Dave Weagle. Know the guy? You should. He’s one of the more interesting and prolific design people doing MTB stuff today. e.Thirteen is his company and chain guides are some of their many products. The others you’ve probably seen but wouldn’t know it since they work with bike manufacturers on all sorts of things. The DW-Link is e.Thirteen. Know them now?

The e.thirteen LG-1 W chain guide (Light Guide 1) is their latest and greatest. It’s designed for winning World Cup downhills, but that doesn’t mean it’s overkill for bashing around the backyard or alley. Your chain should stay as put as it does for any pro downhiller; your safety is just as important.

The e13 design eliminates the need for a bashring. Right there, it makes the bike lighter. It also makes things easier, as there is one less component to mate perfectly. Because the LG1 encases the chainring at the chain’s entry point, exit point, and protects the chain from hitting objects with the bashguard, the chain is staying put. Atop is a composite slider shaped like a front derailleur. At the bottom is a composite slider that houses a custom-designed 9-tooth pulley wheel. e.13 started with a custom-designed sealed pulley and then made a custom 9t pulley which uses a softer plastic composite for a quieter ride. Betwixt and hanging out below the bottom bracket is the composite bash ring. All is held together with an aluminum alloy backing plate. The backing plate also allows the upper and lower sliders to be adjusted so they perfectly align with the chain as it enters and exits the chainring.

The e.13 LG-1 W chain guide works with chainrings from 34-40t in size. There are two different bash guard sizes to choose from, 36t and 40t. Each will work with any chainring, but it’s best to have the guard be at least as large as your chainring. The alloy back plate attaches to all ISCG or ISCG-05 tabs (just choose accordingly) -- if your bike doesn’t have the tabs, there’s an included adapter plate which can be affixed inside your bottom bracket’s fixed cup. Colors are Clear and White. 196g.