Bash ring or no bash ring?

Boy Lard

I'm riding mainly off road, and I 'roll' most things beause I'm struggling to get the bike airbourne at the moment (think I'm getting there, a sprained wrist isn't helping). There are just a couple of points on local trails where, if I don't pop the front wheel at the right time, I can catch the front ring on rock or root. I never seem to use the big ring at the front, apart from on a couple of downhill bits on my commute to work. With this in mind, and because I managed to smash the plastic thing covering the big front ring clean off tonight, I was toying with the idea of a bash ring.

Pros and cons would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

tony620

If your mainly riding trails there is not any really. it helps with ground clearance and you get over logs fairly easy.

I use a 36t shimano slx double set up on both my bikes now i only spin out on the road going downhill. even then i can pedal for a fair bit

Anonymous

i got rid of my big ring ( :shock: ) for clearance related issues and didnt bother with a bash, i fitted a tensioner to look after the chain but i dont miss it since it is gone.

Boy Lard

I think I need to get used to the bike a bit more and work out what size rings to use. What is 'average' for a small-medium ring set up? Atm I think the rings are 22, 32 and 44. Like I said above, I very rarely use either the big ring or small ring. (Big ring on downhill roads, small ring when I've virtually given up on an off road climb anyway).

Mancunianfightingcat

sheepsteeth

go and cut your lawn!

Deputy Dawg

With that handle he should be eating it

Anonymous

that is some very very green grass.

Raymondavalon

Deputy Dawg wrote:

With that handle he should be eating it

LMFAO! Well said..

Looking at a dual chainring setup myself. I have my eye on the Blackspire bashring and guide combo. However I've never caught my 44T chainring on an obstacle that's caused damage, so perhaps the bashguard is more of an "overbiking" requirement?

Anonymous

i found i was clipping the big ring a bit but never actually using it so i got rid, has been ace since.

the wife does need to cut the grass i agree.

Tel39

I had the same issue on my new build. On my local trails there's quite a few roots and rocks that were catching the big ring on my other bike so on the new one have gone for a Middleburn 24-36 chainrings up front, worked a treat so far.

Oh and opted for a black darkcycles bashguard, good bit of kit and a bit blingy too.

stubs

Got an SLX twin and bash. Bought because I liked the look of it and wasnt really using the big ring not because I was grounding out a lot. However I am surprised how many knocks the guard has taken plus I like the fact that I dont gouge flesh out of my calf when I take a tumble.

Only problem its a bit porky I took it off and weighed it against a spare XT 44T ring I couldnt believe the plastic guard would weigh so much.

Boy Lard

Yeah, I still have teeth marks running down the back of my leg from when I came off my old bike over 3 weeks ago.

It actually feels like I'm only eating grass sometimes. I've lost 16lbs in 4 weeks from cycling and eating a bit more healthily. I've been Boylard on the internet since I was about 16 though (over 17 years ago now), it was never very acurate, I unfortunately grew in to the name though

I obviously need to learn more about this.

jonesthepipe

i ride on Portland mainly, which is heavily quarried. the quarry boundaries are usually fenced with wire and ops fences to keep people from falling in. However, when the boundaries change, the fences often just get knocked over and left. You also come across old crane cables and which cables lying round.

i was finding that i kept catching the big ring on these wires/cables, resulting in hilarious accidents and the replacement of otherwise new chainrings.

i went to a double and bash 22/32 set up and solved the immediate problem, but struggled slightly with gears. i have just go a 24/38 setup and it is much better, considering a single ring 38.

less sharp bits.

Northwind

I just removed mine initially, worked fine. But the big bike deserves a bashring just for the look of it The Soul got a super-light one which is really just a chain catch not a bash at all, it bends a bit easily.

paul.skibum

I fitted a bash and guide on my dual ring set up recently, after a local pedally ride I was thinking it was OK but in Yorks Dales this weekend I am tinking a 36t middle might be needed - ran out of pedalling power a couple of times into some bits - still running faster tha my friends but I wanted to go quicker......