Monday, October 04, 2010

a 1 x pain in the ass

Last chance for this 1x8 idea to work. I'm one part away from shelving this bike until next Labor Day, taking the Reba and putting it on my single-speed, then ordering a double or triple setup for the front of the EWR for next year.

3 different chain guides
nylon homemade custom spacers
many sizes of chainring bolts
a very destructible alloy ring
and an indestructible TomiRing

the funky angled downtube on the EWR prevents the pricey Paul chain guide from reaching the correct spot, and the Paul is designed for a narrow chain and no bashguard. I like bashguards and want to make this work with one. The cheapie Third-Eye seemed like it should work, but for some reason it still let the chain dive through an invisible gap. The funky EWR downtube also made it hard to get screwdriver and fingers in there to adjust it and move it clear after the chain did what it wasn't supposed to do. Dive and suck.


my new ride looks a lot less problematic
gotta get this thing over to Buck's soon...

14 comments:

Unknown said...

That thing you show installed on the EWR is the best of the bunch. I forget the brand, but I run the same on my 1x8 CX without any problems. Set it up so that it rubs just a bit while on the big cog. Hope it works for you.

brett said...

Sorry to hear you're having such issues.

Zee Pirate' said...

Wow. Get a Gamut 32-34. Takes 2 minutes to put on and it's 100% proven. Toss the 1x8 nonSense and go 1X9. There are tons of good chainrings out there. Salsa or even regular Shimano ramped work just fine..

camps said...

Hadn't looked at those kind of things, maybe that will be the 'last last chance'?

Why wouldn't that work with 8-spd? I already have 8-spd shifter/deraill.

And, who the hell are you? I'm not used to taking advice from anonymous strangers.

Zee Pirate' said...

Try the Gamut Larry. It will rub a bit when you first mount it but it is designed to wear in a slight groove. The BB mount works just fine for you application. Might be a painful move with the money you spent alreay though.....i'm not sure.

Just saying to go 1X9 because it has been refined. Early on there were issues with it....but by all means use the 1X8 if you got it. There are thoughts 1x9 is inferior to 1x8....that's just not true anymore. I have a bike set-up 1x8 but will go 1x9 when whatever part of it wears out...

TreeFortbikes has good prices for Gamut. Stock can vary though.

OMW said...

I have used the Jump Stop and a bash guard on my 1x8 without a problem. Am using a Tomi ring too.

Sorry you are having so many problems, maybe it's a bad chainline?? Massive torque??

camps said...

The chainline doesn't seem great. Don't know what else to try to fix that though.

Scot said...

The MRP 1X is the ticket!

http://www.mrpbike.com/product.php?section=product&item=1x

No seat tube issues to concern yourself with.

Scot said...

And these unsolicited opinions still apply:
http://clmba.blogspot.com/2009/11/1-x-9-in-2009-editorial.html

camps said...

Thanks Scot,
another vote for the DH style.
my JumpStop worked fine for one ride so far. I'll see what happens awhile before jumping to that style

fatbob29r said...

N-Gear is good stuff, and the guy who makes them is just up the road from me in Kerville. Good stuff, been using mine 1x9... soon to be 1x6 and no problems.

larry said...

Cool to see you and your son at the BMX track in the photos. I met you at the pump track about a year and a half ago. My son has since gotten very into BMX racing. I got the same DK 24 inch bike to ride the track. Our local track is Trilogy Park in Pottstown. You and your son should really take a trip to try this track it is amazing!!! Good luck and let me know if you come to Trilogy!
Larry

pabiker said...

My Tomi chainring bent like a Beckham corner kick.

BUCK said...

My philosophy on gears is all or one. Bring your little green friend over sometime, the track is still changing.