Mountain Biking - removing 3rd + 1st ring upfront

After some research, I've decided to remove my 3rd, and 1st chain ring up front. i find that i never use my 1st gear, and rarely use my 3rd. without them, i can remove my front deraileur all together. I plan on getting a blackspire bashguard. any thoughts on how durable they are? i think my LBS is selling them for 35$.
I guess im doing this for a couple of reasons. 1. for extra clearance 2. my chain is always too loose. without my 3rd, i hope to remove a few links. 3. i cant wear pants when riding, itll always get caught in my front chainrings. 4. i guess save a little weight? 5. to protect my middle ring

well if everyone could input on if this is a good choice. thanks.

That's what I used to do, but you will need something on the inside so the chain doesn't drop off. I ran a 1x9 XC'er for a while with a light bash ring and no inner. I often dropped the chain off the inside on rough terrian.

There are several options. If you're running an AM / FR type setup and ride aggressively then a chain guide would be a good idea.

If you're running a more XC'ish kinda bike then a chain guide is a little silly. You can get an inner ring, or a Rohloff type retainer that will keep ya chained up enough.



Blackspire inner plate (http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=4039&category=58)

Straightline Inner Guide (http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=16785&category=58)

If it is just for XC stuff and you're not using the Bash guard as a "bash guard"...just to retain the chain, then you don't really need something quite so tough as the Blackspire.

i think all that my LBS sells is the blackspire. I don't do agressive freeride, mostly xc with some rock gardens, drops, little jumps, urban. I still do want a bashguard though, to protect my 2 ring, and also so that i can wear pants when i ride.

as for the innerplate, can i not just remove a few links in my chain so that it it's snug on my chainring? or would an innerplate be wise. im pretty sure ill be getting the blackspire, but ill check a few more LBS and see what they carry.

thanks, chris

I removed lots'a'links and still lost the chain on rough stuff. You wouldn't believe how much that front derailleur helps out.

If you're super-smooth and aren't going to ride rough terrain (which doesn't quite sound like you) then you'd prob. be okay. Otherwise, I'd check into the inner.

Go here for more info than you may want.

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=158959

dang. i don't really have that money right now to buy a guard, an inner, and pay my LBS for labour. I think converting my bike to 1x9 will be my project in the winter.
However, I'd still like to, at least, get rid of my 3rd gear for now. Is it an easy task taking it off myself? just unscrewing the bolts? or should i let my LBS do it. I bought my bike from sportchek, and ive asked them. they told me they'd charge for labour if i had them do it. What a joke. So, id like to do this myself if possible. Ill research a bit more about this when i have time. and if i did take off my 3rd gear myself, id havta somehow find out how to adjust my front dereaileur so that it doesnt shift. so much to do.........

You wouldn't believe how much that front derailleur helps out.

If you're super-smooth and aren't going to ride rough terrain (which doesn't quite sound like you)

actually what i ride isn't so rough. minor rock gardens is probably as rough as it gets. and I'd say more than 90% of the time, I'm riding just around the city ( drops we find, ramps, stairs ) I asked a friend today at school. hes got a p2, which he has converted to singlespeed. he only has a bashguard covering his 2nd gear at the front, and he says his chain hardly ever falls. and he probably rides harder than me. he does DJs, jumps hills, hes gone DHing a few times....

So in conclusion, I'm going to first, take off me 3rd and 1st chainring and deraileur altogether. Then I'm going to install most likely a blackspire bashguard and see how that goes. if needed, ill buy an inner plate. It's just that i don't want to spend too much money on this, after all, it's my first bike. thank you to everyone who contributed. I'm buying my bashguard from my LBS, so now let's just hope that my LBS won't charge me a labour fee for removing my front derailleur and all.

EDIT: Wow i just got a reply from www.pricepoint.com and apparently their shipping is only 7$ for a bashguard, comparing to the 24$ shipping from www.jensonusa.com. Should i buy the bashguard online and bring it to my LBS to install, or should i just buy it from my LBS? you save at least 10$ buying online, and i have more choices if I buy online. www.pricepoint.com is the site i plan to buy from, so if someone could reccomend me a bashguard from that site, thanks

1. I asked a friend today at school. hes got a p2, which he has converted to singlespeed. he only has a bashguard covering his 2nd gear at the front, and he says his chain hardly ever falls. and he probably rides harder than me. he does DJs, jumps hills, hes gone DHing a few times....

2. I'm going to first, take off me 3rd and 1st chainring and deraileur altogether. Then I'm going to install most likely a blackspire bashguard and see how that goes. if needed, ill buy an inner plate.

3. Should i buy the bashguard online and bring it to my LBS to install, or should i just buy it from my LBS?

1. Any dropped chain is excessive in my mind and won't be tolerated.

2. You probably should have done that to begin with.

3. Buy from your LBS & build some repoire. (sp?) saving $10 isn't worth it...and go to Park Tools website to learn how to do it. It's easy.

1 - ...chain drop happens, even with the best chain gaurd

2 - okee dokee

3 - buy it from the shop and have them install it, OR...buy it online and do it yourself...2 options for your options 3.