Ditching the big ring

The Northern Monkey

Realised that I've been in the big ring maybe once or twice on the RL.
There aren't many places I need to use the big ring when off road, so thinking of ditching it and saving a bit of weight.

What are my options?

I don't really want a bash, so can I just use some shorter chainring bolts and re adjust the mech?
Or will I have issues with the chain coming off?

Chunkers1980

Yes, but tbh how much does an outer ring weight and slightly shorter bolts? 100gs?

1x are where the weight benefits come on.

sanchez89

a thin bash will act as a guide to help stop chain coming off the middle. id just go for it and see

The Rookie

Steel outer ring, about 75-90g, ally 35-50g.

Shorter bolts may save 5g.

You won't need anything other than the shorter bolts and to adjust the H stop!

StefanP

I went for a singlespeed specific chainring for my double, slightly larger than my original middle ring. Ok, so without the ramping shifting up is slightly slower, but I haven't particularly noticed, and you are unlikely to ever shift up under pressure, I haven't ever dropped the chain either. No regrets at all!

.blitz

The Northern Monkey wrote:

...use some shorter chainring bolts and re adjust the mech

Depends. I did exactly that on my Rize and although it seemed OK the chain came off now and again, most often when starting to pedal after freewheeling down a gnar-tech descent. Shortened the chain and fitted a medium cage mech but it still did it. Fitted a bash and the problem went away.

By the same token my Ramones has been a double from day one with an SLX double front mech and the chain has never come off.

Personally I'd rather have a reliable drivetrain than save a few grammes. I think Shimano's ramps make it so easy for the chain to shift from the middle to the outer if it's going to come off, it will.

allthegearnoidea

When I ditched mine i was advised to go up a couple of teeth on the middle to compensate, popped q 36 on and was spot on, mines also a single ring version but haven't had any problems with shifting with it, gamut race ring,
i picked up a cheap bash from ebay for a tenner,

plugp7

If you're staying with the triple crank IMO a bashguard just tidies things up if nothing else. I got one off here. http://bbgbashguard.com/ Just over £12 delivered.
Double front mech and medium rear mech when existing ones wear out/get damaged.

jimothy78

Have been wondering - is there anything wrong (in theory) with grinding the teeth off an old worn-out big ring and using it as a bash guard? You'd have no worries about having to find different bolts etc...

Obviously you still might want to size-up on the middle ring, but this would surely be the least expensive way of doing things?

On that last point - what's the consensus on the best relative sizes for a two ring setup? I assume the bigger the gap the better, to avoid overlap, but presumably there's a cut-off point where derailleurs can't cope easily with the jump up?

welshkev

jimothy78 wrote:

Have been wondering - is there anything wrong (in theory) with grinding the teeth off an old worn-out big ring and using it as a bash guard? You'd have no worries about having to find different bolts etc...

Obviously you still might want to size-up on the middle ring, but this would surely be the least expensive way of doing things?

On that last point - what's the consensus on the best relative sizes for a two ring setup? I assume the bigger the gap the better, to avoid overlap, but presumably there's a cut-off point where derailleurs can't cope easily with the jump up?

when i ran a double and bash it was a 22/36 set up. seemed perfect for me

allthegearnoidea

A couple of peeps go for the grind off the teeth method, if your big is knackered then it has very little use other than a Large bike Ninja throwing star! ;-)
Mines 24/36 at the mo and is good, normally give up on the ups when it gets all wobbly and weavy through my bad riding lol!

.blitz

32/22 with an 11-32 cassette on the Rize
36/24 with an 11-34 on the Ramones

Both work fine for me

jomoj

I've just converted from a triple to a 36/22 with an 11-34 block. Kept the inner 22 and fitted a steel deore 36T ring (£10 from CRC) and used the same chainring bolts but padded them out with washers - cheaper than new bolts and looks neat enough. I used my triple front mech and it worked ok once adjusted.

I rode a 1x9 on my cx bike for a year and even on the road I rarely found I was undergeared (well up to about 25mph) so it should be fine off-road but I reckon a 38/24 could be a better setup if your local terrain is generally faster and less hilly.