I would like to have only one chain ring on my bike and am still figuring out whether to 1) buy a new crankset, or 2) buy a 42t chainring compatible with my FSA Tempo 50/34, and remove both of the original chain rings. Option 2, if possible, is cheaper so that's what I'm writing about here:

Is it possible to have only one chainring on a crankset that originally has two chainrings? Put another way: are cranksets with two chainrings capable of functioning with only one chainring?

From the picture, it doesn't look possible, simply from the perspective of securing the chainrings to the spider -- as if it would need two chainrings to be stabilized. But I'd like confirmation without going to the bike shop.

Thanks for anybody's help.

Many people remove a ring to run only the other ring, single speeders and fixies on a budget as examples. The cheapest way is to get a set of single ring bolts (slightly shorter then double ring bolts) or spacers to allow the stock double bolts to tighten down on the ring and arm well. The chain line will be whatever the inner or outer ring position makes it, there could be rougher/noisier chain run due to this (like running is cross over with a double ring set up). But it will work.

You can also change out either ring for another sized one. here though there can be some shifting concerns as the two stock rings have been matched to allow the chain to more fully mesh (or disengage) with the ring's teeth that your shifting onto (or off of). If you shift with poor technique this chain meshing pairing (of the two rings) will be more important. If you soft pedal when you shift then there's less concerns. Andy.