I'm sure this has been discussed before and please direct me to the appropriate thread, but I'm interested in tossing a 1x9 on my commuter just to have one less thing to go wrong. Any suggestions, tips and resources?

triple crank and bb if you put your 1 chain ring in the middle position
would be likely to be centered ,as it should, with the center of the cassette cluster.

resources? ... your local bike shop.

Unramped singlespeed chainrings hold onto the chain better. You will still need a chainkeepr device; old front mechs do the job or you can use plastic bashguard style rings or even old large chainrings with the teeth filed down.
I found that in removing weight from the crank assembly, the whole thing seemed to spin quicker.

Some type of chain keeper is needed - dog fang , n-gear and third eye are examples, also the Paul keeper is very nice. Try to line up the chainring with middle of cassette. A bash guard is nice - like salsa ring dinger crossing guard or sport single speed. A medium cage rear deraileur usually works better if you have a wide range cassette, like 12-36. Ride a few thousand km each year with a 1x9 set up, 39 t chainring and 12-36 cassette are optimal for me with 32-622 tires.

Here's what I did for a 1x8 setup:

Removed outer and inner chain rings.

Replaced outer chain ring with a Salsa Ringer Dinger. Protects the ring and keeps the chain from falling off to the outside.

On the inside, I put a 3rd eye chain watcher. Keeps it from falling off to the inside.

Kept the stock 36T chain ring for the middle.

I don't have the bike anymore, but rode it about 1000 miles like this with no problems.

Hmmm. I have a folder with 1x7. I was losing the chain on the two lowest gears. LBS tried but couldn't fix so it was returned to factory. New one shifted fine for a few months. Lately, I lose the chain in the lowest gear. This thing has guard plates inside and outside. I wonder how people are saying Dog Fangs or Ring Dingers keep the chain on. They don't keep the chain on, they keep the chain from becoming stuck or broken if it comes off. My chain easily fits between the Ring Dinger and the chainwheel. Gaeleran makes a chain keeper that rides on top of the powerside of the chain and keeps it from jumping off. Personally, I think that is the move for a 1x9. My folder has seriously non-standard tubing which makes mounting one... ... difficult or I would have bought one already.

H

Is your bike already built? Then I think removing parts is pointless.

Commuted on a compact double for a couple years without ever, not once, shifting into the small ring. It certainly wasn't worth my time to remove it.

Primary commuter now is a 1x10, but primarily because it was purchased as a singlespeed. Front ring was already an acceptable 48t so it made sense to just add a rear shifter. Again though, if it had shipped with a double it would probably still have one. If you're not using it, there's nothing to "go wrong".

For me, bash guards, chain keepers, etc. are pointless. On the road, the chain isn't going anywhere. I'm running a fairly close ratio cassette -- and would much rather run two chainrings than ride a wide-range cassette.

[edit] looking back, pointless is too strong a word. Let's say largely unnecessary. Will a chain pop off if you ride enough miles? Probably. Will it be a regular occurrence? no

Not to hijack the thread, but how necessary is a chain keeper? Is it only if you're going to be doing aggressive riding? I ask because I setup my girlfriend's bike as 1x9 about a year ago, and she's never lost the chain. Since everyone's first reaction here was to get a chain keeper for a 1x setup, I'm thinking maybe that should be the next purchase?

I rode a 1x with no FD and no chain keeper for a time. The chain did like to hop off when freewheeling over bumpy road while in small cogs. (ie. least tension on the chain)
The issue was solved by either pedaling through those areas or by giving a little back pedal.

48t Rocket Ring(now Origin8) w/a 12x24 8sp cassette. Used an old der that I 'narrowed' w/a set of standard pliers. Had probs w/chaindrop when shifting from larger to smaller cogs until adding the der. https://www.paulcomp.com/chainkeeper.html is really nice, but pricey, so I went the cheap route. Purchased a Sugino CBB 103mm bb from Universal Cycles and it gave me a straight chainline when in low gear. They're @ https://www.bikeisland.com as well for about the same price w/no shipping.

I've done conversions like this for several friends who liked my rig as a commuter. 7,8 and 9 sp. All w/t the same process and comps. No complaints. Like an above poster stated my current 'loaded' commuter/utility bike is a 2x9 2008 Motobecane CX. The only time I use the small chainring is when it's parked. So, while it's not necessary to remove the inner chainring to have a functional 1x it's fun to experiment w/different options for one's commuter.

Btw, if you use the stock double crankset chainring bolts you'll need a set of 10 3/8" 'star' washers available from any hardware store. Takes up the slack created by the absence of the inner chainring quite nicely. Unless you decide to invest in a set of single stack BMX chainring bolts.

I'm also setting up a 1 X 9. Going to use the crank from my single speed which is nothing more than a modified double. I took a 39/52 crank and ground all the teeth off the 52 tooth ring. That turned the outer ring into a chain-guard and I just used the 39. Might be an idea for you to consider too.

If it isn't dropping it, I wouldn't worry about it.

When I put my new crank on my Breezer, I didn't even bother. I haven't dropped one yet.