Does anybody use...
- Thread starter stosh
- Start date
No. But I have thought about it. I never ever use the big ring except to bounce off things. I onceslapped on a 32 tooth ring where the big ring used to go. I liked the extra clearance but the chain kept bouncing off. I would like to try and put a small 36 ring in place of the big or a bash guard but have never gotten around to it.
No, I like leaving my mark in logs.
I removed my big ring about 1.5 years ago. For the kind of riding I do, I rarely need to go to a 3rd ring...but I often need a bashguard. Of course I'm undergeared on long descents sometimes but I don't care that much since I'm not racing. We don't have a lot of trails like that around here anyway.
Give it a try...I'm pretty sure you won't regret it.
Give it a try...I'm pretty sure you won't regret it.
i'll never put a big ring back on any bike i ever own. i'm even planning on using just a 32-34t whenever i get the $$ to build a dh bike.
Hrmmmm well why not just keep the big ring on and use that as a bash guard and just replace it......when-ever...
Hrmmm I seem to catch a lot or rock and logs with my big ring, maybe a smaller one might be a better idea. I'm just waiting for the day it catches and I go over the handle bars.
Hrmmm I seem to catch a lot or rock and logs with my big ring, maybe a smaller one might be a better idea. I'm just waiting for the day it catches and I go over the handle bars.
If you intend to bash your big ring, make sure you adjust your front derailleur so that it can't shift your chain on a partly destroyed big ring.
I personally think that buying a cheap bashguard like a BlackSpire is a better option than thrashing a big ring. I foresee a mangled chain if you bash you big chainring anyway...
Originally posted by FlipSide
If you intend to bash your big ring, make sure you adjust your front derailleur so that it can't shift your chain on a partly destroyed big ring.
I personally think that buying a cheap bashguard like a BlackSpire is a better option than thrashing a big ring. I foresee a mangled chain if you bash you big chainring anyway...
Yeah, true....
I don't know I don't catch it a lot... but enough that it makes my heart jump when I do it.
I hate that feeling, just like when you smash your pedal off a rock or something.
I have started just running a single 36 tooth ring on my geared xc bike. i do it for light weight and simplicity.
back in the early 90's when rock rings were big i tried to buy one but the guy at the shop wouldn't let me. I thank him so much. I learned not to hit my big ring when crossing logs and instead go straight to my rear wheel. Go check out an old dirt rag or something to see what i'm talking about. Dejesus used to call it the "zapper".
i like my xc bikes to be as light as possible and when i have a big ring I use it a ton so that biases my decison.
i was thinking about putting an evil sts on my burly "freerid/trail" hardtail, but for the chain retention more than the bashring.
so if you are a racer or fast recreational rider i say no, leave it off it will make you smoother. If you're idea of xc is more "just riding" it isn't going to hurt .
back in the early 90's when rock rings were big i tried to buy one but the guy at the shop wouldn't let me. I thank him so much. I learned not to hit my big ring when crossing logs and instead go straight to my rear wheel. Go check out an old dirt rag or something to see what i'm talking about. Dejesus used to call it the "zapper".
i like my xc bikes to be as light as possible and when i have a big ring I use it a ton so that biases my decison.
i was thinking about putting an evil sts on my burly "freerid/trail" hardtail, but for the chain retention more than the bashring.
so if you are a racer or fast recreational rider i say no, leave it off it will make you smoother. If you're idea of xc is more "just riding" it isn't going to hurt .
I've got a bash ring on my bike. I didn't have one on my last bike and I warped the piss out of my big ring. I ride lots of rocks and logs, so the the big ring was taking a pounding. The bash ring I use now has taken a pounding and is holding up fine. 
YES!!
But I don't give up the third ring either!!
Blackspire makes a guide that lets you run 3 rings, as does MontaraDesigns (Montara is a
too)http://www.montaramtb.com/
I have never used the big ring during a race??? I just spin out during fast sections to let my legs recover, lets me work harder on the climbs.
Originally posted by -BB-
YES!!
But I don't give up the third ring either!!
Blackspire makes a guide that lets you run 3 rings, as does MontaraDesigns (Montara is a
http://www.montaramtb.com/
Call me stupid but I don't really see how that works.
I almost replaced my big ring with a bash guard two years ago. I rarely use the big ring, but there are times when it's too much fun to pop it in gear and then just mash the pedals to go as fast as I can. For those times, I didn't want to give it up.
If your technique for crossing bigger logs and rocks is to just power over it, you're going to hit your ring. With some practice, it is possible to cross that stuff without hitting. I regularly cross logs up to 2 feet in diameter without scraping the ring. You have to learn to lunge your bike up and then push your ass back which in turn pushes your bike forward and nose down. It's kind of abrupt at first, but gets smoother with practice.
If your technique for crossing bigger logs and rocks is to just power over it, you're going to hit your ring. With some practice, it is possible to cross that stuff without hitting. I regularly cross logs up to 2 feet in diameter without scraping the ring. You have to learn to lunge your bike up and then push your ass back which in turn pushes your bike forward and nose down. It's kind of abrupt at first, but gets smoother with practice.
No bashguard. I like the big ring. It has its uses.
...chainguides and bashrings- 20/32 DH and 22/34 XC. I use 8-spd cassettes, too- 12-32 XTR for DH and 11-32 SRAM for XC. I just got tired of prematurely replacing big rings due to damage in rockgardens. Both the XC and DH trails near me are VERY rocky and cause significant tooth damage. I never had a problem with logs doing that and kind of liked how you could use the teeth on the big ring to "climb" large diameter logs.
I don't understand how hitting a log would damage your big ring, I use my big ring to clear logs that are too big to hop and my big ring damage the log and not the opposite.
On one of our regular trail there is one rock that is too high for my bike and everytime I pass it I switch to my big ring so the chain will protect the ring and it works.
Stosh, If you ride regular xc I don't think you need a bashguard.
On one of our regular trail there is one rock that is too high for my bike and everytime I pass it I switch to my big ring so the chain will protect the ring and it works.
Stosh, If you ride regular xc I don't think you need a bashguard.
Not so much "damage" the big ring, but "bend" it. If you aren't going perfectly straight when you hit the log, chances are eventually you will bend the big ring. And I bet that pretty XTR big ring ain't cheap
Yeah well I think I'm just going to take the chance with it for now...Originally posted by Echo
Not so much "damage" the big ring, but "bend" it. If you aren't going perfectly straight when you hit the log, chances are eventually you will bend the big ring. And I bet that pretty XTR big ring ain't cheap
It's early in the season to be making changes like that to my bike.
Definitely ride it like it is dude. If you happen to bend or damage your big ring, that's the perfect time to decide if you use it enough that you want a new big ring, or if you should just replace it with a bash guard
Yes.
And who says Echo is as dumb as he looks...?Originally posted by Echo
Definitely ride it like it is dude. If you happen to bend or damage your big ring, that's the perfect time to decide if you use it enough that you want a new big ring, or if you should just replace it with a bash guard
If you do go for a bashguard, though, I think a step-up in your middle ring size is mandatory. 36 if you run a 22 inner, 38 if you run a 24. 36 works for me for DH/Freeride/XC...pretty much the universally useful size.
You can get away with a 14t jump in the size of your chainrings when you're only running 2 rings...some people push it even more. When you've only got one shift up or down to worry about, adjusting the derailleur is easy.
MD
I replaced my big ring with a FSA bashguard a few years ago. I'd been responsible for quite a few 'works of art' in the form of mutilated, twisted, deformed big rings and figured for my style of 'agro xc' the bashguard would be more useful. I never used the big ring anyway where I ride.