Dual chainguide setup thingy

**Big E** · 09-10-2004, 07:29 AM

Anyone got experience with one of these thangs? I was out riding last week and there's a spot where the trail lets out onto a road, and then you have to ride up the road for 100' or so and cut back on. Well, right where you cut back onto the trail, there's a guardrail, and I got just a wee too close, clipped it, and ended up bending both my big ring and middle ring (!) I will say with some pride that I didn't fall off when this happened, but muttered to myself "I wonder what broke?"

Anyway, this seems like an ideal opportunity to ditch the big ring (which I never use anyway), gain some clearance, and put on a bashguard. As I was looking at this, I see that both there are some dual-ring chainguide setups, which seems like a pretty nice idea if it works. Go-Ride has ones from MRP, e.13, and Black Spire. Anybody use 'em ? The e.13 one got a pretty good review on nsmb.com

Anyone? Bueller?

**Tap** · 09-10-2004, 07:41 AM

the e.13 is good. a little heavier than the blackspire or raceface. more slippery over stuff than the metal ones, people say.

if you're going to rely on your middle ring to push bigger gears, and you need to replace it, you mihgt want to put a 36 tooth chainring in the middle. I think bikes are usualy stocked with 32T. I made the switch and have not had issues with missing the easier ratios...there is enough overlap to get away with it.

you don't really need a chain guide also unless you're racing DH, but some might disagree. I haven't needed one.

good luck

CS · 09-10-2004, 09:47 AM

I have the e.13 and love it. It works really well and only on a very rare occasion, and on very rough terrain will it drop a chain. I got the "urban" bashgaurd, which isn't as big, and put a 38 tooth middle ring on and it is just fine. I love having the bash guard because I don't ever have to worry about trying to roll up on somthing because who cares if I smack the bash guard. And I don't downhill but am glad I have the chainguide because I freaking hate dropping a chain.

**Oarhead** · 09-10-2004, 10:29 AM

-spire. That is the reputation of the balckspire stuff around here. My buddy has one on his bike and HATES it. E13 seems to be the best thing on the market for sure. Not too much info on MRP since not many people have them around here, but it looks like it is their design that has not evolved too much.

Not sure how much up and down you do, whether it is sustained up and then sustained down or if it is rolly-polly riding but I heard about somehting that people are doing for long ups and downs:

People use a ring chain retention system and no front derailleur but still keep their granny. Between the granny and middle is an inner bashring made out of thin metal (I don't know what width/gauge they are using). It keeps the chain on the middle ring while descending and is smaller diameter than the outer bashring since it is thinner and more prone to being bent. If you want to climb you have to manually flip the chain onto your granny for a long ascent. At the top you just flip it over back onto the middle and have no probs with dropping a chain.

Of course this is all moot if you are not doing long ups and then long downs.

**Big E** · 09-10-2004, 11:08 AM

Yeesh, just checked 'em out over on mtbr.com, and there isn't a single bad review on the e.13. I had to put a towel under the monitor from all the drooling about how good the DRS is. So I guess I'll go with that one.

CS · 09-10-2004, 11:47 AM

Originally posted by Big E
Yeesh, just checked 'em out over on mtbr.com, and there isn't a single bad review on the e.13. I had to put a towel under the monitor from all the drooling about how good the DRS is. So I guess I'll go with that one.

Good choice.

What bike are you on?