First off, I need to say that I weigh around 240 dressed (and I bike dressed). Second, ever since I got a Wipperman Stainless Steel chain, I've been burning through granny gears like they were made of cheese. I ride on sandy, muddy trails and I guess the combination is too much for these rings. The Blackspire began to suck after about 4 rides (8 hours)! This may not be a problem for a rider under 200lbs.
I've been riding a Cycle Dynamics Ti granny (about twice the money) for about 4 months and so far, no problem.
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Submitted by
J.C.
a Cross Country Rider
from Whistler Date Reviewed: June 30, 2003
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$15.00
Purchased At:
Somewhere in Vancouver
Strengths:
Aptly named so you know what to do with it after it breaks.
Weaknesses:
Strength/durability
Similar Products Used:
other crappy chainrings
Bike Setup:
new Heckler with XT hollowtech cranks and Sram chain.
Bottom Line:
I'm guessing it's called a chuck ring as it chucks the chain onto the BB shell and now I'm going to chuck it in the garbage. I'm not a punishing rider but this thing bent during a cross-country ride. I straightened it but it easily bent again on each of 3 subsequent rides.
I had bad luck with Blackspire rings in the past but hadn't tried them for a few years. No more cash for them.
How fitting. I just took a look at their website and though they claim to be Canadian their main page statement sounds like one of those old Taiwanese company ads in MBA. http://www.blackspire.com/main.html I'm guessing the same QA dept. is used for their website and products.
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Submitted by
Pascal Cormeau
a
from Calgary, Alberta, Canada Date Reviewed: July 1, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Trials
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$15.00
Strengths:
Amaysingly durable
Similar Products Used:
aluminum crap that wears out in a month
Bike Setup:
Norco Team Trials, black spire cranks, seatpost, granny god.... HS33 brakes
Bottom Line:
Well, since I am always in my granny ring because I ride trials, it gets alot of wear. I ride just about every day of the week for several hours. After a year of use, I am really pleased to say that this ring is the bomb. It apears to have no wear at all... Great product.
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