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I'm sure I've seen a pic somewhere but, as the title say, does anyone have a 1*9 or 1*10 setup that does not have something holding the chain on at the front?
If so, what chainrings are you using? If I did it, it would be 1*9, 12-32 with a short cage XT mech and I have a 32T On-One SS chainring in the bits box that I could use. I'd just like to keep it as 'clean' looking as possible.
My mate ran his Orange 5 1x? with no chain device.
It regularly failed and fell off, riding round the Chilterns. You might be able to do it with some serious tension on the rear mech, but that could cause other issues.
How about one of those chain devices that attach to the chainstay mid way down it, they are quite small and unbotrsive ?
I did it for a while out of general can't be arsed-ness, and it worked well enough to indicate that it might be a goer if you put some effort into it. Was losing the chain once or twice a ride, but that was with no special precautions.
Un-ramped chain ring, jump stop on the chain stay would be first port of call. Could try one of those rinky-dink dmr chain retainers that look like a front mech - they're not too obtrusive.
I don't think it's ever going to work for hairy-arsed mountain biking, but for more mellow stuff it would IMO.
I'm running 1x10 with an 11-36 XT cassette, a 32t renthal chainring and a medium cage XTR mech with the clutch-thingumy.
Chain still manages to bounce off, despite the clutch mech...even on the road!
My mate runs 1x10 with nothing up front, drops his chain all the time.
Get a Type 2 SRAM rear mech and off you go...
I tried 1x10 with a clutch mech and no chain devie. Didn't really work at all. Added a small top guide, works pretty effectively- chain can still fall off but it's rare it does it while riding.
Set my commuter up 1x9 with salsa singlespeed ring (longer teeth, unramped) and an older XT rear mech. The chain dropped regularly on bumps in the road, which got boring immediately, so I bought a Paul Components Chainkeeper. Not the cheapest option, but it's neat and it works.
I'm running 1x8 on my road bike since my front mech broke. Actually, it is a double ring set-up but with a very manual gear change (stop and do it by hand!) There is no guide or any sort and it's fine. New mech in the post though.
My commuter was set up 1x9 with an unramped 32T up front, a road block and a short cage road mech. Never dropped a chain
Didn't ride it off road mind you
I used mine for a few weeks without any bash guard or guide and the best way to keep the chain on was to ride it like a fixie, constantly pedalling keeping the tension up. I soon bought a bash guard and a jump stop so I could ride it properly.