Page "Crankset" Paragraph 58

Some cranksets used for freeride and downhill mountain biking have a chainguide installed.

A chainguide is a metal or plastic housing that keeps the chain on the chainrings over rough terrain and during technical riding.

Most chainguides are designed for only one front chainring, but there are a few dual-ring chainguides available such as the E13 DRS and MRP LRP.

Chainguides include a channel on the top of the chainring to keep the chain in line ( for models designed for one front chainring ) and a roller or sprocket on the bottom to help keep the chain engaged with the chainring.

These are almost always used in conjunction with bashguards.

Exceptions including the E. thirteen LG-1 and the MRP G2 ( and now the G2 SL ) do exist which use integrated skid plates, removing impact forces from the crank's spider and transferring them to the frame.