Bashguard Conversion

[steve_b]

While I'm in a question asking mode: (Don't worry-I'll never make "god" status on the forum ;)) I was reading Knuck's bike building thread, and it reminded me that I want to upgrade my crankset and convert my NRS to 2 rings and a bash guard. I'm looking for suggestions on brand and others experience. I'm leaning away from Shimano and looking at Truvativ or Raceface. Should I stay with the standard 22t and 32t rings?

Blackspire.com

Bash it up

4 derailers, 3 cassettes, 6 chains, 4 years, 3 bottom brackets, 2 bikes, Bashed into a lot of stuff learning to get over smooth, Still bashing trying to get up on bigger stuff.

1 set of blackspire rings, 22t steel granny, 32 middle, and a Ring god.

thats my experiance.


p.s. The best advise i got was from the lbs mechanic who sold me the gaurd in the first place. "Bill, this gaurd is only for when you make a mistake, the goal is to have only the wheels touch. The crank is not on the bike to be ridden on."

[bike187]

i have a salsa trials bashguard on mine. it's got teeth so it can grip into big logs, it's nice and thick to. currently i'm runnig a 22-32 setup and it seems to be fine for trailriding. only when i bike around the city do i sometimes wish i had teh third ring. i saved the old third ring and didn't shorten the chain so i can switch between the bash and chainring easily. just instl and readjust limit screws. mae sure that if you opt for the larger middle ring, the the bashguard you get will fit that many teeth.

[Tim]

I run a Black Spire Ring God, a 36-tooth Black Spire Super Pro middle ring, and an Action Tec ti 24-tooth granny (just a cheapo stamped one). The combination works very well for NE riding -- sometimes on road downhills I'd like to have the big ring, but I've never wanted anything smaller. If I can't climb it with a 24 - 32, I probably just can't climb it.

Tim

[I Are Baboon]

I also have a Blackspire Ring God. I paid something like $25 at webcyclery.com, but that was over a year ago. It's got TONS of scratches and nicks on it as well as a couple of dents, but my rings are fully intact. 8) I've taken the bashring off a couple of time to clean all the gunk that builds up behind it.

Who needs the big ring, unless you are racing XC? The way I see it, if I am actually going that fast on a downhill, I've earned the right to coast. ;)

[pudding]

Incidentally, I just installed a 36-22 with a size 40 Evil Supercharger bash guard on my bike last night! ...I was destroying too many hardly used 44t chainrings, and now I have some extra bottom bracket clearence.

I'll let you know if I like it... but I can say that it looks really really cool!

Form over function ;D

[radair]

I'm running a Tooth Fairy bash ring. Goofy name, but works fine.

Tim brings up a good point, that being your rear cog size. I'm an 8-speed holdout (and too cheap for an XTR cassette), so my biggest cog is 30 tooth. I run a 22 tooth small ring and would prefer a 34T middle, but am using a 32 since the 34 has worn out. If you're running a 34 tooth 9-speed, a 24T granny would be fine.

[C.P.]

Blackspire.com


p.s. The best advise i got was from the lbs mechanic who sold me the gaurd in the first place. "Bill, this gaurd is only for when you make a mistake, the goal is to have only the wheels touch. The crank is not on the bike to be ridden on."


I agree with the wheels touch thing, so that's what I focus on in practice(most of the time)...I have a guard in the toolbox and just haven't got around to installing it, b/c I seem to be having a hard time giving up my big ring - I actually use it.

[Tim]

Mr. Radair, the 8-speed steel XTR cogsets in 12 - 32 can be had for a reasonable price at Biker Bob's, and other places for a bit more. I run them on most of my family's bikes. Not giving up 8 speed anytime soon after our Pedrosfest experience where the mud was so thick the tires were jamming in the chainstays, but everything was still shifting fine.

Now if I could just find some XTR shifter pods...

Tim

[johnnyt]

Using a Race Face bash ring and 22-32 rings. Much better then having a big ring. Clearence rules!

Now if I could just find some XTR shifter pods...

Tim


www.bikeman.com has the XT 8speed shifter pods.

[Tim]

Thanks Bill; I've got a pair from them in my parts bin already. It amuses me to see eBay buyers consistenly paying more in Bikeman's auctions than what they'd have to pay from the Bikeman store. Unfortunately Shimano has seen to it that XT shifter pods don't fit well with Avid brake levers...

Tim

[AGENTGRAPE]

i am using the blackspire big ring protector it bolts right on and you get to keep all three rings. 2 years and no problems. i just seem to break teeth on the middle ring on all my bikes. damn you flying rocks

[johnbryanpeters]

I use a Tooth Fairy with all three rings, Shimano rings and crank. Saved me from folding rings and missing teeth, and yes, I use the big ring.

J