Hi,

I was running a ghettorigged setup on my Marin Nail trail single speed - something like 32:18 with a really ghettorigged chain tensioner consisting of an L Bracket and an old MRP roller - it was working fine for the light riding I was doing on the bike.

But the other night I switched to a 34T Spot chainring up front and I now can't get good chain tension.

I was wondering if any Marin hardtail owners are running a gearing combination that elimates the need to use a tensioner. If so, what is that gearing and what length is yoru chain to achieve proper tension.

For reference my bike is a 2002 Marin Nail Trail - 17" frame size.

Thanks in advance for anyone who can help me out.

This is how I used to have it set up:

http://www.ridemonkey.com/mountain-bike-photos/data/500/3795110_1028.JPG

I think I recall someone SSing an Eldridge Grade on here a while back - nobody can help me out?:(

Mark,

I know there is a site that has a gear calculator for fixed-length stays. However, the address escapes me.

Edit: The one I had seen before doesn't work now. Maybe try searching through the FAQs page here.

Good luck!

I had something on my PC but it wasn't really helping me much - it was shareware or whatever and didn't seem to offer much.

Ps. It's Colin by the way.

I had something on my PC but it wasn't really helping me much - it was shareware or whatever and didn't seem to offer much.
Gear calculator here http://www.peak.org/~fixin/personal/fmu/php/javafmu.php

I hope you guys and gals don't mind me bumping this up, but you see my Marin is due for an overhaul and it would be cool as hell to save a few bucks to find the right gear ratio to run her sans tensioner.

But then again perhaps an investment in a tensioner would be a good idea as sometime in the not too distant future I'd like to switch from the AL Nail Trail to a steel frame....

Which gets me to thinking - does anyone on the forum have a steel hardtail frame (doesn't have to have horizontal dropouts) that they are looking to unload from their stable relatively cheaply? Something like a 17" or 18" frame?

Thanks for any information you can provide on the gearing for my Marin and for anyone who might have a used steel frame for sale.

Cheers,

Mark

Check your account for a PM.

Check your account for a PM.
Called Marin and Pm'd you with the information on the chainstay length.

Thanks!