 You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
OK so I realise you can not run a 9 spd chain on a 10speed system.
But (with a 9spd cassette & shifters) could you run a Race Face thick/thin chain ring with 9 speed as a 1x9 ?
Q2: If you can would it be better (or even possible) to run a 10 spd chain with the above set up ?
reason for asking - budget.
9 speed chain on a 10 speed ring = fine.
10 speed chain on a 9 speed drivetrain = no.
Plates on a 10 speed chain are narrower, so the ring is narrower (or can be), so 9 speed chain fits fine.
A 10 speed chain may be too narrow for your 9 speed mech, and cassette though.
Would there be any point in running a thick / thin chainring if the chain is wider than a 10spd one?
I guess probably not, but being weak of mind & leg I was thinking of running the 30T RaceFace chain ring.
I might be wrong, but I would have thought the thick/thin thing would work just as well with a 9-speed chain.
Thick Thin works fine with 9sp chain. Waste of time without a clutch mech though, mine fell off quite often.
9 speed chain on a 10 speed ring = fine.10 speed chain on a 9 speed drivetrain = no.
Wrong way around if anything, although the first may be true for some rings.
The outer plates on 10 speed chain are marginally thinner but the inner dimensions are the same as 9, therefore you can run a 10 speed chain on a 9 speed drivetrain. Some ring manufacturers explicitly recommend use of a 10 speed chain with their N/W rings even on a 9 speed drivetrain but I can't see why this should be. Most likely tighter tolerances during chain manufacture.
So, Q1: Yes most of the time but check with the manufacturer- I think RF say 9 speed chains are ok.
Q2: Yes it is possible and some NW manufacturers say "better"
cheers all.
Looks good so I can spread the cost of eventually going 10 speed.