Mountain Biking - Remove Large Chainring (front)

I am trying to decide if removing my large chainring is a good ideal. For riding in the midwest, I never shift to the large chainring when I am offroad, so why carry the weight and possibly bending the chainring when going over logs. I am going to the Vail/Breckenridge area in a month and was wondering if the top chainring is actually needed for that type of riding?


Thanks,

Bill F.

Depends on your riding style.

Everytime I decide to ditch the big ring, I end up riding a section of flat hardpack or road section and switch up into it for some fast action.

Many people remove it and replace it with a BASH Ring. This is a good idea if you ride in a area where you ride over a lot of obstacles such as large downed trees, big rocks...etc.

L8R

See I have the opposite. I never seem to have any long flat runs where I use it. The odd time I might wish I had it for a downhill section till I realize I would rather be able to get up to it. I don't ever see the need for one out here and the bashgaurd is exactly what I need for getting over obstacles.

NOte: Bashgaurds weight more than 3rd rings usually so there is definately not weight savings here.

Unless you use a third ring as a bash guard! A wimpy one, but you get the idea.

anybody else?

If you don't use it...dump it...it really isn't that hard :)

Only problem I can see arise from removing it is the bolts for the chain ring will be to long so you will have to buy a new set of bolts, unless you replace it with a bashguard of course.