Single Chainring chain guides?.

[keithmac]

Hello all, my lad is waiting for his single chainring MTB to arrive.

Looking at the pictures it doesn't have a chain guide on the front.

He likes going to the local bike track so I'm presuming he'll have issues with it throwing the chain off?, (it has a clutched rear derailleur).

What's best chain guide, are they all much of a muchness?.

Saying that does anyone on here run a single ring without a guide and no issues?.

Cheers all.

 

[T4tomo]

A clutched RD should stop it throwing the chain.

No clutch you defo need a chain guide, my non clutched 1x used to throw the chain off-road until I got the chain guide positioned properly.

clutch and guide is probably overkill

 

[matticus]

You can also use the "single specific" chainrings (darn, forgotten the proper term!)
I've had no problems on my single-ring commuter since buying one. No clutch, no guide - and it did throw the chain fairly often with a conventional chain-ring.

 

[T4tomo]

You can also use the "single specific" chainrings (darn, forgotten the proper term!)
I've had no problems on my single-ring commuter since buying one. No clutch, no guide - and it did throw the chain fairly often with a conventional chain-ring.

narrow-wide IIRC

 

[Smokin Joe]

I'll find out soon, I'm waiting for a single speed chainset to arrive as I'm going to replace the 36/22 double with it. The 22 is ridiculous for me as I only ride tarmac and the Microshift front setup is crap (The 7 speed rear is ok though).

According to the description the chainring supplied with the new cranks is narrow/wide single specific (All for a hefty £27.29). If I do throw the chain I'll fit a guide though seven sprockets shouldn't make it much of an issue.

Time trialists were still mainly using single rings when seven speed was the most you could get and I don't remember dropped chains being an issue.

 

[HarryTheDog]

It depends on the terrain ( well it does for me) I raced XC and XC single chainring on both bikes clutched rear dearailleur never threw a chain. I then started a new commute route along a canal with corrugated bricks surfaces in places.( seemingly just to slow bikes down though originally for horses to get grip) It dam well throws a chain nearly every time unless I keep pressure going through the chain . I fitted a chain guide and it works ( mostly)

 

[keithmac]

Cheers all, he's got road, off road tracks and the local jump track where he likes going.

Was thinking the jump track might be a step too far for flinging the chain.

 

[figbat]

I run my hardtail with a single, narrow-wide, oval chainring, a clutched derailleur and no chain guide and so far haven’t dropped the chain - I ride tracks and trails and they can get pretty bumpy with occasional chain slap (even with the clutch) but no derailment.