Converting to 1x setup - what can I reuse and what do I need to buy?

Hi all
I have a Genesis Croix de Fer 20. I want to convert to a 1x setup. The specs of the components are here:

https://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/genesis-croix-de-fer-20-vargn21041

Any tips on gear ratio to consider, what I can reuse and what I would need to buy new? Thanks!

If you don't want to lose too much on the range you have now you'll need a 11-46 cassette, with the jumps between gears that it implies. What's your motivation?

Or you could go 11-42 and pop a 40 (or lower) NW on the front job done. I’ve run this on my tricross before and it’s not as gappy in the gears, just a load spinnier when you want to get a move on.
Or if it’s just a lumpy road bike you’re after, like my Surly MS a 42x11-42 is pleanty.

My motivation is in the current 2x20 setup the gears are finicky…always seems to have a chain rub sound however adjusted and yes aware of shift/trimming required. Even took to LBS. I just want simplicity and a nice humming sound not chain rub (big pet peeve).

The bike is commuter/tourer setup so just want simplicity. I live in Zurich so still need a spread of gears to get up the hills with load and filled panniers.

So I could reuse my shifters and rear derailleur? What would I need, a new chain, rear cassette, front ring and?

You just need a NW chainring really. If you do most of your riding in one of the rings, choose that one. Keep the shifter on (for the brake) and cut the gear cable. See how you get on first and change your cassette to more range if you need to.

On my drop bar mtb/gravel bike I run a 34T NW ring up front and 11-34 cassette at the back. It’s about as much range as I’ve ever needed on or off road, loaded or unloaded. Cargo bike has the same, just with a 32T ring.

Yeah a new;
Chain
Front ring
Cassette.
But and it’s a big BUT 1X are not quite in anywhere but the middle of the cassette.

Really? 1x setups are not quiet?? Would think less (or nothing) to rub on in the front

What is a NW chainring? What does NW stand for? Sorry for the n00b question

Is it then possible to have no chain rub sound on a 2x20 setup if indexed properly or will there always be a sound in the lower/upper gears?

"Narrow Wide" chainring

It helps with chain retention when at the extremes of the cassette.

As an alternative, friction shifters? Complete control over the mech location to eliminate sounds, potentially much cheaper too if you keep the current levers.

You can replace one of your chainrings with a 1x, but your chain line will not be as good as it could be.

I've considered messing with my bb spacers to try and get a better chain line but not sure if that's doable.

Thanks all - I wasn’t aware that a 1x was still going to make some chain rub noise? Seems counterintuitive. I just want my setup to be noise free in most of the gears. Right now I just have some odd rub in the highest 3 gears. I will look to take to another LBS to index. I hope it’s just that and not as replacement part required

I changed a 50/34 to a 40 and don't get any noise at all. Using largest cog on cassette looks like a bad angle but it makes no noise and I don't stay in it long.
I also kept my 12 - 25 11 speed cassette with single steps from 12 to 19 and love it. 40 is almost in the middle of 50/34 and I don't miss the double at all, 40/12 is enough for me on mostly gravel/single track and 40/25 gets me up every hill where I live. Shifting the front ring up was never comfortable as I have a broken middle finger so in my case no negatives.

Reference the noise, maybe it’s just me?
New sram 1x11 42 (nw) 11-42 is as quiet as a mouse, but I’ve only got maybe 150 miles on it.
Old sram 1x11 (nw) 40 11-32 was quiet, but 2000 miles in and the front ring is grabbing the chain and noisy at either end of the cassette it gets worse. A new chain/ring would sort it, but at only 2k there is loads of life left so the sound can stay.
Shimano 1x11, 105 50 (nw) 11-28 road set up has always been noisy in the top half of the cassette, luckily I live in the Norfolk flatlands so don’t use them too much.
Shimano 1x9 sora 48 (normal ring and chain device) 11-32 silent for the 1000miles or so I rode it.
There’s nothing wrong with 1x if you except that things wear out quicker, as in effect you are ‘crossing’ your chain all the time.

Mashed hands are my reason for 1x as well.
Yay for shagged hands :(

Why do you think 1x will remove the problem, is the chain rubbing on the front mech somehow? Properly set up standard 2x should not really rub, perhaps unless cross chaining. Anyway 1x10 Tiagra on mine, now with Hope front ring, no rubbing.

Thinking about it my 1x10 dura race is pretty quiet, even with about a million miles on it. That’s got a raceface NW, maybe it’s just the sram NWs that are particularly noisy?

Well took the bike today to another bike shop, this one is one I trust just further from where I live (where I took my previous steel bike for repair) and issue could be a combo of cassette/spacer, chain width, and derailleur adjustments. They’re so busy to even diagnose the issue need to come back in 2 weeks - will update more when I get the final outcome. They agreed that a 1x probably won’t make things quiet same as your recommendations thanks