-40 cassette? Currently without a barrel adjuster, all's well except it does not shift into the lowest 40t cog. The R.D. can go there but for some reason the whole system wont shift there BUT no barrel adjuster to increase tension to do so, so that may solve it.

Sram new Rival/Force 1 RDs w long cage obvsly better choice here now but I got the X7 for $50 so there, ha! In yo face Sram! 

STAY TUNED...

Wolf Tooth Drop Stop chainring on 130 bcd 5bolt crankset.

11 speed Ultegra chain

And oh yeah thats the new XTR M9000 11-40 Dyna Sys cassette with a carbon spider and titanium cogs sucka - fitting OK on any old 8-10 speed freehub! Shimano sooo rocks over Sram. This is one of the many reasons why.

Chain wrap looks sufficient

V-brakes + Road levers? Keep the normal V-brakes dont get shorter "road" V-brakes bec theyre less power, less clearance and more mush and get a Travel Agent! Worth the $35 retail. Now incl. barrel adjuster! Availble on ebay and Live to Play Sports/Norco.

UPDATE May 2015: Even with a barrel adjuster at tightest tension THIS SETUP ONLY WORKS 10 of 11 GEARS!

That is Sram Rival 11 speed shifter + Sram X7 Type 2 derailleur + CS-M9000 11-40 11 speed cassette. 

Thankfully Sram has just announced the ir new 11 speed high capacity riad r. derailleurs: Force 1 and Rival 1!  These would work perfectly here.  

Calm Before the (Spring) Storm.....

Norco "Red Cross" Special Paris-to-Ancaster Race Edition Cyclocross (CX) Bike
- 1 x 11 speed Shimano XTR Sram CX1 WolfTooth FSA SLK Drivetrain
- Carbon Tubulars
- Control Tech Carbon Drop Bars Made in USA
- Eggbeater Red P2A special edition pedals...
Etc.

Cyclocross Build. $450 Norco VFR 3 base.

This is after I bought my carbon road bike so all the best/lightest parts went to that.

BUT, alas It worked out for the best because now I'm stuck with nine speed which means I can switch between flat bar (for my gf)and drop bar (whn i ride cx) Because I have parts for both heheh. And I can still use my FSA carbon team issue triple cranks for tht perfect chainline w a 108 BB. :)

2013 Paris-to-Ancaster Race: My First!

First time doing this: 
Placed 30/80 in my age group/field or 123 out of 567 total with an un-rideable bike - derailleur broke off and jammed in wheel - on last km.
Excellent challenge, well-organised, very popular with great people = great experience to have under your belt. 
I highly recommend! But, it is not easy. There are sections where even an intermediate mountain bike rider would consider "unride-able" due to ridiculously deep n narrow mud trails at worst and at best soft, muddy and super-irregular grassy fields.
Yeah, thanks Tim! ;)
[Tim Farrar is one of the race organisers]
More
BIG THANKS:
The 2007 Norco VFR bike is a phenomenal cross bike.
Geax Mezcal tires also phenomenal thnx to Paul Greene of Chain Reaction Toronto.
Nike Sphere Dry shirt for the absoluate best in comfort/sweat management.
Gatorade twistspout water bottle for superlight, big capacity, reliable spout, all you want/need.
Shimano Dura Ace 7800 shifters for mindlessly fast n easy 10 speed shifting
My girlfriend Ms. M and pro photographer Ivan R. for the photos!