Single chainring conversion

DeVlaeminck

I've got an oldish Kona Fire Mountain Deluxe I'm giving my son, the drive train is worn and it had a bent middle chain ring, the deal is he gets the bike but he has to do the work on it so he knows the basics of maintaining it I'm giving him the bits.

As he's 15 and weighs about 9 stone I'm thinking a single ring conversion with a narrow- wide ring would suit and prevent him bending cheap replacment rings by misshifting.

Am I right in thinking I can just remove the small ring, stick a narrow-wide say 34 tooth 104 bcd in place of the middle ring and discard the outer ? The mechs are Deore so no clutch mechanism but I could leave the front one on as a chain guide ?

My questions are will a narrow wide ring work with 9 speed, I've read it might be a little loose? Also do I need some kind of spacer for the front ring, looking at it I don't think I will but never done this before, it's a cheap fsa dyna-drive crank. Will I be ok with washers if the chainring bolts are too long ?

So the new ring, chain, recable, maybe cassette and brake pads if I'm feeling generous?

Thanks

The Rookie

Yup, bin the three rings and fit one in the middle.

Narrow wide works fine with 9 speed as the chain internal width is the same (3/32") as 10/11 (or 5,6,7 and 8 speed for that matter), whoever thinks it will be loose as 'ten speed is narrower innit' is a retard as its only the outer width that reduces.

I ran mine as 9 speed narrow wide for 2 years and never dropped a chain.

Personally I'd suggest a 32 or 30T as the first effort.

cooldad

Works fine, have a few like that.

DeVlaeminck

Cheers, will get the easier gearing too.

02gf74

loosing two rings, you need to consider gearing which depends on the terrain ridden. if there are steep hills I think you would be looking a 36t rear and 32 or 30 t front.

you can fit a bash ring to replace the outer one

The Rookie

I rode my 1x9 for two years with a 32 and an 11-34, it was only on much longer rides that having to push harder on hills was an issue, I wouldn't go to the cost of a change the cassette, just stick with a 32 or 30t front.

I'm now running 1x10 using my old nine speed mech with a road ten speed shifter, I went up to a 34t and now use an 11-40 cassette.

kajjal

The Rookie wrote:

I rode my 1x9 for two years with a 32 and an 11-34, it was only on much longer rides that having to push harder on hills was an issue, I wouldn't go to the cost of a change the cassette, just stick with a 32 or 30t front.

I'm now running 1x10 using my old nine speed mech with a road ten speed shifter, I went up to a 34t and now use an 11-40 cassette.

This is good advice, always make sure you have the range of gears you need.