A chain guide for a front derailleur includes inner and outer guide plates. The outer guide plate includes an interior surface having a guide surface that protrudes toward the chain. During the shifting from a larger chainring to a smaller chainring, the chain grazes against the guide surface and is shifted to an adjoining chainring by the guide surface. Viewed in a chain travel direction, the guide surface has a width at least equal to a distance between consecutive outer chain links or a width at least equal to the distance between the link pins. So configured, the noise generated by the dipping of the chain guide into the space between the outer chain links and/or between any protruding link pins is minimized during the shifting process.