29er bikepacking 20T front chainring anyone?

[elobeck]

In an attempt not to have a rear cogset that weighs a pound I was thinking the action tec front 20tooth chainring might be a good solution to getting my low back, with a 34tooth big cog in rear. This seems like it would eliminate derailleur problems in the back. Anyone have any experience with this? Does the shifting in the front still work reasonably well?

[Marshal]

In an attempt not to have a rear cogset that weighs a pound I was thinking the action tec front 20tooth chainring might be a good solution to getting my low back, with a 34tooth big cog in rear. This seems like it would eliminate derailleur problems in the back. Anyone have any experience with this? Does the shifting in the front still work reasonably well?

I have used a action tec 20 for several yrs with zero shifting issues.  The ti ring has also lasted much longer than a 22 al ring.  I did dremel away a small amount of material around the bolt mount area on my XT crankset to provide sufficient clearance between the chain and the bolt mount area.  imo this is the best method currently available to achieve std low end gearing on a 29er as it has zero disadvantages vs any other method I am aware of

Note: Middleburn offers a 20 tooth option on a 5 arm crankset, works well but expensive vs modifying a XT crank and slapping on a 20

Preemptive side-note:
if this thread follows the typical pattern you might get some posters telling you that you don’t really want/need std low end gearing because by golly They don’t use/need it.  Ha, I say just ignore the smug b’s

[elobeck]

Thanks for the info. You have confirmed my thoughts. Last year on the divide I was able to pedal the ascent out of lincoln on my 26er with a 22-34 combo. I would like to do the same on my 29er this time, so 20-34. I hate walking in cleats.

[Marshal]

Thanks for the info. You have confirmed my thoughts. Last year on the divide I was able to pedal the ascent out of lincoln on my 26er with a 22-34 combo. I would like to do the same on my 29er this time, so 20-34. I hate walking in cleats.

Ha, when I wrote my comment on a 20 I had in mind typical Colorado ST trails and climbing on them with a loaded bikepacking kitted bike.  

However my new TDR 29er has a 22 and I am going to leave it that way.  

I can push a 22 or 20 about the same on the local gravel/fs roads, it’s the ST that I really like/need the 20.  (But then again I don’t mind walking in cleats that much, sort of use to it actually)

[Marshal]

I stand by my 20 comments but really….I just checked your profile and am aware of your very fast 2009 TD effort/pace.

In all honesty do you really think you will need/use a 20 on much of the TD route?  Were you in the 22/34 granny a lot with your 26er?

[elobeck]

Well, I ordered a 20T and I'm going to try it out over the next month. No big loss here, beats buying/modifying a cogset. There were only 2 or 3 climbs where I used the granny last year, but man was it nice.  Like I said, I hate walking in cleats. I do quite a bit of recreational bikepacking, and it will be nice to have either way when I'm just putzing along smelling the roses. As for my pace, appreciate the kudos, but in the end it got me nowhere. Lessons learned. If at first you don't succeed...

Either way thanks for the advice...