Swapping front chainrings on SRAM Rival 1x bikes - worth the faff?

[bludger]

Being on the lookout for a new audax/touring/general duties bike I am taken by the appearance of this sharp wee number:



https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/EBPXLONRDSLF1/planet-x-london-sl-road-force-1-bike

1000 of my English pounds in the sale.

However the maximum 42x11 ratio is the one thing putting me off. That seems far too low a gear for me: the lowest I really need is 34x28, so I am weighing up instead getting this bike but bunging a 46 or even a 48 on the front. Has anyone had success with this approach? Looking online, the official 46t SRAM chainring would set me back £60 which isn't that bad seeing as I'd pop the one supplied with the bike off and flog it as new and unused and happy if I got £25 for it.

Any strong opinions about whether this is a good idea? I don't know what more would need doing than just swapping the rings, not even a front derailleur to mess around with. Would the clutch mechanism on the rear derailleur need fannying around with? I've not a scooby doo.

[DuncanM]

The only thing I can think of is maybe you would need a few extra links in the chain to be able to use the bottom gear. Otherwise, why wouldn't it work?

[grams]

The clutch mechanism is just a brake band clamped around the derailleur pivot that means a lot more force is required to pull the cage forward. The clever bit is that there's a ratchet between the brake part and the actual cage so that it doesn't inhibit the cage moving backwards to tension the chain.

So no it doesn't need adjusting for different size chainrings.

(My audax bike is 40x11-42. I rarely miss not having higher gears)

[SoreTween]

I went the other way successfully changing 44 to 38 in advance of TINAT, rear has 11-42.  It took me a couple of goes to get the chain length right not having done other than change like for like before. My start point of three links less was me being dumb, two worked but wasn't comfortable, one is as happy as the original setup.
I keep the original length part worn chain with the 44 so swapping back is a zero thought exercise. I did try adjusting the cage tension but once I'd figured out the correct chain the adjustment ended up back where it started.
Worth the faff? Yes easily.

[Steve Orchard]

I had thought similar but was going to look for a smaller front ring I haven't checked the measurements but these are cheaper
https://www.superstarcomponents.com/en/raptor-chainring-110bcd-narrow-wide.htm


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[quixoticgeek]

Just make sure there is enough clearance on the chainstay for the bigger ring.

J

[bludger]

Bought a new steed with two rings in the end but definitely haven't ruled out 1x for the future.