Bionicon’s second edition C-Guide, designated as V.02, is simple, light and easy to install on any bike with a traditional horizontal chainstay.
The chain guide is designed to work with double and triple ring drivetrains, and we see it as useful for hard-to-fit frames running single-ring configurations, like the Giant Reign we reviewed last year.
Our C-Guide V.02 tipped the scale at just 20g with its two, included, zip-ties, but without the cable clamp, which is roughly another 2g. The guide arm is made from 6061 alloy, and the pivot tube, and optional cable guide, from a reinforced nylon that’s treated with a low friction resin. Both split to allow for installation without removing the chain or cable housing.
The new C-Guide comes in six colors – black, blue, green, orange, pink and red – and Bionicon offer replacement chain guide tubes for those packing on the miles. “The guide tube can actually be rotated into four different wear patterns,” said Paul Ferguson, Bionicon’s US sales and marketing manager. “You can take it apart and flip it around, then flip it over and flip it around again, to really extend the life of that tube if you remember to rotate it.”
The plastic hanger that mounts to the chainstay is designed to break away and preserve the more expensive components of the device. “There are replacements available and it's also getting beefed up a little bit [moving forward],” said Ferguson. Replacement guide tubes will sell for around US$10, and replacement hangers for $3 or less.
We’ve installed our test model and taken a quick spin around the block with it. In doing so, the guide proved quiet and not overtly noticeable when shifting or pedaling. Should it perform as promised on the trail, it'll likely be a welcome addition to our trail bike.
A derailleur's view of the C-Guide
The C-Guide V.02 has been flying off Bionicon’s shelves and is out of stock in the US until the end of this month, but Bionicon USA are taking backorders for the US$49.95 ( £31/€39) guide now, and will ship as soon as the next shipment arrives. “We have a very large shipment coming right around the first of April,” said Ferguson.