Adding a 10sp 11-45 Cassette to the Bike

For a whopping 900% gear range!!!

Garbaruk Cassette - not sure if the 10sp versions are still available:
https://www.garbaruk.com/cassettes.html

WolfTooth RoadLink:
https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/collections/components/products/roadlink

Drivetrain:
Shimano Crankset 175mm, 44/32/20 - SLX M660 with custom 20T ring
9 sp Front Derailleur bottom swing - XTR-M971
Shimano A530 platform/SPD pedals with added studs
Shimano Rapid Rise Rear Derailleur - XT M770-SGS

Is this breaking the rules?
Yes I am. My Shimano XT M770-SGS RD is rated for 34T maximum cog and 45T wrap and I'm double digits past those limits, 11T over the maximum cog size and 13T past the maximum chain wrap. I set the chain length to just fit the big-big combination and yes, the chain does go slack at around the 6th cog on the cassette. I don't have trouble with dropped chains, but YMMV. And to top it off, I'm running a 9sp MTB FD/RD on a 10sp drive train with road bike shifters. I say if you are going to break one rule, might as well break them all!

Is it rideable?
Yes, very much so. I use the small chain ring with cogs 1-5 (or 6) to avoid the slack chain and to limit cross chaining. Middle ring can work in all 10 cogs and in the large ring, I usually stick to cogs 4-10 to limit cross chaining. I tend to treat the 3x10 drive train and 3 separate 1x drive trains. I run the big ring on flat pavement, drop to the middle ring on rolling hills or dirt/gravel trails. Then for steep hills, I'll drop to the small ring. On my typical ~40 mile ride, I have about 15 miles of pavement out and back where I'll run about 10 miles in big ring and 5 miles in middle ring (return ride is all big ring). Then I do about 10 miles of dirt trail riding in the mountains in the small ring. So on that typical ride, I shift the FD 3 times, big to middle to small and back to big. The only gear combination I almost never use is the 44-11 (big-small), maybe only hit that once or twice a year. I've been riding this setup since 2012, first 11-36 (720%), then 11-42 (840%) and now 11-45 (900%).

Can you even ride the bike in the 20-45 combination (around 12 gear inches)?
You bet. It does take some bike handling skill and you need to keep your cadence up, but after all that's the reason for lower gears. I usually maintain a 2-3MPH speed in the lower gears. This is handy for picking my way through technical terrain, where skinny 40mm touring tires on a rigid bike, might have problems with grip. Also very handy on narrow multi-use trails and when I get stuck behind some hikers with no room to pass. I can maintain walking speed until the trail widens out and I can safely pass.

More to come...

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