Tips for a 1x7 set-up

[Dossa]

Will be setting up the Mrs' bike with a 1x7 as this'll be sufficient for her needs.

So far, got 170mm black LX M560 cranks (due any day now..), 7 speed HG30 12-28t cassette and a Surly 36t ring.

Which chainring bolts - single speed ones or normal ones? Any particular sizes as they all seem different? Thinking ano blue ones off ebay if they'd be suitable --

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/301193449077? ... 419wt_1275

For a rear mech, is short cage best or long cage? Chain will be SRAM PC-870 unless there's a better option. Probably use a RH thumbie when one turns up.

Any tips would be great - cheers

 

[dyna-ti]

12-28 on a 36t would be a short cage.
All controls on the right,lever shifter means the left is bare and that is surprisingly nice to ride with a bit more like freedom :?

Using a road crank will save a bit of weight and theres no granny provision which makes it all look a bit cleaner
What looks good and is very practicable is to take a say 46 or 48t outer and grind off all the teeth (ill show you a pic tomorrow) You put that on the outer with your 36t in the middle spot then you need only standard outer chainring bolts. There will be a fair bit of weight on them especially on inclines so best stick to stainless.
Plus the bigger outer stops the chain jumping off the top, if anything catches when she changes gear as we all have no doubt experienced :?


I miss my 1x8 :cry:
It looked lovely. built it with a basic oversized alloy concept mtb frame/bars/stem, orange f7 alloy forks with the rear mounts, Xt hubs on 317's xt mech,cass',shifter and brake, sugino road crank with the ground outer/38t inner,bassano saddle and Michelin kevlar tyres. Pretty light compared to my clockwork and the all alloy stiffness made it like shit off a shovel

I should do another, its just the thing i need.

 

[dyna-ti]

Pic
Outer 50t ground off with a 46t and with a 36t to show you the comparison.

 

[Dossa]

Re:

Cheers for that..

Was hoping to get away with just the middle ring though, is that not advisable? Use an old front mech as a chain guide instead?

Bought a Deore DX rear mech off here, unsure whether it's shirt or long cage though as it'll be here in a couple of days.

Take it single speed bolts are needed?


Thanks

 

[xerxes]

Re:

I've got 1x7 on my "shopping" bike. No chain devices or anything, just a rear mech and a single ring up front.

 

[Sharpy]

Re: Re:

Cheers for that..

Was hoping to get away with just the middle ring though, is that not advisable? Use an old front mech as a chain guide instead?

Bought a Deore DX rear mech off here, unsure whether it's shirt or long cage though as it'll be here in a couple of days.

Take it single speed bolts are needed?


Thanks

I got some single speed bolts of Ebay for £5 and they look and feel really good. I'm also rocking a short cage rear mech. I am however, going to have problems with the chainline but thats something that I'll have a look at tomorrow! If you need any help just send me a PM and I'll try and help

 

[drystonepaul]

Re:

If you go for just the chainring on it's own then it's a good idea to use a non ramped, or single speed specific chainring.
The taller teeth are better at keeping the chain on.

You could even go for one of the new 'narrow-wide' single ring specific chainrings.

If however you are running 110 bcd five arm cranks (which the M560 is) then you can get hold of any compact road inner ring.
They usually start at 34 teeth and have the un-ramped taller teeth which are ideal for the job.
Just reading back, the Surly ring you've got will be spot on.
I have a 34t Surly ring on my modern winter 9 speed hardtail. It takes plenty of dirty and gritty abuse all winter and the chainring is still going strong after three years.
I do use a chain guide on this particular bike, but you'd only really need an outer ring/bash guard, front mech or chain guide if you are riding some proper off road stuff.

To put that into context, I rode a loop of The Marin Trail at Gwydyr Forest a few years ago on a fully rigid 1994 Marin. That had a single ring seven speed set up with no chain-guide etc.
I lost the chain only twice. Enough though to consider fitting some kind of chain retention device for that kind of rough rocky terrain.

You will need single ring specific chainring bolts and I'd certainly favour steel rather than the cheap aluminium ones that round out and/or break at the mere sniff of an allen key.
Short cage mech would also be preferable but not necessary.

 

[Dossa]

Re:

Great help, cheers paul..

Last question: I was using the Surly ring as part of a triple chainset previously even though it's mainly meant for SS. Will the bolts/washers used then be the correct size etc for a 1x7 ?

 

[rooksfoot]

Re: fr mech

the front mech idea works a peach...... u can set it lower than if it was needed to shift got 4/5 bikes setup like this ....... if u dont fit something catastrophic deraillment can occur, not a good idea for the missus's bike

40t chain ring would probably be perfect as u 12-28 rear u can always chop up and grind down old chainrings to make spacers

fit on the middle ring position and aim chain line for the fourth sprocket

run the chain as short as possible

 

[hamster]

If you are running a 12-28 rear (and it's about the nicest 7 speed MTB cassette in terms of gear steps) you could even get away with a road rear mech for super-neatness.