4x/Dj setup questions

[Professor]

So more useless gear questions...

Going to set up a 4x/Dj bike and picked up a Sram 11-26 cassette. So what size chainring should I be running? Seems like a 34 might work pretty good. Have a 36 on my Bottlerocket that works, but it is 11-34. So any of you rad 4x racers or dirt jumpers chime in on this? And yes I know I will likely get something about going single speed for dirt jumping.

[toast2266]

If you're actually racing, get a couple different rings - they're cheap and relatively easy to swap. Different rings for different courses. For DJ, I usually run a 36 or 38 and almost never find that I need an easier gear, but I also have an 11-34 cassette, and I tend to be happier in a harder gear than what is probably appropriate. I say a 36 is probably good, assuming you have a 26" rear wheel (or a 24" with a ginormous tire).

And SS for dirt jumping is dumb unless you can land fakie, and landing fakie on dirt jumps is also dumb.

[Professor]

I just didnt want to set it up too easy since I really need to ride my other bike for anything other than Dj stuff and occasional race. That is why I went with the tight cassette. Oh and "yes" it is 26"..... thank god

[beast]

SS for dirt jumping is dumb

Oh really? Tell that to the 20" crowd that invented dirt jumping. Personally, I prefer how simple, quiet, and bomb proof SS setups are. I'll be rocking a SS for as long as I dj.

Back on topic, if you want to go dual purpose (dj and 4x), you'll want to have gear ratios between 1.75 to 2.5. So, with a 34 tooth sprocket you're looking at a cassette range of 19-22ish. This is why many pros simply have 3-4 gears in the back. With the 34, your 11-26 will be just fine. In all honesty, I probably shift once during a 4x race...

[marshalolson]

if you like to crash, then ss is the only way to go. less stuff to break.... especially true if you ride street or skate park a bit too.

back on track, yeah a 11-2x w/ 34 is perfect.

i will write you back with chainguide info in an hour or two.

[Professor]

Dont get me wrong, if this were only built for DJing, it would be single speed. After years and years on a BMX bike I recognize how much more reliable and simple that set up is. But I am "thinking" of doing a couple of races later this season and I want a bike that can do it all. Plus a big stout aluminum frame would not be my choice for a dedicated dirt jumper. But she sure is purdy.

[toast2266]

Oh really? Tell that to the 20" crowd that invented dirt jumping.

I tell that to them every time they can't get enough speed to hit the bigger jumps. Maybe that means they're geared wrong, or (more likely), geared correctly for the park. I wouldn't know... its not a problem I have.

But yeah, SS does make good sense if you ride park a lot, or are a bike thrower. I just don't have any nearby parks, and I don't toss my bike that often (and I run cheap derailleurs that aren't a big deal to break). I also occasionally like to act like my dj bike is good for trials, which requires entirely different gearing than jumping.

Back on topic

In all honesty, I probably shift once during a 4x race...

If you're racing, thats a good point - make sure you've got an easy enough gear for the start, and then have 2-3 gears to shift to after that.