Mountain Biking - Ugh...another waste of $

So I went through a bunch of trouble to get my front derailleur to shift properly between the large and middle rings. I got so focused on fixing the problem that I never bothered to pause and consider whether it mattered.

Today the epiphany hit me that I never use my large ring--ever. I use the middle ring on the intermediate trails and sometimes the small ring on the advanced trails. I replaced my outer chainring today with a Salsa Tooth Fairy bash guard, which is a pretty sweet component I must say. It replaced the outer chainring I bought about a week ago for $30 :| If only I had had said epiphany earlier.

eh...live and learn. the important thing is, you HAD the epiphany, and now you know. we have all done similar things, and we will continue to do them, and afterward, we will say "doh! why didn't i figure that out before i spent the time/money/effort."

what do you do about shifting into big ring? Does it block it or do you just have to remember where you are?

Yeah, from now on I will probably always replace my big ring with a bash guard(on my mountain bikes).

As for shifting, I just set the front derailleur limiting screw so that it can't even be pushed past the middle ring. Works great.

Ignorant question, how many speed was your MB before the ring use loss?

I did something similar 2 weeks ago.
Threw the chain a few times, so decided to replace my (getting chewed up from throwing chain) WI (http://www.whiteind.com/images/White_Industries_Crank_Installation_Instructions.pdf) ring with a new one, $45.
I was hesitant about replacing it, cuz I had the feeling I had trashed the right arm over the past 18 months.

Against better judgement (as if I ever used that!), I ordered/installed the new ring & went out for a 50' test ride....
http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/76/p7110042.jpg
Kapow! Yep, the drive-side arm wasn't seating just right, causing a bit of a wobble, which threw the chain again.....so, the WI is binned & Mr Whirly (http://surlybikes.com/parts/mr._whirly_crank/) is on his way.

Aluminum drivetrain parts & 230# of downhill-loving me don't agree.

8 speed drive train so originally 24 gear combinations. Now its 16. Of course how many speeds is another question entirely.

That sucks on that busted White chainring. Their stuff isn't cheap. I use a white freewheel on my singlespeed town bike and I love it.

I've always used a friction thumb-shifter for front derailleur use. The indexed models aka -dual SIS - work ok when you use the proper chainring sizes with the ramps and pins in good condition, but once you stray from that shifting goes to ****.

Once replacing the outer chain ring with a bash guard it is possible to run a shorter chain right? So like you can be on the 2nd chain ring with the shorter chain, and get the same amount of chain slap as running in the larger chain ring with a longer chain?

I also only use my larger chain ring to take up slack in my chain. I much prefer the 2nd chain ring because I can use all gear combinations. I saw a decent sunline bash guard for like 10 euro..was thinking about putting it on with a shorter chain, but I don't really know if I 'need' a bash guard yet.

I've always used a friction thumb-shifter for front derailleur use. The indexed models aka -dual SIS - work ok when you use the proper chainring sizes with the ramps and pins in good condition, but once you stray from that shifting goes to ****.

Have any suggestions for a handlebar mount friction shifter I could use to replace my current indexed front shifter? I use friction shifters on my road bike and I like them.


Once replacing the outer chain ring with a bash guard it is possible to run a shorter chain right? So like you can be on the 2nd chain ring with the shorter chain, and get the same amount of chain slap as running in the larger chain ring with a longer chain?

I also only use my larger chain ring to take up slack in my chain. I much prefer the 2nd chain ring because I can use all gear combinations. I saw a decent sunline bash guard for like 10 euro..was thinking about putting it on with a shorter chain, but I don't really know if I 'need' a bash guard yet.

Yes, you can run a shorter chain, and also a shorter cage derailleur, which is what I'm going to do. I recently ordered a medium cage low-normal rear derailleur. The medium cage has a 33T chain wrap capacity, and since I lost my large chain ring, my chainwrap is now (32-22)+(32-11)=31 which will work great with a medium cage.

What is the smallest (or most appropriate) sized bash guard to cover a 32 tooth middle chain ring? Would a 34t bashguard cover a 32t middle chain ring, or would I need a 36t or 40t?

When I upgrade my crank im going to go with a double and do away with the big ring