Chain ring questions
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Chain ring questions
I am thinking that all I need is a large ring of 46 teeth. I have the standard crank with 130 mm bcd spacing. So if I have a 38 small ring which is as small as the 130 mm bcd will work and a 46 large ring I am thinking that this will be the best setup for me. My bike is a 7 speed.
So if I want to buy the correct chain rings what do I need to know and what do I need to take into consideration. Will I have to change the front derailer to get it to work with a 38 46 chain ring combination?
So if I want to buy the correct chain rings what do I need to know and what do I need to take into consideration. Will I have to change the front derailer to get it to work with a 38 46 chain ring combination?
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Straight forward swap. It's best if the outer chainring has shifting aids and the inner doesn't, like your current chainrings likely have. You may want to lower the FD a bit.
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38-46 is one of the standard cyclocross combinations. Worked pretty well for me on a hybrid with an 11-34 cassette.
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If your frame has a "braze-on" type FD hanger you probably won't be able to lower the FD enough. If the seat tube is round and the FD is a clamp-on type you should be able to get it low enough.
Last edited by Al1943; 08-24-11 at 07:39 PM.
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Can an inside chainring be used as an outer chainring? Some of the chainrings on e bay don't specify if they are inside or outer chainrings.
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Now I have another question. Will a fixed gear chainring work as an outside ring? The fixed gear chainring appears to have an inside circle of metal that goes between the 5 bolt holes which I guess would make the ring stronger. I am not sure if this ring of metal would interfere with the crank arm attachments or not on a road crank.
The fixed gear chainring does have 130 mm bcd.
The fixed gear chainring does have 130 mm bcd.
#9
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Probably not. A fixed gear chainring (or cog) is likely to be made for 1/8" chain, not 3/32" (although it should specify.) If it's made for 1/8" chain, it will definitely not work. Even if it is meant for 3/32", it will have taller teeth so the chain doesn't derail when used on an SS/FG bike. This means you might not be able to shift on or off the ring! Stick with a road ring.
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I had a 42 tooth gear laying around and I put it on for the big ring. I can now ride the big ring just about anytime that I want to. I don't know what all the fuss is about riding in the big ring.
I ride about 15 mph on flat ground so the 42 and a 17 gear is probably going to do just fine for me.
The gears shift fine one the bench and in a few days maybe I can do a road test. I did my hill ride today using the 38 and 28 gear and it seemed to be perfectly matched to my strength and the hill that I ride. I had my best time on this hill today. I have used lower gears which I guess were not challenging me enough and my time was slower.
Thanks again for the help. I now have something to play with and see how it will work for my type of riding. The 42 chainring is not a big jump in gear inches but it does help with chain line and it helps to reduce cross chaining.
I ride about 15 mph on flat ground so the 42 and a 17 gear is probably going to do just fine for me.
The gears shift fine one the bench and in a few days maybe I can do a road test. I did my hill ride today using the 38 and 28 gear and it seemed to be perfectly matched to my strength and the hill that I ride. I had my best time on this hill today. I have used lower gears which I guess were not challenging me enough and my time was slower.
Thanks again for the help. I now have something to play with and see how it will work for my type of riding. The 42 chainring is not a big jump in gear inches but it does help with chain line and it helps to reduce cross chaining.
#13
Constant tinkerer
So wait.. you're running a 42/38 double? The difference is so close, there's hardly a point to having both rings. You probably just have a bunch of duplicate ratios. IMO, you'd be much better off with a compact (110 BCD) crank running something like 42/34 or 44/34. You'll have lower low gears without losing anything you have now.
#14
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Will a fixed gear chainring work as an outside ring?
not track 1/8" chainrings..
Surlys , they are thin enough , if you want snappy shifting? the
outer with shifting pins would be better
!/8" chain will be clunky 3/32 a better choice aka 5,6,7,8 speed chain.
Surly SS are flat, and can be flipped to double the wear life..
Last edited by fietsbob; 08-27-11 at 09:01 AM.
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I finally got to try out the chain rings today. They shifted very well and didn't even drop the chain.
The 42 is all that I need for now. When I get stronger, then I will probably want a larger ring. I even climbed a little grade in the 42 thinking that I was in the 38. I think that when I start spinning out the 42 on level ground I will consider going bigger. So I may never go bigger if I can increase my cadence enough that I can't spin out.
The 42 is all that I need for now. When I get stronger, then I will probably want a larger ring. I even climbed a little grade in the 42 thinking that I was in the 38. I think that when I start spinning out the 42 on level ground I will consider going bigger. So I may never go bigger if I can increase my cadence enough that I can't spin out.
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