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Blackwater Bicycles showed something pretty different at the CRAFTED Bike Show at Cane Creek. We saw it online, and now we’re wishing we’d seen it in person.

Built in collaboration with Marginal Gain of Colorado, the bike uses a drivetrain concept called Orient. The new chainring has one simple goal: keep the chain straighter across more of the cassette.

What’s the bit that everyone’s trying to improve for 1x? Chainline, and no matter how close you get it, there’s always a compromise. Wide-range 1x drivetrains ask the chain to run at some pretty ugly angles in the biggest and smallest cogs. A gnarler angle means more friction, more wear, and less efficiency. But, maybe not for long.

(Photo/Blackwater Bikes)

Orient Chainline

Blackwater and Marginal Gain built the drivetrain around a different layout meant to reduce chain articulation across the range. The idea gets more interesting as cassette counts keep climbing. Marginal Gain says the concept could support 15- or even 16-speed setups while still keeping chain angles more reasonable than many current 1x systems.

The setup was on a Blackwater Splitfire at CRAFTED. Where small builders and component makers had plenty of room to bring out the weird (and ultra practical) stuff.

(Image/Marginalgains chainring 1X production video from Instagram)

Most drivetrain development is focused on adding another cog or making the derailleur smarter. Blackwater and Marginal Gain are looking at the problem from a different angl. Asking whether the chainline itself is what needs to change – Mind blown!