Front Chainring Size

Phallus
Phallus Posts: 29
edited April 2009 in MTB buying advice
Hi All, I need some advice...

I'm about to buy a new crankset and need to decide on what size front ring I should get... Im going to have a single ring so no front derailler.

I want to know if 36, 38, 40 or 42 tooth or more is best on a single ring set up?

Also, how do I find out the BB size of a 2004 Big Hit? Anyone happen to know the answer?

Thanks in advance

Comments

  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    38 and use a tape measure.

    but for most cranksets it does not matter as they will fit either.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • Phallus
    Phallus Posts: 29
    i don't have the bike in my posession at this time, so the tapemeasure is not an option! i am being lazy though, with enough searching its probably somewhere on the net...

    38 y'say? good stuff, now we need some other responses to see if this is the general consensus. Lets assume this is based on 170mm cranks
  • Airienteer
    Airienteer Posts: 695
    Presuming that the ring is for the Big Hit and it's for downhill use I'd say go with a 38, aslong as you have a downhill cassette on the back. You might want to think about fitting a bashguard aswell.
  • Phallus
    Phallus Posts: 29
    hey Airienteer, yeah i'll be fitting a BG, thanks for the advice 38 is way out in front :) what does a downhill cassette consist of? i never knew there were specific cassettes for this discipline. its been a long time since i stopped riding obviously!
  • Airienteer
    Airienteer Posts: 695
    A donwhill cassette basically has the same amount of cogs as a "normal one", but they are closer ratios, i.e. the big cog won't be as big and the smallest cog perhaps one tooth smaller than that of a "normal cassette".

    You could still get away with a standard cassette though as you would still have the big gears and just most likely wouldn't use the others. A downhill specific cassette also allows you to use a shorter cage mech, meaning it hopefully won't get banged as often.

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