[Closed] Double chainring chainsets - NOT WITH BASHGUARD

Used Middleburn Duo would be about the only choice, but it would be easier just to use what you already have and just take the big ring off.

Why not use a lightweight bashguard just to make it look nice and tidy though? There's loads about. 🙂

I don't need a bash and its extra weight/cost for the sake of it

I've found no problem at all with a standard triple with the big ring removed. Once Shimano and SRAM double specifics are available (not counting XX) I'd go for one of those if buying new but I'd say it's not really worth waiting.

No bash on mine either.

[img] [/img]

As clubber said, run it like the picture above and it will be fine, not pretty though if that is what your really want.

BTW clubber, WTF is that big lump of front mech?

I have the same sort of set up as clubber - no issues at all. chain line is goodish as you use the whole casette in the bigger ring and the bottom 2/3 of it in the granny

I see a big problem with just taking the big ring off a triple to make it into a double. That problem being the absence of a big ring. Unless you live at the bottom of a well and have to ride out every day I dont see why you would want only a middle and granny set up, especially with that muthaf***a of a rear cassette you have on there.

Unless you live at the bottom of a well and have to ride out every day I dont see why you would want only a middle and granny set up

I have just a middle ring, and I ain't slow.

You could do as clubber does and add an extra spacer on the drive side bb to even out the chainline a bit.

poppa, that isnt a middle and granny set up though is it. Also, saying you aren't slow is a bit of a tosspot comment. I would hazard a guess that compared to a lot of people you are very slow, or very very slow even.

I see a big problem with just taking the big ring off a triple to make it into a double. That problem being the absence of a big ring. Unless you live at the bottom of a well and have to ride out every day I dont see why you would want only a middle and granny set up, especially with that muthaf***a of a rear cassette you have on there.

Normally people will replace the rings with higher teeth replacement, mine for example I run a 40T middle and a 26T inner.

I_Ache - Member

You could do as clubber does and add an extra spacer on the drive side bb to even out the chainline a bit.

Absolutely no need.

You're a real charmer, aren't you? I would hazard a guess that compared to even more people I am very fast, or even very very fast.

Whatever you say Mr Absalon-Peat.

I'm guessing he's quite young poppa, let it go.

Obi_Twa

I run 22/36. 36 /11 top gear allows me to pedal into the high 20s mph which is plenty for me offroad - and it is a mountainbike. I have only lost the top 2 gears from a standard triple set up

Kingtut I know there is no need I run double and bash myself. Its just that the OP was concerned with chainline and putting an extra 2.5mm spacer would move the cranks into more of a specific double chainset chainline.

I took the big ring off all my MTB bikes, because I rarely used the big ring (I do live in a steep sided well of a valley), I'm a leftie and was always impaling my right calf, saved a bit of money and weight. Never bothered putting a bash ring on. The double ring set up rarely seems to lose the chain and for a long time I rode it without bothering to adjust the front mech (looked a bit silly tho). For some reason, on my 1x9 canal commuter bike, the chain is constantly jumping off, so that's going to require some sort of guide device.

So shopping list:
1 x 36T ring
1 x 24T ring
Narrow chainring bolts

Any recommendations for any of the above?

Seems i will have a brand new set of 22/32/44 SLX rings for sale!!

Short chainring bolts £5.50 plus p&p (scroll down): http://www.hubjub.co.uk/etc/etc.htm

If you don't want the front mech to look like this (it works perfectly well tho!):
[img] [/img]
you might want some new gear cable, unless you've left plenty extra cable on your existing. Also, you'll be shortening the chain (chain tool?)

deore chainrings ftw.

So shopping list:
1 x 36T ring
1 x 24T ring
Narrow chainring bolts

Any recommendations for any of the above?

If you want light weight and long lasting you'll want TA Specialites Chinook chain rings from SJS Cycles.

I run 22/36. 36 /11 top gear allows me to pedal into the high 20s mph which is plenty for me offroad - and it is a mountainbike. I have only lost the top 2 gears from a standard triple set up

Mr TJ, he speaks da truth. 🙂

Seems i will have a brand new set of 22/32/44 SLX rings for sale!!

I might be interested at the right price, email in profile. 🙂

KINGTUT - muppet 😉

BTW clubber, WTF is that big lump of front mech?

It's an SLX double mech - works much better than a triple IMO. It's not particularly chunky though - I think it just looks that way because the cage is smaller than a normal triple one.

Obi_Twa - Member
I see a big problem with just taking the big ring off a triple to make it into a double. That problem being the absence of a big ring. Unless you live at the bottom of a well and have to ride out every day I dont see why you would want only a middle and granny set up, especially with that muthafa of a rear cassette you have on there.

It's been endlessly discussed on here already. For most people it's just not an issue as the top gear is plenty for normal off road riding and fitness will dictate whether the 'muthafa of a rear cassette' is necessary or not. Currently I'm not very fit so it's necessary. Back in the day when I was completely the opposite, no doubt I'd have been running an 11-28 cassette with larger chainrings and that's what more racy people are doing.

EDIT - I should probably mention that while mine is a standard chainset, the 'big' chainring is a 36, not a 32 though for most riding I don't actually think even that would be a huge issue.

Finally, chainline. I've had a good look and I did think about moving spacers around before fitting it all but the chainrings are actually exactly where I want them for a double and I reckon adding a spacer to the driveside would actually give you a worse chainline.

I don't need a bash and its extra weight/cost for the sake of it

But you're willing to spend £100 on a crankset, when all you need to do is get a £13 Deore ring and a £20-£30 lightweight bashring! (NO short bolts needed either!)
😀

Presumably he'd be able to sell the existing chainset though...

I still don't see why you'd add a bashring if you don't need one.

It's an SLX double mech - works much better than a triple IMO. It's not particularly chunky though - I think it just looks that way because the cage is smaller than a normal triple one.

Fair enough, ugly brute though ain't it.

SP CRxFW GI GIdf DI diff DF PRPM RT
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1> 24x34 19.41 13.33% 60.98 8.13 5' 0.98" 1038.96 1:0.71
2> 24x30 22.00 15.38% 69.11 10.63 5' 9.11" 916.73 1:0.80
3> 24x26 25.38 13.04% 79.75 10.40 6' 7.75" 794.50 1:0.92
4> 24x23 28.70 1.47% 90.15 1.33 7' 6.15" 702.83 1:1.04
5> 36x34 29.12 13.33% 91.48 12.20 7' 7.48" 692.64 1:1.06
6> 24x20 33.00 0.00% 103.67 0.00 8' 7.67" 611.16 1:1.20
7> 36x30 33.00 15.38% 103.67 15.95 8' 7.67" 611.16 1:1.20
8> 36x26 38.08 1.96% 119.62 2.35 9'11.62" 529.67 1:1.38
9> 24x17 38.82 10.87% 121.97 13.26 10' 1.97" 519.48 1:1.41
10> 36x23 43.04 2.22% 135.22 3.00 11' 3.22" 468.55 1:1.57
11> 24x15 44.00 12.50% 138.23 17.28 11' 6.23" 458.37 1:1.60
12> 36x20 49.50 2.56% 155.51 3.99 12'11.51" 407.44 1:1.80
13> 24x13 50.77 14.71% 159.50 23.46 13' 3.50" 397.25 1:1.85
14> 36x17 58.24 3.03% 182.95 5.54 15' 2.95" 346.32 1:2.12
15> 24x11 60.00 10.00% 188.50 18.85 15' 8.50" 336.14 1:2.18
16> 36x15 66.00 15.38% 207.34 31.90 17' 3.34" 305.58 1:2.40
17> 36x13 76.15 18.18% 239.24 43.50 19'11.24" 264.83 1:2.77
18> 36x11 90.00 0.00% 282.74 0.00 23' 6.74" 224.09 1:3.27
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I still don't see why you'd add a bashring if you don't need one.

It's a fair point, but I did it simply because it looks neater, that's all. Then, when I had one, I found I started using it! 🙂 VERY handy!
I just bought a used alloy FSA one for about £12 off Ebay the first time.

KT - yeah not pretty and I'd replace it with an XT or XTR one when it dies.

clubber - Member

KT - yeah not pretty and I'd replace it with an XT or XTR one when it dies.

I'm eagerly awaiting the new XTR double.. 8)

See, neatness! 😀 (Well, IMO, anyway...)

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]
And this Truvative one even matches the bike! 🙂

Nah, it's just grarlcore-ness. I prefer the look of being in the 'big' ring all the time 🙂

Nah, it's just grarlcore-ness. I prefer the look of being in the 'big' ring all the time

**cough** 36T is a big ring? **cough** 😉

It's the big ring on my bike 😉

Depends where you ride dunnit. I don't use the big ring much at a lot of trail centres or on big techy stuff but I use it lots in the Peak because the DHs are faster and longer and there's lots of road. I'd never use a bash in't peak for this reason.

with a 36t luke you only miss out on the top 2 gears according to TJ though

Well 36/11 is equivalent of a 44 chainring and between your 13 and 14T sprockets so you effectively lose the 11, 12 and sort of but not really the 13.

That may or may not be an issue depending on where you ride. Most people rarely use the top two gears to any really effect though I reckon - at least not offroad.

Nah, not off road, but on road linking which is a bit of a peak neccesity.

For the last year and a half I've een running a smaller cassette- 11-28. I like having small differences between gears see.

That may be the answer luke - its the big jumps in ratio i don't like from being hard to too easy in 1 easy step!

It's good- got used to it after going 10 speed on the road bike with a small cassette.

bought the rings and bolts - will give 24/36 a whirl

Just for a bit of balance, I changed from a triple to a 24/36/bash set up. I found the 36t too big, too much of a jump from the 22. And rather oddly, I kept bending the middle ring. No idea why, might be the bigger gap between the rings making more leverage on the middle ring when you change up. Been reasonably careful changing gears too.
I'll second the triple being better for the Peaks too.

Soooo, anyone want an e13 36t bashguard?? 😉

No ta, Bashguards are so last year. 😉

I've run just no big ring for a while and it's been fine. The only downside is that if you do manage to drop the chain off the high side, it'll generally not pedal back on as you lack the shifting pins to do it. So, I got a Superlite "bash ring" which would probably bend in half if you look at it funny, but keeps the chain on and still weighs less than the big ring.

"Obi_Twa - Member

I see a big problem with just taking the big ring off a triple to make it into a double. That problem being the absence of a big ring. Unless you live at the bottom of a well and have to ride out every day I dont see why you would want only a middle and granny set up"

If you go with 36T for the middle you lose only the top 2 and a half gears, which you very, very rarely use offroad. I thought the same as you til I did the numbers and tried it, but it turns out I knew nothing.

Horses for courses and that, but I found 28/40 very good for XC, yes 36 is sufficient, but you are more likely to spin out on the road and spend a vast amount of time right at the bottom of the block. I would personally say a 22/24 is not much use either, but it does rather depend on what/where/how you ride!

Can't be doing with close ratio cassettes, have to shift on the front the whole time! I've never had a problem with the jumps in an MTB cassette personally.

I'd say a 40T would be great for your local, but I'd really suffer without a 22 for my pedalling style and local trails. I even use the 22t a lot in races.

njee20 - Member

Horses for courses and that, but I found 28/40 very good for XC, yes 36 is sufficient, but you are more likely to spin out on the road and spend a vast amount of time right at the bottom of the block. I would personally say a 22/24 is not much use either, but it does rather depend on what/where/how you ride!

Todays pentlands ride saw a lot of 22 ring useage by all of us - and none cleaned the climbs even so.

Where can I get a 20 granny ring?

tj do you have legs like an ethiopian?

He has legs like tree trunks, its just the extra weight of the bashguard holding him back.

Bash guards look cleaner and stop you from nackering your chain if you catch the ring on anything. Don't see why you wouldn't want to run one, double without looks horrible. Weight is negligible and you can have em for cheap, mine was about a fiver.

Bash guards don't look cleaner - they're just an additional bit added on. I can't remember the last time I damaged a tooth on a big ring let alone a middle ring sized chainring on a double setup so would I bother? Maybe you should fit a trouser guard and a chainguard to your bike too as they look cleaner as well.

GeeWavetree - Member

tj do you have legs like an ethiopian?

Nope - just ride up hills. 9 of us out last night - not one made it up the howden climb. It is possible but you really need to be very fit and a nice low gear is essential.

Looks alright to me...

[img] http://images.fotopic.net/?iid=11c29y&outx=800&quality=70 [/img]

I did say it entirely depends on your bike/terrain/riding style, but I've not found any problems with a 28 personally anywhere I've ridden. In fact in the last few years I've made my ratios smaller, used to run 32/44, then 42/30, then 40/28 when I was on 9 speed. I've not used a 22 for about 5 years. Compared to what singlespeeders run a 28/34 or whatever is a tiny gear!

I am finding i am riding in the middle ring and full cassette range most of the time and then dropping to the bottom but finding the 34 at the back far to spinny.
Will give it a go - whats £22!!

Bash guards don't look cleaner - they're just an additional bit added on.

Dunno, in my opinion they just give a "simpler" look - I don't like seeing "through" the outer ring into the spider, granny etc. On a single ring setup with a decent ss ring (like on a bmx) I do like the bash-less look though.

Is Obi_Twa the new njee?
A lot of people pedal the wrong manner, other like njee are so good that they can get the 42/11 everywhere (even up some hills).
Going fast has more about how fast you can pedal and most important how well you can pic a trajectory.
In the typical njeesque wood (hampshire) save the odd fire-road, you're not much faster with a gear bike than with a SS* (peter can vouch for that on the numerous ride we did together). If you look to the MM results, solo SSers aren't much slowers than solo geared people.
So a 32x11 will be plenty enough. Obvisouly if you like to ride your mountain bike on flat lands or on the road, maybe you should get a cross bike.
Back to the OP, keep your 32/22 and see how you get with it. Cheapest will probably be some short chain bolt. Once the 32 is dead you can change it for a 36. If average riders like me can get away with 32/22 everyone can I only miss a bigger gear when we're going down from the trail to the city center, on the road.
*that doesn't apply to njee indeed.

Can anyone smell chip fat?

Juan - Where are you right now? Hampshire? Are you deserting me???? 😉

You're a very odd fellow Juan! You're also very very bad at trying to antagonise me. You got my location wrong for a start!

I'm looking forward to you getting a job so you can buy me those tickets to come and ride with you!

Sorry peter still in the south of France
setting up for a ride as we speak 😀

That's a shame, I was hoping you'd be able to join our ride on Sunday, or are you riding up to meet us!?

Answering the original question, as well as the Middleburn DUO, there is also the FSA 386. There are a few other more obscure ones as well. KCNC I think do a double?

A lot of the very fasted people in the world have been running single 38s or 36s so losing a 44 is no big deal. A lot depends on your pedalling style, but I like to spin rather than grunt. Having said that, if I fail on a climb it's probably more to do with lack of fitness and technical ability than gearing. In other words, lower gears wouldn't have helped.

I'm running 32-22 and I'm under geared and will up it when it wears. I'm running a lightweight bash for protection, the bash has actually taken a battering. I have no problems running without, looks fine IMHO, just a bash is better for that bike.