MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
I'm looking to get a new chainset. I currently run a triple chainset with no problems. The bf uses a double chainset (with bashguard) on all his bikes and is suggesting I do the same.
I have a 'one bike does all' which I use for riding in the uk (trail centres, xc and all mountain stuff) and for dh type stuff in the alps (I change the forks and rear shock).
Just wondering if anyone can give advice on what is best?
I am not a strong rider on the climbs and tend to use the easy gears alot, and I am also concerned about the additional weight of a bashguard. On the other hand, I do ride some technical stuff and bash my big ring sometimes (I am missing quite a few teeth on my current one).
Any experience or advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
People will probably disagree, but I kept hitting my big ring so I just took it off. Middle rarely gets hit because it's quite high up and it's only ever the chain that gets scraped anyway.
Big rings are overrated. If you never run out of gears with granny and middle then you don't need one
If you never run out of gears with granny and middle then you don't need one
Well done Captain Obvious 🙂
I wouldn't worry about the weight of a bashguard frankly, unless it's a particularly light bike it's unlikely to make any real difference! Saying that the SLX double/bash cranks are marginally heavier anyway as they have steel inserts, you could just put 22/36 (or similar) rings on your current cranks and see how you get on.
I only used my big ring on the road very occasionally so its now been replaced with a bash...havent missed it yet
How did you know that I'm captain obvious at weekends? Get out of my brain space!!!
Get a E-13 Turbocharger bash ring: They are pretty light, if you are worried about the weight.
I made the change to double-and-bash a few years ago and I have never missed a big ring. These days I run just a single ring up front.
Yeah, I've been looking at the turbocharger. Think it saves about 100g!
I bought the SLX double chainset with bashguard from CRC the other day and it feels pretty heavy. Not sure if I should swap it for the triple chainset...
njee20 - thanks for the advice. I have had the same cranks for about 6 years now and they do need replacing...
my bash ring weighs pretty much the same as the 44t it replaced and there is noticably more ground clearance
from a standard 22/32/44 triple, you only lose the top two gears (44-11 & 44-12) if you move to a 22/36/bash setup
My SLX double and bash was only about 20g lighter than my previous deore tripple. A lot, lot stiffer and more lovely clearance. With the 36, don't miss the third ring one bit.
Gamut ring is mighty light too
(Mr MC posting)
if i am going quick enough to need the big ring off road Im not pedalling, so I never use mine. And as I have a permanent leg scar from a big ring gouge in a silly fall, I'd say get the bash. Most of them dont weigh much more than a big ring. And take the opportunity to shorten your chain to improve shifting and reduce chain slap as you dont need to accommodate the big ring gear.
As a ladee you'd probably be even more upset than I am about stupidly acquired leg scars (assuming you wear skirts n stuff) but being "bitten" by your bike is a really crap way to get injured!
Have a look at this: www.wiggle.co.uk/race-face-triple-half-bashguard-protector
I'd ignore the review - I'm running one on a 44t Middleburn outer and it fits fine and more importantly works. Virtually all my riding is in the lakes (i.e. quite rocky) and whilst the 'half' bashguard is bashed to hell, all the teeth are still straight!
I have a triple on the XC bike and a double on the FS
I run it with a 32 rather than a 36.
I am sure I would spin out of gears in a race or flat stuff but for where it is used it is perfect IMHO
As M-C says if you are going fast enough to use your triple you are using gravity anyway.