The SRS worked well from the start and I was pleasantly surprised to find that I didn't have any serious climbing issues. I actually ended up getting in better shape after a couple of weeks of climbing Fromme in my middle ring.
As I alluded to, the bashguard on the East Coast model is large - about 190mm wide, compared to the 160mm Blackspire bashguard I had been running. I found that I was hitting things that I hadn't in the past when I went over drops, but that didn't slow me down and it took several rides before there was any real marks on the bashguard. After nearly six months of use, it still doesn't look particularly worn and there are none of the burrs you get on metal rock rings.
In addition to longer chainring bolts and a vastly improved instruction sheet, e.thirteen sent a new outer slider with an alignment tab that helps you determine the right number of spacers to install under the mounting plate. You'll still have to pull off the crank and add or remove washers - which can get a little tedious - but at least this way you'll know whether or not the guide is set up correctly. One tip - make sure you tighten the bolts on the top slider while you're setting up the washers. It may be impossible to reach them once the guide's on.
Running the SRS on the Bullit - which has a higher bottom bracket than my hardtail - dealt with some of the clearance issues I faced, although the bashguard is still larger than I'd prefer. Given the number of trail obstacles around here, there's no such thing as too much clearance.
I did find that the guide was a little noisier on the full suspension than it was on my hardtail, even with a narrower 118mm bottom bracket. That may be because I'm running more washers under the mounting bracket. Regardless, it's not a big deal and it's not something you notice while you're actually riding at speed.
More importantly, I haven't dropped a chain once since I started using the SRS. I've ridden all over the Shore in the usual winter muck, on a hardtail and on a full suspension bike, up the hill, down the hill, shuttling, doing drops, falling, crashing, and yes, even riding the mighty A-Line, and my chain has yet to come off. In spite of my initial apprehension, I am now a firm believer in the benefits of running a chainguide, and in retrospect I can see how much of a pain it was to stop and put my chain back on. The SRS gives me the confidence that I'll be able to start pedalling without any problems - wherever, whenever, and whatever might have just happened to my bike and my body.
The East Coast SRS looks big, even on an XL Bullit - Photo: Scott Johnson
Final thoughts
I really came to enjoy running the SRS. It did just what it was supposed to do - keep my chain from coming off - and it did it very well. There were a few set-up issues with the 2002 guide, but e.thirteen has addressed those for 2003, and the guide performed flawlessly over the entire test period. It didn't require any repairs and nothing broke, even after banging it off every rock and root possible.
The biggest thing to keep in mind when you're thinking about a chainguide is the type of riding you do. If you're going to be shuttling or riding Whistler all summer long, I have no hesitation at all about recommending the SRS. If you're looking for a single-ring guide with more clearance, check out e.thirteen's Street/Trail Security guide, which lets you run a 36T or smaller ring. The Double Ring Security chainguide combines the benefits of a middle and granny ring with a chainguide, and is a great option if you spend a lot of time climbing. We'll be testing the DRS over the summer, so stay tuned for the review.
Evil is concentrating on bike production these days and is leaving the components to e.thirteen, so you can't buy Evil chainguides any longer. That's not a problem, though, because the e.thirteen guides are exactly the same as the old Evil guides other than the labelling. Word on the street also has it that there might be more to come from e.thirteen in the near future. You're going to be seeing a lot more e.thirteen chainguides on the trails over the next while, and deservedly so. The SRS and its plastic brethren are overbuilt so they can stand up to the Shore, they works extremely well, they're different, and they've got supermodel good looks.
A couple of other features to note about the SRS: the inner mounting plate adjusts outward away from the BB shell, which means you shouldn't have any problem with tire clearance; the guide is adjustable from the outside of the frame; you only need a hex wrench to adjust the captive-fastener bolts; the lower jockey wheel uses a sealed bearing; and the guides are ISCG and A-standard compatible, and come with an ISCG mount adapter.
The new e.thirteen SRS is available for CDN$239.95 (about US$150) in three different size bashguards and three different bolt patterns, so it will fit just about any crankset or frame out there. You've got a choice of the Mountain-X (30T-40T) in 4 x 104, 5 x 110 or 5 x 94; East Coast (30T-42T) in 4 x 104, 5 x 110 or 5 x 94; or 44 Special (30T-44T) in 4 x 104, 5 x 110 or 5 x 94.
To find an e.thirteen dealer, check out Yodo Bike's Dealer Listings.
