Originally Posted by
blakcloud
Unlikely you will increase the length of your chain even if you go up a few teeth. ....
If you have a 44T big ring, and the chain is the correct length per Shimano's big-big recommendation, and you change to a 48T big ring, if you shift into the big-big combination, the RD will be destroyed, and likely take several DS spokes of the rear wheel..... quite a few $$$ there versus the cheap insurance of a properly measured chain length.
Originally Posted by
blakcloud
I don't know where you are coming from please tell me one square taper mountain bike crank that won't fit this bike? Sure maybe the Campy one they sold thirty years ago. This is why I said "pretty well".
Shimano square taper MTB cranks are intended for 122mm BBs. There are many square taper MTB cranks intended for other lengths BBs, for example I have one that is designed for 110mm BBs; if installed with on a 122mm BB, the FD will not be able to reach far enough to shift into the big ring.