retro gravel bike 1x11 - do I need a chain guide?
03-16-20, 06:34 AM
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retro gravel bike 1x11 - do I need a chain guide?
I finally figured out all my components, and now am wondering if I need a chain guide?
Thanks
Thanks
03-16-20, 07:02 AM
#2
mosquito rancher
Maybe?
There are a few ways to lower the odds of chain drop. A chain guide is one. The others are a narrow-wide chainring and a clutched rear derailleur. The current generation of SRAM Red and Force derailleurs have a fluidic clutch-equivalent; Shimano makes a version of the Ultegra derailleur with a clutch, and I believe all their GRX derailleurs have clutches. There are lots of 1× bikes that don't have chain guides, which seems to indicate you can do without.
There are a few ways to lower the odds of chain drop. A chain guide is one. The others are a narrow-wide chainring and a clutched rear derailleur. The current generation of SRAM Red and Force derailleurs have a fluidic clutch-equivalent; Shimano makes a version of the Ultegra derailleur with a clutch, and I believe all their GRX derailleurs have clutches. There are lots of 1× bikes that don't have chain guides, which seems to indicate you can do without.
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Adam Rice
Adam Rice
03-16-20, 07:22 AM
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Maybe?
There are a few ways to lower the odds of chain drop. A chain guide is one. The others are a narrow-wide chainring and a clutched rear derailleur. The current generation of SRAM Red and Force derailleurs have a fluidic clutch-equivalent; Shimano makes a version of the Ultegra derailleur with a clutch, and I believe all their GRX derailleurs have clutches. There are lots of 1× bikes that don't have chain guides, which seems to indicate you can do without.
There are a few ways to lower the odds of chain drop. A chain guide is one. The others are a narrow-wide chainring and a clutched rear derailleur. The current generation of SRAM Red and Force derailleurs have a fluidic clutch-equivalent; Shimano makes a version of the Ultegra derailleur with a clutch, and I believe all their GRX derailleurs have clutches. There are lots of 1× bikes that don't have chain guides, which seems to indicate you can do without.
03-16-20, 07:26 AM
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My crank will be a Sram Rival 1 42t and rear cassette Shimano 105 R7000 CS-HG700-11 11-34T and rear derailleur is SHIMANO Shadow RD-R7000 105 11 Speed.
03-16-20, 07:35 AM
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Yes, adamrice is correct. If you're using a narrow-wide chainring and a clutch-type rear derailleur, you don't need a chain guide. I converted my home built gravel/crappy weather commuter bike to a 1x set up last year, and so far it's performed flawlessly. The frame I built is steel and very similar to most vintage bike frames. I made a Youtube video on all the parts I used to convert the bike that might be useful to someone looking for ways to do a durable, inexpensive 1x conversion.
03-16-20, 09:42 AM
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Totally agree with adamrice and Le Mechanic - I did a Ritchey Breakaway Cross with a SRAM Force 1 1x11 - it's one of the smoothest, trouble-free setups I've got in the stable. For all the trips the bike has literally needed zero fiddling in the past year. I'm a big fan of this setup.
03-17-20, 06:22 AM
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I'm using a narrow-wide chainring and clutch DR on my 1x10 and have had no chain drop issues. I have another bike set up as a 1 x 11 with narrow-wide ring and just a road DR. Although I consider it more of a road bike, I have run it for many miles on unpaved trails that were a bit rough in some places. Still no chain drops since I installed the narrow-wide.
03-17-20, 08:08 PM
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If you haven't already bought the 105 derailleur, I'd get a GRX derailleur instead for the clutch.
