[PhilipW]

November 16, 2009 – e*thirteen has gotten a very positive response from last weeks release of the new XCX (“X-Country & Cyclo-X”) bottom bracket mount chainguide. The new XCX began shipping out to distributors over a week ago.

With the introduction of the 10 speed cassette for off-road use many riders and racers have come to appreciate the advantages of the simpler 1x10 drivetrain setup on XC bikes. The XCX guide also helps improve upon the already held 1x10 Cyclo-Cross tradition.

There has also been a lot of interest in a seat tube mount version of the XCX for use with the new BB30 bottom bracket standard. In early September e*thirteen received a call from the Team Orbea mechanic, Julien Brugeas. It seemed that the XCX had caught the eye of Orbea Cross Country rider Julien Absalon, e*thirteen immediately went to work and made a 100% CNC prototype XCX seat tube mount for Julien Absalon’s XC World Championship race bike. The seat tube mounted XCX features a very stout design and trick adjustable cam mechanism for fine tuning the chainline.


The Seat Tube mount version of the XCX is currently a working prototype. It may make production in 2010 or it may not, but either way we thought that we would share:

Julien Absalon at XC Worlds, on the way to the podium:

Current BB mount XCX:
http://www.e13components.com/product_xcx.html

 

[jonKranked]

That's an awfully big rock for an xc race


Looks cool.

 

[PhilipW]

That's an awfully big rock for an xc race


Looks cool.

Absalon is going too fast for gravity to take effect.

 

[jonKranked]

I was actually running 1x9 setup on my xc bike, but I switched back to a double b/c I kept dropping chains. Looks like I might be able to go back to 1x9 now! I'm not too keen on the bb mount style, so if you want some feedback on the seattube design, hook a brotha up!

 

[Jim Mac]

I was actually running 1x9 setup on my xc bike, but I switched back to a double b/c I kept dropping chains. Looks like I might be able to go back to 1x9 now! I'm not too keen on the bb mount style, so if you want some feedback on the seattube design, hook a brotha up!

I'm in the same boat as you (1X9), but decided to run a 32 Special instead and love it. I don't think I could go without a bash ring, personally. Looks interesting, though.

Didn't Paul Components come out with something similar recently?

http://www.paulcomp.com/chainkeeper.html

 

[jonKranked]

yea but the e.13 looks way more pimp

 

[Cabdoctor]

I really really need this to go into production, as I race a Cannondale Taurine and don't really have any other options since my frame is both carbon and bb30

 

[jonKranked]

didn't even think of that! With bb30 becoming more popular, this is definitely a viable option IMO.

 

[dump]

looks nice. Looks like its's set a fixed distance from the seat tube - am I seeing that correctly? If so, is this distance typically the same on xc bikes?

 

[PhilipW]

looks nice. Looks like its's set a fixed distance from the seat tube - am I seeing that correctly? If so, is this distance typically the same on xc bikes?

There is a simple cam mechanism that allows to adjust the distance. Instead of adding another bolt or other interface to break, all adjustment and clamping is done with the two bolts around the seattube. There is no twisting, no additional little shims.

Simpler = Better.

 

[jonKranked]

Phil, so its a 'set-it-and-forget-it' installation?

 

[PhilipW]

Phil, so its a 'set-it-and-forget-it' installation?

The entire proto is very simple and strong. There really isn't anything that can go wrong with it once you set it up:

1. Adjust Slider to chainring height
2. Adjust cam mechanism to center chainring.
3. Rock out.

 

[jonKranked]

you forgot Step 4: send one to jon Kranked

 

[SuspectDevice]

I absolutely need as many of these as I can get my hands on. All of our XC racers run single rings, as do all of our CX racers.

The 'cross potential for things is huge.

 

[in the trees]

Along the lines of this and the XCX, I ran just the upper backplate and guide (without the "taco" and lower idler pulley) from an LG1+. I ran this bolted to the ISCG tabs on my 1x9 (32T) bike for most of this season without any trouble. No dropped chains. It was a slick set-up for me!

 

[dw]

Along the lines of this and the XCX, I ran just the upper backplate and guide (without the "taco" and lower idler pulley) from an LG1+. I ran this bolted to the ISCG tabs on my 1x9 (32T) bike for most of this season without any trouble. No dropped chains. It was a slick set-up for me!

The number of riders using full blown LG1+'s (with taco) for XC is incredible! We've gotten tons of correspondence about this from 1X9ers and 1X10ers. At sub 170g, why not..

 

[mattmatt86]

When will these show up on QBP? I never get out of the middle ring on my 29er so I'm going to try a 1x9 over the winter. Will the colored guiderings also be available through QBP?

 

[PhilipW]

When will these show up on QBP? I never get out of the middle ring on my 29er so I'm going to try a 1x9 over the winter. Will the colored guiderings also be available through QBP?

The prototype is still just that, a one-off prototype. It may make production eventually, or it may not.

The black, red and gold chainrings are being shipped out first (next week or two), and the wacky colors will be following after that. I don't know offhand when QBP is ordering them, but I know BTI is amped up about stocking color options. We've been going nuts all week shipping out another secret project... (press release pending)

If you're interested, give them a call and they can give a more definite answer.

Cheers,
philip @ e*thirteen

 

[m-dub]

Be the first out of gate and offer a bolt on style for bikes like the BLT carbon with bolt on der. Not sure yo uwould sell too many though. I do see the bolt on version being a viabale option.

 

[PhilipW]

Be the first out of gate and offer a bolt on style for bikes like the BLT carbon with bolt on der. Not sure yo uwould sell too many though. I do see the bolt on version being a viabale option.

The Shimano direct mount FD standard would be awesome to see more of in the future. If the standard keeps its current momentum up there might be a possibility of this happening. (It would make setup ridiculously simple)

 

[Westy]

Will there be a prototype unavailable in rootbeer?

 

[jonKranked]

Still want.

 

[Jim Mac]

Will there be a prototype unavailable in rootbeer?

Yes, though unflexy, sorry.

 

[HAB]

Still want.

I've got an old Klein with a press in BB that this would be awesome on.

 

[Banshee Rider]

What's the best way to get QBP to start carrying the XCX; having E13 contact them, or contact them as a dealer with product interest? My shop doesn't have a BTI account, and I was hoping to avoid the minimum order price since I only need one guide. It seems foolish for QBP to not stock this guide.

 

[SuspectDevice]

These things work well.

I am pretty sure that shops can buy directly from E.13. Is that not true, gentlemen from Leominster?

 

[MMcG]

I want one!

Say Mickey - how are those Aspen tires?

 

[HAB]

How's it work, just an off center shim in the middle of the clamp that you rotate to set how far the guide sticks out?

 

[dw]

These things work well.

I am pretty sure that shops can buy directly from E.13. Is that not true, gentlemen from Leominster?

Look at that bad mamma jamma! Typically we encourage using our distributors but if a shop or rider is in a pinch we'll always help them out by selling direct. Whatever we can do to help.

 

[dw]

How's it work, just an off center shim in the middle of the clamp that you rotate to set how far the guide sticks out?

Yup, that's it. Simple and light.

 

[HAB]

Yup, that's it. Simple and light.

Cool, I like it. Not that me saying so really means that much, but if those hit production I will buy one.

 

[dump]

Is this thing for sale then? Anyone have them in Canada?

 

[PhilipW]

Is this thing for sale then? Anyone have them in Canada?

The XCX Seat Tube mount is not in production yet. We will definitely let everyone know when (and if) they do.

Cheers,
philip

 

[Banshee Rider]

Thanks for sorting me out Phil. The guide worked awesome on its first ride today. Top-notch service from E13 as usual, to be expected

 

[SuspectDevice]

Sparky that frame doesn't fit as well as it should, you need a size 545 Spooky Supertouch. Send me some cool stuff and I'll send you one.

 

[dump]

hmm... how do I get my hands on a prototype?!

 

[HAB]

hmm... how do I get my hands on a prototype?!

Mug Julien Absalon?

 

[dump]

Mug Julien Absalon?

It might be easier to sneak up to this guy w/ a 4mm allen key ... oh wait, that's the bb mount version. oops!

 

[syadasti]

Mug Julien Absalon?

Why not just run a turbocharger bashguard with seat tube mount jumpstop instead - seems like lots of 1x9 people run jumpstop + bash. It can be adjusted for middle ring setups:

http://www.gvtc.com/~ngear/whatis.html

I'd personally still would want a bashguard if I was running 1x9.

 

[Banshee Rider]

I watched people mess with N-stops for a couple years. I concluded, thru their extensive misfortune, that the things pretty much suck. It's entirely possible that our singletrack was too rough and they were asking too much in the name of weight savings, but I never saw a successful combination stem from the dozen riders that experimented with them. I always used the LG1, and would have no problem returning to it had I not found I didn't need the bashguard. For someone who wanted that feature, I'd opt for the additional lower pulley and worry free performance of the LG1 over various bash/jump stop combinations; but that's just me.