1x chain retention options: narrow-wide chainring or chain watcher (or both)?

Triathlon Forum
1

I’m thinking about switching to a 1x setup on my TT bike, and I’m curious which of these options is preferable:
Narrow-wide chainringStandard chainring with a 1x chain watcher, e.g. https://drag2zero.co.uk/product/aero-chain-catcher/?v=7516fd43adaa
or https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/collections/chainguides/products/lonewolf-aero-chainguide-braze-on-mount

Thanks!

2

I didn’t do anything special and have never lost the chain - it’s been like 3+ years now. Sram red chain (only bc i got them super cheap) and a quarq d-zero with the stock rings.

3

I’m using both but my bike is a bit of hybrid between sram/shimano and 11/12 speed (see below) so not optimal!

You probably only need one if everything is set up as it should…

My setup b is
Sram rival 12 speed rear derailleur
Shimano 105 12 speed cassette
Knc 12 speed chain
11 speed 1-by front ring (slightly to wide and makes some noice when in the easiest gear)
Aerocoach chaincatcher

The goal is to change everything too Sram but need to save money at the moment so haven’t updated the crankset…

4

I use the Drag2Zero Chain Guide, Pyramid Narrow Wide with Shimano Ultegra Di2 11 Speed Long rear mech, Ultegra Cassette and Dura Ace Chain.
I’m not sure the Chain Guide is needed only bought it as Front Mech mount is rivited on.
Thinking of removing it doing a few test runs and if as I suspect it’s not then required then biting the bullet and drilling out the rivits on the front mech mount.

5

Narrow-wide all the way. It is night-and-day, and there is no downside.

6

I didn’t do anything special and have never lost the chain - it’s been like 3+ years now. Sram red chain (only bc i got them super cheap) and a quarq d-zero with the stock rings.

Probably road quality dependent, but everyone I know, including myself, who tried road 1x without at least narrow-wide rings dropped chains frequently.

7

I use the Drag2Zero Chain Guide, Pyramid Narrow Wide with Shimano Ultegra Di2 11 Speed Long rear mech, Ultegra Cassette and Dura Ace Chain.
I’m not sure the Chain Guide is needed only bought it as Front Mech mount is rivited on.
Thinking of removing it doing a few test runs and if as I suspect it’s not then required then biting the bullet and drilling out the rivits on the front mech mount.

What frame are you on?

8

BMC Timemachine One
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IMG_4242.jpeg

9

aero coach has a chain guide, aero, carbon and cheap.

10

I have a narrow-wide, nothing else. No drops in 6(?) years. Sram 1x10 mechanical.

11

narrow/wide.

my non-expert, unresearched, impression is that nowadays most RDs made for 12sp, both shimano and SRAM, whether for road or gravel, for 1x or 2x, feature RDs that have some kind of clutch or damper. but i’m not sure about that. i would err on the side of a derailleur that has something to minimize chain slap.

12

NW for me. I also run a low tension cage and haven’t dropped a chain on my TT bike. The whole reason I went 1x was for aero, so a chain guide would have been marginalizing an already marginal gain.

13

BMC Timemachine One

Nice! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a seat on a TT bike set that far back?

14

Thanks, all. I’m on an 11-speed Etap setup without a clutched rear der, and it sounds like opting for a NW chainring is the way to go.

15

The first 1x setup I ran was with 11 speed etap and an aerocoach carbon 1x ring. dropped the chain a couple times so I added a catcher. Somehow still happened. Once I went to a narrow wide ring instead I haven’t had a single drop happen. Now on an etap 12s system and same story. I don’t know how much the clutch matters for tt but narrow wide is a must.

16

BMC Timemachine One

Nice! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a seat on a TT bike set that far back?
It’s about 5cm behind the Center of Bottom Bracket so pretty much as far back as every UCI setup.
I don’t really need to be UCI Legal but in my third decade of TTing now and know it works for me.

17

i have 1x with narrow wide on my road and TT bikes and drop a chain about once a year on my road bike and have never dropped a chain on my TT bike. i subconsciously keep peddling to keep tension in the chain on rougher surfaces, crossing train tracks etc when on my road bike.

18

I use a wide/narrow chainring with the Drag2Zero catcher. I had my chain pop off in a race once and added the catcher.

The road was a little bumpy when it came off but nothing I hadn’t pedaled through before without incident. I figured it was a little insurance to add the chain catcher.

19

I’m running my TT 1x with a NW chainring and a clutch rear D. No chain catcher. Only one chain drop due to a failed bunny hope through the 4yrs with this set up.

  • Chainring: wolf tooth NW no drop chainring
  • Crank: Inforcrank
  • Frame: QR PRFive rim brake
  • R derailleur: Shimano GRX Di2 11spd.
20

I’ve had the same 1x setup on 2012 Venge and 2019 IA16: 52T Force 1x upfront with mechanical Force 1x derailleur and 11-36 cassette. Have never dropped a chain ever. No chain watcher either, maybe I’m an aero weenie but I feel like it would negate that aspect and ruin your “cleanliness”