Three years ago we asked if narrow-wide killed the chain guide, and the answer was… not exactly. We suspect even today more than a few mountain bikers, especially racers, are still choosing a bit of extra insurance when it comes to chain retention.
Are you Running a Chain Guide on Your Mountain Bike?
Some riders, especially racers, are choosing a bit of extra insurance when it comes to mountain bike chain retention.
1×11 with no guide. Ever since I switched to narrow-wide chainring, I haven’t lost one chain.
Frankly, chain drop has not been an issue with 1×10 and a clutched type RD. While I don’t tend to get the kind of rowdy I had in the past, if I were, I probably would entertain a chain retention option. The SS Middlechild has been the rowdy bike as of late. Sliding dropouts are golden!