Alfine crankset for 1x10 setup?

Hi all - hoping someone can give me some advice.

I'm looking to put together a 1x10 commuter based around a Surly Pacer frame, and have been looking at some of the options for a drivetrain.

I like the look of the Alfine crankset:

http://www.shimano.com/publish/content/global_cycle/en/us/index/products/0/alfine/product.-code-FC-S500-L.-type-..html

But would it be compatible with a standard 10 speed rear mech/cassette, such as the 105 below??

http://www.shimano.com/publish/content/global_cycle/en/us/index/products/road/new_105_black/product.-code-RD-5700-GS-L.-type-.rd_road.html

I can't figure it out, so any help would be much appreciated!

I'm using an Alfine crankset with Deore 11-34 in a 1x9 setup on a Surly Cross-Check and it works fine. So it should be good to go with 1x10, too.

I remember when putting together my parts list a similar feeling of confusion - I couldn't find a definitive statement that it is OK for an Alfine crank to be used with a cassette rather than a hub gear. Turns out it is no problem. Also, because the Alfine front sprocket is purpose-built to be run as the only front sprocket it has no pegs/ramps/etc to encourage gear shifting (unlike say a front triple that you've stripped down to a single) and so you don't need to run it with a chain keeper to stop the chain falling off.

Hope that helps!

That's really helpful - thanks Sifriday

I'd be surprised if the chainring was compatible with 10 speed chain.

I'm also surprised it's properly compatible with 9 speed chain though so...

bcd is apparently 130 so you could perhaps swap chain ring to make it 10spd compatible? I'm not entirely sure about this but have been thinking about building a 1x9 or 1x10 bike for commuting.

edit: it seems velosolo make 9/10 speed compatible chain rings that are suitable

My take on it is:

Alfine is designed for the Shimano CN-HG53 9sp chain:
http://bike.shimano.com/media/techdocs/content/cycle/SI/Alfine/FC-S500/SI_1HD0A_En_v1_m56577569830604038.pdf

Sheldon Brown is pretty happy with the idea of a 10sp chain being used on 9sp cranks:
http://sheldonbrown.com/speeds.html#chainrings
and again
http://sheldonbrown.com/speeds.html#chains

Sheldon says there might be shifting problems on the 9sp/10sp mix, which here would be the front, but in a 1x10 setup of course you won't be shifting on the front anyway, so the combo of 10sp cassette, 10sp chain and 9sp crank should be fine...

I picked 1x9 rather than 1x10 for two reasons: a bit cheaper, and compatible with my MTB for cannibalising parts. The resulting gearing of 39x(11-34) has been great, ideal for commuting and light touring. When I run out of top gear, I'm usually doing 20mph+ downhill so am content to freewheel at that point. So a big thumbs-up for 1x9 or 1x10 setups, enjoy your projects :-)

One day I have a bit of an ambition to get this for my MTB, when it is cheaper:
http://www.sram.com/sram/mountain/1x11

I think the difference between 9 speed and 10 speed chains is the outer width, which is of course irrelevant to a single chainring on the front.

My beater/functional/utility bike is a 1x9 and really good fun it is too. Running 44 x 11-32 gives heaps of range from nice and spinny to decently fast.

My crankset is one of these, which is as ugly as sin, but was on the bike when I got it. I changed the chainring for a new one when I renewed the drivetrain. A quick word of warning with regard to this: most 9 (and probably 10) speed chainrings are ramped i.e., they have some stumpy teeth to help the chain climb up from the smaller rings. This increases the chances of the chain skipping off. My chainset has an outer bashguard but I lost my chain inwards on a few occasions, usually in a low gear (so big angle on the chain) when dropping off a kerb. My solution was to build one of these to stop it dropping off the inside and it works a treat.

Edit: I've just realised that I've repeated what sifrady said. Never mind, I'll leave it up as an example of the problem in case anyone's interested.

I don't think you need to worry about whether the chain will fit, from 6 speed to 10, it should be fine.

Question: Is the chainline somewhat centered or biased to either side of the casette when running the chainring on the inner position of the Alfine crankset? sifriday? Thanks.

It sits slightly towards the higher gears, I think the chainline is straightest in number 6. I'll have a look when next out and correct myself if I got that wrong!

I'd be surprised if the chainring was compatible with 10 speed chain.

It is, I'm using 10-speed chain with a pair of Alfine rings as the synchronising drive on my tandem.

the difference between 9 speed and 10 speed chains is the outer width

^this

Thanks! Please do.

Has anyone taken off the little guard ring on Alfine? Would I be able to pop a narrow-wide chainring on and lose the little plastic ring?

Something like this?

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sram-red-22-x-glide-11sp/#pid=33922

Yup, may need singlespeed bolt tho.

Alfine chainset is pretty similar to Sora, just the guard replace the big ring.

Before I order them, did anyone end up doing this? Just want to be sure in case of any issues before I order

Remove the bash guard? Yeah, I had to because I was running a 1/8" chain which rubbed on the guard. I run the ring on the inner position.

Sorry I meant using them as 1x10.

Ah soz. Just SS.

Mine’s on an Alfine bike, but I don’t see what the problem with it on 1X10 would be - the chainring isn’t ramped or anything. I’d vote to risk it.

I don’t see what the problem with it on 1X10 would be

The problem might be the chain rubbing on the guard in top gear, depending on the chainstay length and OLN diemsion of the hub. AFAIK, the guard is nominally dimensioned to clear 9-speed use with 130mm road hubs, but since it is so much smaller than the big ring would be on a normal double chainset, it must have more than enough clearance in practice.