How bad is cross-chaining?
06-14-22, 01:02 PM
#26
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06-14-22, 03:31 PM
#27
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SRAM officially endorses cross-chaining. Shimano doesn't, but their drivetrains appear to tolerate it, at least in my experience. Recent iterations of Di2 prevent you from doing it.
SRAM has been the main proponent of 1X gearing (probably because they can't seem to make a functional front derailleur). I got curious about this, because the same arguments that apply to cross-chaining should apply to 1X, at least for the lowest gear, so I checked their website, and found that out, so at least they get points for consistency.
SRAM has been the main proponent of 1X gearing (probably because they can't seem to make a functional front derailleur). I got curious about this, because the same arguments that apply to cross-chaining should apply to 1X, at least for the lowest gear, so I checked their website, and found that out, so at least they get points for consistency.
Semantics I know but there are no clicks in the front derailleur, they're in the shifter.
06-14-22, 04:16 PM
#29
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During my time selling bikes I warned thousands of riders to avoid cross-chaining, especially on bikes with triples. I still have the same opinion on cross-chaining with a triple, however my opinion on cross-chaining a double has done a 180. A guy I regularly ride with and do service on his bike has been cross-chaining his 11 speed Sram Red group since new many years ago. He is a spinner and rarely jams hard on the bike. He averages about 4000 miles from a chain and cassette. I change the chain at 75% wear along with the cassette. The chain rings have never been replaced.
06-14-22, 05:40 PM
#30
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As to the severity of cross channing, one big factor is chainstay length. Bikes with long chainstays like touring and gravel bikes, reduce the chain angle and make cross chaining less harmful and noisy. Racing frames with very short chainstays are less tolerant of it.
06-14-22, 07:14 PM
#31
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Cross-chaining: worse than wearing white after Labor Day, but not as bad as clubbing seal pups. Actually with modern chains it’s probably not so bad. 
Otto
Otto
06-15-22, 08:27 AM
#32
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I ride the big/big all the time and have been for as long as I can remember. I can trim the FD so that it doesn't rub in any gear too. I've had no issues, wear seems to be normal. I keep everything lubed and adjusted too and still have the original Campy chainrings in the front and change cassettes every now and then but they won't be getting changed again anytime soon. At 67 I'm finding it ever harder to ride the way I did, with fewer miles. On top of that my knees are giving me problems. As for the small/small combo, since I stay mostly in the big ring since it is mostly flat here when I do use the small front I'm usually shifting back to the big as soon as I'm done with whatever hill needed it. I've always found the small/small combo to be a strange feeling anyway.
06-15-22, 08:54 AM
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06-15-22, 05:44 PM
#34
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I have Campy 9 & 10 speeds on all my bikes. I stay on the small chainring 99% of the time and I'm always cross-chaining. No ill effects.
