Chainguide options for single chainring

othello

My son is a youth racer and I have set up both his road bike and cross bike with a single chainring. Due to age gear restrictions he doesn't need double rings -- a single ring at the front is ample. As he is running a single ring I have not fitted a front mech to either bike.

But I'm worried about him dropping a chain and there isn't anything to stop it coming off, especially on the cross bike.

Would a MTB style chain guide (the sort that clamps to the seat tube and sits at the top of the chainring) be an option? But do they generate drag off the chain?

Or perhaps an inner 'chain catcher', but then there isn't anything to stop the chain from jumping off on the outside.

Any thoughts gratefully received!

nicklouse

To answer the questions yes there is.

You could also run a double guide ring. One inner one outer.

But chain ring BCD and hole count will need to be matched.

othello

nicklouse wrote:

To answer the questions yes there is.

?

Do you mean, that a MTB chain guide is an option? Or are you referring to the outer?

maddog 2

I run a single ring on my commuter and I run a BBG bashgaurd on the outside, and an N-gear jumpstop on the inside. Never lost a chain, ever.

http://bbgbashguard.com/
http://www.billys.co.uk/english/group.php?prod=chng-js

JonEdwards

I think E13 does a 'cross versions of their 1x guides. Or look at Superstar for the same idea, not so nicely executed but a fraction of the price.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/e-th ... -prod82803

Barbarossa

K-edge do nice chain catchers and bash rings.

othello

Thank you all for the suggestions. I'll let you know what I go for.

Monty Dog

Wolf Tooth thick/thin chainrings are designed for single-ring applications and eliminate the need for a chain catcher but they're only available from the US at the moment.

maddog 2

if you're going down the thick/thin route then absolute black do all bcds. Not cheap like.

http://absoluteblack.cc/chainrings.html

othello

maddog 2 wrote:

if you're going down the thick/thin route then absolute black do all bcds. Not cheap like.

http://absoluteblack.cc/chainrings.html

Rather lovely! But unfortunately a bit too much for my sons cross bike!