1x, 2x, 3x chainring - does it matter? I need to replace one chainring in my 3x9 setup. One possible option I'm looking at says it was made for 2x setups. Another option says it was made for 1x. They have the correct tooth count, BCD, and bolt layout. How much does this matter if the manufacturer says it was made for 2x or 1x setup? Am I going to run into problems using a chainring that was &quot;made for&quot; a 2x system on my 3x9 system?
(this is a follow-up to an earlier question: Does &quot;speed&quot; of a replacement chainring matter?)
Chainrings designed for multispeed systems have special pins and ramps in them, to assist shifting. Key word being assist. If you have rings for a certain config, it might not have those features in the right spots.
If you don't have them, shifting won't be as good as it would be otherwise. That doesn't necessarily mean it'll be complete garbage either, people happily rode bikes with &quot;plain&quot; chainrings for decades, and continue to do so today. But it won't be as crisp, or you won't shift as well under power, but you'll almost surely shift well enough.