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what effect does a single ring have on derailleur capacity?
None. The capacity is dependent on the dérailleur :-)
The amount of capacity you need is just the difference between the large and small sprocket
Total capacity = (big ring - small ring) + (big sprocket - small sprocket)
It makes more sense if you rearrange that:
Total capacity = (big ring + big sprocket) - (small ring + small sprocket)
In the case of a single ring, big ring = small ring so those terms cancel one another and you just get big sprocket - small sprocket
I still works your way around, (big ring - small ring)=0 if big ring=small ring
That's what I've done and haven't killed anyone yet.
On a related note, I've been meaning to ask: what effect does a single ring have on derailleur capacity?
Total capacity = (big ring - small ring) + (big sprocket - small sprocket).
The two possible answers to the first part of the equation are either the size of the big ring (eg 53) or zero, neither of which gives a sensible result.