Hi, what's relevant to this forum is that i'm riding an Interloc steel frame with the new LX cranks and an LX front derailieireliereliddurielr.

I just realized that I don't ever used the first (smallest) chainring on my crankset and i never really need between 2-1 and 2-3 and 3-7 and 3-9, so i thought i might try to get some of those classy one chainring DH cranks to simplify things, but lo and behold to do this i'd need to spend nearly 200 bucks. so, i do have a GT speed series BMX, can i use my 3 piece BMX cranks? or does anybody know a super cheap (sub $75) solution for this? know any super cheap DH cranks? thanks.

just remove the small chainring and file down the large ring to use as a chainguard

yea, and that snazzy DH setup would weigh more then the thriple you have on there now.

Agreed, a DH specific crank will weigh a lot more. Plus, your BMX sproket will be too wide to accept an 8 or 9 speed chain.

If you never use the granny gear, remove it and reset you lower limit screw on your front "D E R A I L L U E R". If you find out you don't use the big ring either, you can file the teeth off, or replace it with a bash guard. I would keep the front derailleur on because a chain guide is much more expensive and weighs more than a front derailleur that you already own.

L8R

I got a Spot chainring guard for about $40. Several other companies make them for about the same price. Salsa makes one that looks pretty cool. They come in different sizes, and in 4-bolt or 5-bolt configuration, so there should be one that fits your LX cranks. (My Spot is on a 5-bolt XT crank). You use the middle chainring and bolt the chainring guard where the outer chainring would go. However, I would use a non-shifting single chainring without ramps, like a single speed specific ring. This way, the chain is less likely to fall off. That said, I have never tried mountain biking with this setup (single ring with 8 or 9 cassette). If the chain still tends to fall off, you might have to leave the front derailleur on to keep it in place, as mentioned above.