Un-ramped chainring. Question.

[harmonix1234]

I have a Race Face 110bcd 46t chainring.
It has no ramps or pins on the inside.
Can I use it with a front derailleur?
Will it shift up to this from the smaller ring if it has no ramps?
I figured that the derailleur pushes it over anyway, and my old roadie with paddle shifters never had ramped rings...
Will it work?
Duck?

[ldrcycles]

Yep. Best front shifting i've ever had was el cheapo Sugino 52-42 cranks with no pins or shifting aids of any sort. Made Di2 look slow.

[Duck!]

If you pair it to a 36T small ring, the relatively small difference will mean shifting won't be too compromised. It would still work with a smaller ring, but it'd just need more encouragement to shift up.

[harmonix1234]

Thanks guys, it will be paired with a 34t. Setting up the Roubaix for some summer gravel/unsealed adventures. I'll give it a go then. Cheers!

[Baalzamon]

Interested on how you go.

[stanzarallyman]

I use a 34 small chainring, with a steel unpinned, unramped 48 chainring. With an ultegra FD, its shifts no problems.

[slowK]

I replaced the 50t outer ring on my SRAM Rival cranks (inner ring 34t) with a 46t FSA ring. FD needed to be lowered a few mm for the smaller diameter.

Shifting wasn't as good. Downshifts fine, but going up from little to big just took a bit longer (maybe half a pedal rev?). Perfectly adequate, but just noticeably a bit slower. The LBS explained that the ramps and pins from the two different brands didn't match.

Still, the slightly slower shifts didn't bother me. And the gearing is just about perfect for the riding I do - barely use the small ring.

[harmonix1234]

Ok, changed to un-ramped 46t and adjusted FD, shifting was awful. Scrapped the un-ramped chainring and got an FSA 46t ramped chainring and shimano chain and is shifting nice and smooth albeit a little slower than with a 50t ring. It's good too, spinning out the 46-12 combo I can still punch out over 50kph, with with the 46-28 combo can climb many things I used to shift front rings for.
I am doing almost all my riding in one chainring which I love.
I know, I know, you should never cross your chain line but for the odd quick pinch it's perfect.
Also, I know 50kph is not as fast as a 53-11 combo will get me, but lets face it, if I am going faster than 50, it will be going down a hill, and beyond that I'm happy to let gravity do the work.
Can't believe I didn't do this earlier.
Anyone wants a brand new race face 110BCD 46t chainring ridden around the block once, it's up for grabs

[warthog1]

My experience with an unramped big ring was similar. It would shift, but compared to a ramped ultegra ring, it took ages and scraped and carried on before it did. Ditched it.

[harmonix1234]

Yep, the scraping!
Changing gears sounded like stirring a baseball bat in a bucket of coconuts.

[slowK]

Ok, changed to un-ramped 46t and adjusted FD, shifting was awful. Scrapped the un-ramped chainring and got an FSA 46t ramped chainring and shimano chain and is shifting nice and smooth albeit a little slower than with a 50t ring. It's good too, spinning out the 46-12 combo I can still punch out over 50kph, with with the 46-28 combo can climb many things I used to shift front rings for.
I am doing almost all my riding in one chainring which I love.
I know, I know, you should never cross your chain line but for the odd quick pinch it's perfect.
Also, I know 50kph is not as fast as a 53-11 combo will get me, but lets face it, if I am going faster than 50, it will be going down a hill, and beyond that I'm happy to let gravity do the work.
Can't believe I didn't do this earlier.
Anyone wants a brand new race face 110BCD 46t chainring ridden around the block once, it's up for grabs

That's pretty much been my experience too. 46-12 is plenty big enough for me too. I have a 12-30 cassette and it's pretty much perfect.

Well - that is on my old Roubaix, which I now have as my second bike. I upgraded to a Madone 5.9 which has a 50/34 and 11-28 11 speed. Would love a 12-30 or 12-32 option in 11 speed, but none are available as far as I can tell. So I'm doing front shifts a bit more often on the new bike.

[singlespeedscott]

I use a 46t on the commuter and it's perfect. Shifts are fine because I use downtube shifters. It's a shame that the big 3 force you to buy their CX cranks to get this useful ring to work with their integrated shifters. It would be great to see them release a 46/30 crankset for those who like long rides with plenty of hills. Even a 46/34 would be nice coupled with a 12-32

[slowK]

Completely agree singlespeedscott.

Same for flat bar road bikes aimed at casual riders (e.g. my wife). She really doesn't need a 50/11 top gear