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I’ve got a rigid 29er that i want to start using for more ‘gravel’ duties but find the 32 on the front spins out pretty quickly. That said I like it for the off road bits. My frame can’t take a front mech so thinking of just adding another ring and doing the odd manual shift when I have to. Anyone else do this? Any reason not to? Other than not looking great…
Yes. I run a Dingle-speed on my Stooge.
One rear cog and 2 front.
You can change down from big to small with your foot, and then you have to manually change back up.
Works very well.
I also did it with a 1x10 set up on another bike (same as you, there was no front mech capability) added a granny ring, and did foot changes.
Worked spot on.
Yep. Done similar. Worked ok. The odd involuntary shift on bumpy ground. But generally okay
Yes, I add a stealth granny for big days out, Exmoor etc where you can be in granny for a good 20-30 mins at a time
Stealth granny for me as well. Why wouldn't you?
I used to with my old XT crank. Put a 22t on it for climbing mountains. Miss it now TBH.
Schlumpf or Hammerschmidt if you fancy a shifter but can't have a mech?
I did it in the 90s on a bike with a special front mech. My lbs couldn't get me a replacement so I removed it.
I got very good at changing gear down with my right foot.
As above, it used to drop down on rougher terrain but a narrow wide should solve that now.
Yes, granny left on my cranks when I went 1x gearing. Very occasionally I tapped chain off with my foot to have a bail-out gear.
Have to put it back with my hands of course, but I usually do that when I’m recovering at the top of climb.
Since having wider ranges on rear cassette I don’t really use it anymore. Just too lazy to take cranks off to remove it.
.
E-type if you have nowhere to put a normal one?
The Cranes did when cycling to the centre of the earth.
My cross bike has 2 chainrings with only slightly different sizes
They're narrow-wide so can't be shifted without a full stop and manual changeover but I can change at the start of a race/ride to what I think will work best
@ajantom - what teeth rings are you using on the dinglespeed? Does the chain hang very loose when in the granny or do you have a sprung loaded Singulator type thing? Been thinking of similar - climbs would be steady up fireroads, so not sure a dangling chain would be too much bother anyway.
hammerschmidt is another option. not sure of the gearing available on them though
@Rickos - I'm using a 34x19 as my main SS gear on a 29+ bike.
Then the granny ring is 26t.
Basically it's a singlespeed with an emergency bail out gear 😉
I use a Paul's Melvin tensioner - the double jockey wheel type - works better than the single jockey type IMO.
Will find a pic of the setup.
Hammerschmidt needs specific iscg mount as well and they are a bit draggy in overdrive. #rubbishstealthad