Mountain Biking - Do you use the outer chainring?

While I was riding the other day, I realized I never use my outer (big) chainring off-road, and rarely use it on-road. Does anybody else use it? In the interest of simplicity, I was thinking of removing it altogether. Is there a way to adjust the front derailleur to only shift between the two inner rings? If I just put a chainguard on there, will that keep it from shifting completely off?

I have seen a couple guys get rid of the big ring, but it does not seem common. I use the big ring when descending down the back side of a mountain.

I use mine all the time. I think the derailer would be fine, if you had trouble it would be at the shifter end of things.

-Middi-zon

I use mine on descents when I know the terrain and I want to bomb down hard.

You can adjust your stops to stop at the middle chainring if you choose to remove the big one. Some guys put a bash ring on in place of the big ring. I've thought of doing that myself. Hit my big chainring pretty hard today on a log.

I just use the big ring as a bashguard...at this point, I really dont care if the big ring bites wood trying to ride over a tall log. The teeth are so ****ed up anyway, why bother. This is the huffy I'm speaking of, BTW.

Whats an outer chain ring...I always though the flat spots wouldn't allow for putting the chain onto it...

If I was pure xc I would use one but the riding is so technical that I would never get into that high a gear...

In extreme xc mode and for racing I use the big ring, but on the bighit I have a double bashing setup with one chainring....its sooooo sweet.

I rarely use the middle or tiny ring personally. I have thought about getting rid of the inner ring. (22T)

Interesting, it seems a lot of people use that big chainring. I guess the hills I have been going down lately are so steep, I don't need (or want) to pedal much. Or maybe you guys just ride faster than I do. Dirtgrinder, "stops" is not a term I am familiar with. What are those?

Originally posted by Brennan
Interesting, it seems a lot of people use that big chainring. I guess the hills I have been going down lately are so steep, I don't need (or want) to pedal much. Or maybe you guys just ride faster than I do. Dirtgrinder, "stops" is not a term I am familiar with. What are those?

It depends on territory...very few riders on the shore and inwhislter use a big ring...the terrain here doesnt really allow for that kind of grinding...

Original Post by Brennan

"stops" is not a term I am familiar with. What are those?

Have a look at your front derallieur... you should find a couple of adjustment screws (stops) One sets how far out it can move the other how far in... sometimes they have L and H to tell you which is which.
By adjusting them you can limit the travel of the derallieur

hehe. I only use mine on the road on the way to a trail, unless I am on an open dirt road (very rarely). It is usually used to stand the bike on when climbing logs. It used to be a straight 44t but as of the other day it is now a wobbly 42t :P thanks to a big rock on a downhill section. Most of the downhill stuff 'round here is too tight or too loose to go fast on.

I use all chainrings.. I am a 'masher' by nature.. So difficult to change that habit... I am trying..IF you think you have the power, mashing seems efficient....Can't imagine not using big ring in situations like slight down hills. Or the small ring when needing grannie status going up steep climbs..

Use makes master.

http://www.anthonysloan.com/nrscring.jpg

Looks like someone needs a bash ring

I run double-chainrings (small, and middle) ... and then run a Bashring on the outside.

When I goto Colorado a little later, I'm gunna throw the stock big-Ring back on so I can hit-up the DH runs better.. and actually be able to put pedal power to the ground at speeds faster than 20 MPH ....

:beer:

I use the big one 80-90% of time on the bike - even smaller climbs with the big ring - but the place I live is hilly - no real high mountains

I don't use the small one at all (unless is really mudy on climbs)

well i guess i'm a true XC rider... i use my big ring all the time - for less technical trails where i ride fast but also for big long downhills - acually if i DON'T switch to the big ring i get chain-slap on high-speed descents... but i guess those who don't use it much shorten then chain?

back when i lived in Texas i used to wonder why there was a granny ring b/c i never used it... after living in the Alps where i will sometimes be in the granny rnig for an hour straight on LONG climbs (say 800-1000meters vertical) with maximum grades of 23-28%, i somehow don't see it as superfluous anymore!

Originally posted by nathank
well i guess i'm a true XC rider... i use my big ring all the time - for less technical trails where i ride fast but also for big long downhills - acually if i DON'T switch to the big ring i get chain-slap on high-speed descents... but i guess those who don't use it much shorten then chain?

back when i lived in Texas i used to wonder why there was a granny ring b/c i never used it... after living in the Alps where i will sometimes be in the granny rnig for an hour straight on LONG climbs (say 800-1000meters vertical) with maximum grades of 23-28%, i somehow don't see it as superfluous anymore!
Living on a mountain I see that...I love and live for my granny ring on those log climbs or technical riding :)

At the top of just about any hill, put it in the top gear you can. It will give you way more control as you ride down. Assuming you're not a total wuss and would actually pedal on a down hill;)

Also drastically reduces chain slap.

Originally posted by nathank


back when i lived in Texas i used to wonder why there was a granny ring b/c i never used it...

granny what?

I use it on occasion when riding flat roads, but I'm usually jumping between 1st and 2nd on all the hairy single track. A lot of guys around here have even swapped the standard 22T for a 20T grannie since we have all these bigass mountains to climb.

When you go into a flat or slight downhill section and already have alot of momentum up, most guys coast, but you'll be faster if you pop up to your big chain ring right quick and pedal. Yes it's the same effect as shifting 3 or 4 times on your rear derailleur, but then you've got to switch back 3 or 4 times. It's much easier and cleaner to just pop it up once, then pop it back.

Have a look at your front derallieur... you should find a couple of adjustment screws (stops) One sets how far out it can move the other how far in... sometimes they have L and H to tell you which is which. By adjusting them you can limit the travel of the derallieur

Ah yes. I was aware of the adjustment screws, I just didn't know they were called "stops."


but i guess those who don't use it much shorten then chain?

Good thinking. I will have to do this if I decide to remove the big ring.


At the top of just about any hill, put it in the top gear you can. It will give you way more control as you ride down. Assuming you're not a total wuss and would actually pedal on a down hill

Depends on the downhill, but some of the stuff I go down is really steep and I am standing on the pedals with my butt clear behind my saddle. I can't imagine pedaling down those descents. I guess I am a wuss. ;) For the more moderate hills, pedaling on the middle chainring works for me.


When you go into a flat or slight downhill section and already have alot of momentum up, most guys coast, but you'll be faster if you pop up to your big chain ring right quick and pedal. Yes it's the same effect as shifting 3 or 4 times on your rear derailleur, but then you've got to switch back 3 or 4 times. It's much easier and cleaner to just pop it up once, then pop it back.

Good point. I will have to try this before I get rid of the big ring.