The new Wolf Tooth Components Gnarwolf chain guide takes a different approach to chain guide adjustment by losing the shims while still allowing both height and chain line adjustment.
It mounts to any ISCG05-ready frame and uses a standard single-bolt adjustment to set the height for anything from a 28-tooth to 36-tooth round rings and 28-34 tooth oval chainrings. Where it differs is with an elliptical expanding mandrel between the guide plates and the body. Twist the adjustment bolt and you can move the chain line from 48mm out to 54mm, which not only lets you fine tune the placement but also fit standard and Boost bikes.
It’s designed to fit virtually every frame, with the Santa Cruz Hightower having the only known restriction of fitting that bike up to a 30-tooth ring. Assuming you can see the ISCG bolt holes through your cranks, you don’t even have to remove them to install it. The cage pivots upward so you can remove the chainring/cranks when it’s time to swap ring sizes. All adjustments are made with a 4mm allen wrench.
WTC says it’s one of the stiffest chain guide out there -good enough for DH- with a patent pending design that’s the easiest to adjust. Despite all the parts (See diagram below), claimed weight is just 44g.
Chain line adjustments are made by loosening the adjustment screw (6), which shrinks the expanding collet (4) and lets you manually slide the cage (9, 10) into the best position. Then you tighten the screw to lock it into place. The elliptical (i.e. “oval”) collet prevents the cage’s base from rotating. The second bolt holds the cage onto the base (7), which allows you to rotate the cage up for chainring removal.
Available now for $64.95 with the stock black bolt. Additional fixing bolts are available for $3 in red, blue, green, silver, purple, gray or gold. Look for high direct mount and S3/E-type mount versions soon, too.
