vinuneuro

Sram only goes down to 38T with their road 1x chainrings. Are there any pros/cons with direct mount chainrings that offer smaller sizes?

There is some small weight saving with direct mount but it isn't a factor for me. My biggest concern is chainline, but I think it should be a non-issue.

Sram Force 1 chainrings have a 5.7mm offset.
Sram mtb and Wolftooth, etc offer rings with 6mm offset.

Are there any other factors that need to be considered?

gus6464

Nothing is stopping you from using the mtb direct mount chainring on the crank.

I have used a 32t sram chainring on a rival crank for a very gnarly gravel ride.

TimothyH

Easton EC90 SL Cinch, based on the Raceface design which Easton acquired, might be adjustable in terms of chainline depending on your bottom bracket width.

Easton states that the width of the bottom bracket shell + bottom bracket + seals + spacers needs to be 92.6 mm +/- 1 mm.

My bottom bracket (PF30 68 mm) + bottom bracket + seals was 86 mm which left about 6 mm side to side play for chainline adjustment. I played with various spacers on either side until chainline and shifting was right.


It isn't cheap.


-Tim-

TenGrainBread 

I put Profile Racing mountain bike cranks on my gravel bike. It's a direct mount 1x chainring system with an adjustable chainline that has a very wide range of adjustment via spacers. They also have chainrings for it all the way from the 20t range up to 50t.

The only downside is that the chainrings aren't narrow-wide. I haven't had any problems paired with my clutched XTR derailleur though.

Despite the cranks being chromoly cranks rated for downhill MTB, with the titanium axle added they are between 105 R7000 cranks and Ultegra R8000 in weight.

jideta

Blackspire makes DM N/W chainrings in both normal and Boost configs.