Hello everyone,

So, as expected, my trial 1x conversion was a failure; the chain just wouldn't stay put, given that the factory 50t chainring is designed to "throw" the chain rather than retain it. So I put everything back the way it was, and even managed to break a couple of bolts in the process (replacements already on the way.)

With that being said, I liked the bike - and the trigger shifter - far better than I did with its factory 2x10 setup, so I'm looking into going ahead with an actual, permanent 1x setup. A few questions:

1. Can I go wrong with a 42t chainring as a starting point? (50+34) ÷ 2 = 42 was my simple(ton) logic here.

2. My factory FSA Vero spider is 110bcd. The chainrings that I looked at were the FSA Megatooth 110bcd chainring ($75 shipped to my door in Jeddah,) the Wolf Tooth 110bcd Cyclocross (also $75 shipped to my door) and the Hope 5 Bolt 110bcd Retainer Ring ($65 including this set of chainring bolts, shipped to my door.) All of these chainrings feature the alternating narrow/wide tooth design that's supposed to hold the chain down. Can I go wrong with either of these?

3. On which side of the spider should the replacement chainring go? Naturally, aesthetics would dictate that the chainring be bolted to the outer side of the spider, but the mechanics of it all (chainline, etc.) could dictate otherwise...

4. Would it be just better (in terms of fitment and cost) to find and order a complete 1x crankset rather than individual chainrings that may or may not fit the existing FSA Vero spider?

Thanks in advance!