Skip the front derailer? - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

06-30-2004, 05:55 AM

I live in a flat area (Chicago) and use my bike for
exercise rides of 15-40 miles. I have a hybrid type
bike and I have sort of run out of gears. The gear I
use most lets me go 18.5 mph at my preferred cadence.
I'd like to push it up a bit, but the next gear has a big
jump of 2.5 mph to 21mph and I just can't push that
one. So I am thinking of changing chainring and/or
cassette to get closer spacing.

I really don't need more than 7 or 8 gears, if they are
the right gears (in fact I only use 3 at the moment, not
counting the one I can't push). Is it possible to buy a
single chain ring and position it so that there is an
acceptable chain angle to all of the gears in the cassette?
Or is this too "non-standard" to be an option?

Thanks,
Jeff

06-30-2004, 08:57 PM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (Jeff) wrote:

>I live in a flat area (Chicago) and use my bike for
>exercise rides of 15-40 miles. I have a hybrid type
>bike and I have sort of run out of gears. The gear I
>use most lets me go 18.5 mph at my preferred cadence.
>I'd like to push it up a bit, but the next gear has a big
>jump of 2.5 mph to 21mph and I just can't push that
>one. So I am thinking of changing chainring and/or
>cassette to get closer spacing.
>
>I really don't need more than 7 or 8 gears, if they are
>the right gears (in fact I only use 3 at the moment, not
>counting the one I can't push). Is it possible to buy a
>single chain ring and position it so that there is an
>acceptable chain angle to all of the gears in the cassette?
>Or is this too "non-standard" to be an option?

You can do that, but leave the front derailleur on the bike to keep
the chain from derailling.

Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
Home of the $695 ti frame

06-30-2004, 08:57 PM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (Jeff) wrote:

>I live in a flat area (Chicago) and use my bike for
>exercise rides of 15-40 miles. I have a hybrid type
>bike and I have sort of run out of gears. The gear I
>use most lets me go 18.5 mph at my preferred cadence.
>I'd like to push it up a bit, but the next gear has a big
>jump of 2.5 mph to 21mph and I just can't push that
>one. So I am thinking of changing chainring and/or
>cassette to get closer spacing.
>
>I really don't need more than 7 or 8 gears, if they are
>the right gears (in fact I only use 3 at the moment, not
>counting the one I can't push). Is it possible to buy a
>single chain ring and position it so that there is an
>acceptable chain angle to all of the gears in the cassette?
>Or is this too "non-standard" to be an option?

You can do that, but leave the front derailleur on the bike to keep
the chain from derailling.

Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
Home of the $695 ti frame

06-30-2004, 08:57 PM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (Jeff) wrote:

>I live in a flat area (Chicago) and use my bike for
>exercise rides of 15-40 miles. I have a hybrid type
>bike and I have sort of run out of gears. The gear I
>use most lets me go 18.5 mph at my preferred cadence.
>I'd like to push it up a bit, but the next gear has a big
>jump of 2.5 mph to 21mph and I just can't push that
>one. So I am thinking of changing chainring and/or
>cassette to get closer spacing.
>
>I really don't need more than 7 or 8 gears, if they are
>the right gears (in fact I only use 3 at the moment, not
>counting the one I can't push). Is it possible to buy a
>single chain ring and position it so that there is an
>acceptable chain angle to all of the gears in the cassette?
>Or is this too "non-standard" to be an option?

You can do that, but leave the front derailleur on the bike to keep
the chain from derailling.

Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
Home of the $695 ti frame

06-30-2004, 08:57 PM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (Jeff) wrote:

>I live in a flat area (Chicago) and use my bike for
>exercise rides of 15-40 miles. I have a hybrid type
>bike and I have sort of run out of gears. The gear I
>use most lets me go 18.5 mph at my preferred cadence.
>I'd like to push it up a bit, but the next gear has a big
>jump of 2.5 mph to 21mph and I just can't push that
>one. So I am thinking of changing chainring and/or
>cassette to get closer spacing.
>
>I really don't need more than 7 or 8 gears, if they are
>the right gears (in fact I only use 3 at the moment, not
>counting the one I can't push). Is it possible to buy a
>single chain ring and position it so that there is an
>acceptable chain angle to all of the gears in the cassette?
>Or is this too "non-standard" to be an option?

You can do that, but leave the front derailleur on the bike to keep
the chain from derailling.

Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
Home of the $695 ti frame

06-30-2004, 08:57 PM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (Jeff) wrote:

>I live in a flat area (Chicago) and use my bike for
>exercise rides of 15-40 miles. I have a hybrid type
>bike and I have sort of run out of gears. The gear I
>use most lets me go 18.5 mph at my preferred cadence.
>I'd like to push it up a bit, but the next gear has a big
>jump of 2.5 mph to 21mph and I just can't push that
>one. So I am thinking of changing chainring and/or
>cassette to get closer spacing.
>
>I really don't need more than 7 or 8 gears, if they are
>the right gears (in fact I only use 3 at the moment, not
>counting the one I can't push). Is it possible to buy a
>single chain ring and position it so that there is an
>acceptable chain angle to all of the gears in the cassette?
>Or is this too "non-standard" to be an option?

You can do that, but leave the front derailleur on the bike to keep
the chain from derailling.

Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
Home of the $695 ti frame

07-01-2004, 07:56 AM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>,
Mark Hickey <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (Jeff) wrote:

> >I really don't need more than 7 or 8 gears, if they are
> >the right gears (in fact I only use 3 at the moment, not
> >counting the one I can't push). Is it possible to buy a
> >single chain ring and position it so that there is an
> >acceptable chain angle to all of the gears in the cassette?
> >Or is this too "non-standard" to be an option?
>
> You can do that, but leave the front derailleur on the bike to keep
> the chain from derailling.

Mark is right. I have a BMX with a 7-speed cluster and one ring on the
front. I had to add a front der to prevent repeated chain drops. With
the derailleur in place, everything just works.

You don't need to connect a shifter or cable to a front derailleur being
used as a chain guide. Just attach it to the frame and use the limit
screws to position it.

The hardcore one-ring option is to go mountain bike style, with
heavy-duty chainguides including tensioning rollers to bring the chain
in tighter and full guards on both sides of the ring. But I don't think
you're doing 6' drops on a bike with 7" of rear-wheel suspension travel,
are you?

--
Ryan Cousineau, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
President, Fabrizio Mazzoleni Fan Club

07-01-2004, 07:56 AM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>,
Mark Hickey <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (Jeff) wrote:

> >I really don't need more than 7 or 8 gears, if they are
> >the right gears (in fact I only use 3 at the moment, not
> >counting the one I can't push). Is it possible to buy a
> >single chain ring and position it so that there is an
> >acceptable chain angle to all of the gears in the cassette?
> >Or is this too "non-standard" to be an option?
>
> You can do that, but leave the front derailleur on the bike to keep
> the chain from derailling.

Mark is right. I have a BMX with a 7-speed cluster and one ring on the
front. I had to add a front der to prevent repeated chain drops. With
the derailleur in place, everything just works.

You don't need to connect a shifter or cable to a front derailleur being
used as a chain guide. Just attach it to the frame and use the limit
screws to position it.

The hardcore one-ring option is to go mountain bike style, with
heavy-duty chainguides including tensioning rollers to bring the chain
in tighter and full guards on both sides of the ring. But I don't think
you're doing 6' drops on a bike with 7" of rear-wheel suspension travel,
are you?

--
Ryan Cousineau, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
President, Fabrizio Mazzoleni Fan Club

07-01-2004, 07:56 AM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>,
Mark Hickey <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (Jeff) wrote:

> >I really don't need more than 7 or 8 gears, if they are
> >the right gears (in fact I only use 3 at the moment, not
> >counting the one I can't push). Is it possible to buy a
> >single chain ring and position it so that there is an
> >acceptable chain angle to all of the gears in the cassette?
> >Or is this too "non-standard" to be an option?
>
> You can do that, but leave the front derailleur on the bike to keep
> the chain from derailling.

Mark is right. I have a BMX with a 7-speed cluster and one ring on the
front. I had to add a front der to prevent repeated chain drops. With
the derailleur in place, everything just works.

You don't need to connect a shifter or cable to a front derailleur being
used as a chain guide. Just attach it to the frame and use the limit
screws to position it.

The hardcore one-ring option is to go mountain bike style, with
heavy-duty chainguides including tensioning rollers to bring the chain
in tighter and full guards on both sides of the ring. But I don't think
you're doing 6' drops on a bike with 7" of rear-wheel suspension travel,
are you?

--
Ryan Cousineau, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
President, Fabrizio Mazzoleni Fan Club

07-01-2004, 07:56 AM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>,
Mark Hickey <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (Jeff) wrote:

> >I really don't need more than 7 or 8 gears, if they are
> >the right gears (in fact I only use 3 at the moment, not
> >counting the one I can't push). Is it possible to buy a
> >single chain ring and position it so that there is an
> >acceptable chain angle to all of the gears in the cassette?
> >Or is this too "non-standard" to be an option?
>
> You can do that, but leave the front derailleur on the bike to keep
> the chain from derailling.

Mark is right. I have a BMX with a 7-speed cluster and one ring on the
front. I had to add a front der to prevent repeated chain drops. With
the derailleur in place, everything just works.

You don't need to connect a shifter or cable to a front derailleur being
used as a chain guide. Just attach it to the frame and use the limit
screws to position it.

The hardcore one-ring option is to go mountain bike style, with
heavy-duty chainguides including tensioning rollers to bring the chain
in tighter and full guards on both sides of the ring. But I don't think
you're doing 6' drops on a bike with 7" of rear-wheel suspension travel,
are you?

--
Ryan Cousineau, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
President, Fabrizio Mazzoleni Fan Club