Singlspeed chainring on a 1x9?

[big boy phil]

I just set up my flat bar cyclocross bike as a 1x9, and I'm thinking the 39t is too small for the road. Can I use a 42t singlespeed chainring in it's place? I don't need it to be pinned or have ramps do I?

[OnTheRivet]

I just set up my flat bar cyclocross bike as a 1x9, and I'm thinking the 39t is too small for the road. Can I use a 42t singlespeed chainring in it's place? I don't need it to be pinned or have ramps do I?

You'd actually prefer it not be pinned or ramped.

[big boy phil]

Ok. Cool. Just so I know, why would I prefer it to be not ramped or pinned? Is there a performance advantage?

[Killroy]

1. Find the ugliest hill you would ride up,
2. Kill yourself for 50 min so you have not much mojo left
3. Find the toughest gear you can practically crank up that hill.
4. Do the math to find the gear ratio
5. Size the front ring to match this gear ratio in the lowest rear cog

Spinning the fast stuff is better than walking the hills

[Henri65]

Ok. Cool. Just so I know, why would I prefer it to be not ramped or pinned? Is there a performance advantage?

The pins and ramps are to make it easier for the chain to shift from chainring to chainring, if your running a single chain ring you don't need it to shift.

[perttime]

For more emphasis... you definitely do not want the chain to budge from that ring

If the ride is rough, you might want some sort of a guide to keep the chain on.

[big boy phil]

Thanks for all the responses. I just wanted to make sure there wouldn't be any issues with the chain going side to side from one gear to the next on the cassette. Oh, and I do have an outer chain guide as well as a third eye chain watch on the inside, so the chain shouldn't be going anywhere!

[perttime]

One thing: there's singlespeed rings in a couple of different widths. Don't get a ring that is too wide for your chain.