MTB'rs: Pros/Cons of 30T narrow-wide chainrings

[Red Tornado]

Due to the cassette's I have available, been thinking about changing from a 32T n-w ring to a 30T. The 30T bolts directly to the crank. Any opinions or personal experiences (bad or good) with this?

[Jaybee]

Why do you want to change? Do you find yourself wishing for a little more low end at times?


I switched from a 32t direct mount ring to a 30t, mostly just to move my typical happy-place gears closer to the middle third of the cassette than the bottom third. Also, a lot of the rides here start with 500-1000 feet of vertical before you even have a chance to get loose, and 30x50 is appreciated on days when you just don't have it. There is one long paved downhill that I regularly ride between trail systems where I spin out the 30x10, but I'd probably spin out a 32x10 there as well. I'll never spin out a 30x10 gear on singletrack - if I'm going that fast I'm probably freewheeling with the seat dropped.

In short, I like it.

[tele]

I switched out the 30t that came on my bike to a 28t direct mount. This is with a 42t rear. Where I am in New England a lot of the trails are techy with short but steep climbs. I found this works just fine for me.

[wooly]

Why do you want to change? Do you find yourself wishing for a little more low end at times?





I switched from a 32t direct mount ring to a 30t, mostly just to move my typical happy-place gears closer to the middle third of the cassette than the bottom third. Also, a lot of the rides here start with 500-1000 feet of vertical before you even have a chance to get loose, and 30x50 is appreciated on days when you just don't have it. There is one long paved downhill that I regularly ride between trail systems where I spin out the 30x10, but I'd probably spin out a 32x10 there as well. I'll never spin out a 30x10 gear on singletrack - if I'm going that fast I'm probably freewheeling with the seat dropped.



In short, I like it.



Same here. I’ve got an oval absolute black direct mount chain ring on my ER wing Ti cranks. Love em.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190330/db2805c853ff66eadf83aa4fff7b669e.jpg

[JAGI410]

I like the 30t on mine. I do have a 32t I swap on if I'm doing more flat stuff, but the 30t is a great all rounder. I use the Wolftooth Camo system, so swapping rings is simple and doesn't require removing the crank, so it's easily done trailside.

[Jaybee]

Same here. I’ve got an oval absolute black direct mount chain ring on my ER wing Ti cranks. Love em.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190330/db2805c853ff66eadf83aa4fff7b669e.jpg

This is pretty much a perfect trail bike.

[CunegoFan]

Assuming you have a full suspension bike, one thing to keep in mind is that going to a smaller chainring will increase anti-squat. Two teeth won't be a big change, though.

[Red Tornado]

The reason I'm considering the 30T over the 32T is the 9 speed cassette I might start using has a 32-tooth largest sprocket. I'll need a tad more than a 1:1 for some of the stuff on my local trails.
Also, I kind of like the idea of direct mount vs. chain ring bolts considering the pedaling forces in a 1x drivetrain while climbing.
The bike is a hardtail.
Was just curious if anyone has had any negative experiences with direct mount chain ring on a 1X system.

[Spoker]

32 to 27 here. All up or down. 11/36 in the back. Don't miss the high gear.

[L-Train]

26t wolftooth stainless direct mount here.. 42 cassette. I am a big guy and live in Montana. All climb until you turn around and bomb down. It’s more expensive but worth it. Two seasons on it and I’d have gone through a bunch of aluminum chainrings by now.


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