5-7-07 // Previewed: FSA Gravity Guide

WHAT: Gravity Guide
WHERE: FullSpeedAhead.com
HOW MUCH: $119.99

Looking to extend their product breadth, FSA has been developing products for hardcore freeride and downhill riders under their Gravity brand. Although Shimano has been careful to avoid producing a chainguide system, and Sram’s attempts at designing one seem mostly aimed at OEM markets this new chainguide from FSA/Gravity looks like a serious attempt to build a durable and functional aftermarket guide to mate up with their extensive line of Gravity cranks and bottom brackets.

FSA built their Gravity guide to be strong enough for park or street riding but also light enough for racing at 218 grams. The guide is constructed with a hard-anodized 7075-T6 aluminum boomerang and glass-fiber reinforced upper and lower guides as well as the lower pulley wheel, which rolls on a replaceable sealed cartridge bearing for smooth rolling. All the guide hardware is stainless steel.

The Gravity guides come in two sizes to fit 32 and 34/36 tooth chainrings—this may make it more desirable for the freeride and street/park crowd as DH racers sometimes push larger rings. The boomerang is designed to fit either ISCG or ISCG 05 bolt patters and is also bottom-bracket-mount compatible. FSA, of course recommends using the guide with FSA MegaExo bottom bracket sets, but it should work with other company’s as well. The guide is recommended to work specifically with the included FSA polycarbonate bash guard.