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Real Chainring

Average Rating 4.10/5
# of Reviews 40
MSRP
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Description:
    Real Chainring
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      Submitted by Mike T. a Cross Country Rider from Ontario Canada
      Date Reviewed: 4/4/2003 2:18:23 AM
      Duration Product Used: More than 3 years
      Purchased At: Don't remember.
      Strengths: Wearability! Looks,
      Weaknesses: None.
      Similar Products Tried: SR rings. Shimano.
      Bike Setup: Seven Sola with Pace carbon fiber rigid fork, carbon cranks, Moots Ti stem & seatpost. SRAM shufters and XO derailer.
      Bottom Line: My gawd I've had Real's 46t outer ring for years on the only bike I ride and I ride mostly in the big ring and this thing just WON'T wear out! It's done thousands of miles. Its shifts great, wears even better and looks good. What else is there to say? I'm in the process of looking for a backup ring for if and when it does wear out.
      Value Rating: 5 Overall Rating: 5

      Submitted by Reno a Cross Country Rider from Oregon somwhere
      Date Reviewed: 7/22/2001 6:15:14 PM
      Duration Product Used: 2 Years
      Strengths: There nickle plated. Very strong and stiff. Nice looking too
      Weaknesses: They don't work well with my grip shifters at all. The chain falls off all the time and it's very hard to shift.
      Similar Products Tried: shimano
      Bottom Line: don't buy them. They don't shift very well at all.
      Value Rating: 1 Overall Rating: 1

      Submitted by Peter Polack a Cross Country Rider from Meriden
      Date Reviewed: 4/13/2001 2:59:22 PM
      FavoriteTrail: any
      Duration Product Used: 3 months
      Purchased At: local bike shop
      Strengths: none
      Weaknesses: extremely poor shifting
      Similar Products Tried: virtually all brands; many were generics.
      Bike Setup: 1990 Shimano Deore Drivetrain
      Bottom Line: I list no price paid because I'm a bike shop employee and it would be unfair to reveal what I paid.

      The granny ring was not Real, the middle and large were. I replaced the entire drivetrain-chain, cassette, and chainrings when I reassembled my bike, so everything was fresh. Winter was pretty harsh here, so all my riding was commuting to work.

      On the first ride in January I suffered chainsuck when downshifting from the large to middle ring. This continued to happen often enough that I tried wrapping the chainstay with material to fill the gap; obviously I was oblivious to the true cause of the problem. My new frame was taking a beating from this. Just the other day I had the opportunity to take the bike off -road and drop from the middle to granny ring-the chain sucked so hard it bent my granny ring in two places.

      My theory: the Real chainrings build up extra material on the inside faces of the rings as shifting ramps. This material does not increase the thickness of the rings at the bolt hole or it would increase spacing between the rings. It does, however, make them wider where the chain passes from ring-to-ring, which could have something to do with the resultant chainsuck. With virtually all other rings I've used there was no profile on the inner face of the rings, and I've used many generic brands; they all worked fine. The only other cause could be the shape of the teeth themselves, but I'm not an engineer so I couldn't identify any contributing factors, at least not visually.

      Anyway, I wouldn't recommend these rings to anyone as they performed horribly. Since Shimano no longer offers 74/110mm chainrings, I'm trying QBP Engagement rings, mainly because they're affordable and they have NO profile on the inner face.
      Value Rating: 1 Overall Rating: 1

      Submitted by Ray Bass a Weekend Warrior from Madison,WI USA
      Date Reviewed: 4/7/2001 1:20:18 AM
      FavoriteTrail: Baird's Creek, GRB, WI
      Duration Product Used: 3 months
      Price Paid: $20
      Purchased At: Cambria.com
      Strengths: None, I guess.
      Weaknesses: Purchased a 32t 94mm ring for a XT 5-bolt crank. When shifting from the middle to the granny gear, the chain drops directly between the two rings instead of onto the granny. VERY annoying!
      Similar Products Tried: Shimano XT
      Bike Setup: '98 Moab
      Bottom Line: Pay the extra cash for Shimano rings, which have better ramps and correct thickness.
      Value Rating: 2 Overall Rating: 2

      Submitted by Jefftallica Fisher a Cross Country Rider from Tempe, AZ
      Date Reviewed: 3/12/2000 9:13:13 PM
      FavoriteTrail: Corona Loma, biatch
      Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
      Strengths: Shifts well, looks cool, STIFF, should last a while, light
      Weaknesses: costs a lot unless you buy wholesale (like I did)
      Similar Products Tried: Sugino rings (C-R-A-P), Shimano STX
      Bike Setup: 98 rockhopper with an indy c
      Bottom Line: i only own a middle Real ring. i had to replace the outer and middle ring after the sheisse sugino rings i was using gave out. so, i bought a real middle and a Raceface outer. both should, ideally, last a long time since i sprang for the fancy-schmancy hard coated versions. the Real is nickel-plated, the Raceface is hard-anodized. both rings, besides being noticeably lighter than the 6061 rings they replaced, are a hella lot stiffer than my previous rings. they also shift well and interface fine with my specialized crank and LX front shifter. all that talk about staying with an "all shimano" system is just a load of bunk.
      Value Rating: 5 Overall Rating: 5

      Submitted by ben florie a Cross-Country Rider from reisterstown, maryland
      Date Reviewed: 7/9/1999
      Duration Product Used: 3 months
      Strengths: nickel coating works, light, one of few brands making 110bc 44t ring, wears great, shifts even better
      Weaknesses: pricey as f$&%
      Similar Products Tried: blackspire
      Bike Setup: gt, cook RSRs
      Bottom Line: i paid $95 for my combo. they have been used hard and still shift better than anything i've ever seen. i've had them a few months, rode hard, and the nickel coating is still intact, even on the teeth! my old blackspires wore beyond real use in 3 rides!
      Overall Rating: 5

      Submitted by Doug Taylor a Weekend Warrior from Farmington, CT
      Date Reviewed: 4/30/1999
      FavoriteTrail: West Hartford Reservoir
      Duration Product Used: 1 Year
      Strengths: Look nice
      Weaknesses: Very poor shifting - sometimes none at all!!
      Similar Products Tried: Shimano XT
      Bike Setup: '96 Litespeed Obed, Manitou shocks
      Bottom Line: I bought the small 58bc x 22t and middle 94bc x 34t REAL Rings. Sure, they look nice, but the shifting is very poor when going from the small to the middl e ring. I have to hold the rapidfire shifter past it's normal clicked position to shift! I've tried adjusting the front derailure to no avail. Never had problems with Shimano XT so unless someone has a suggestion I'm going back.What a waste of $$$ on this supposed upgrade! REAL deal? I don't think so!!!
      Overall Rating: 1

      Submitted by Jim Frost a Cross-Country Rider from Watertown, MA
      Date Reviewed: 4/5/1999
      FavoriteTrail: Bow Ridge @ Lynn Woods
      Duration Product Used: more than 3 years
      Strengths: They last a long time.
      Weaknesses: Ramps get chewed up fast, don't shift as well as XT.
      Similar Products Tried: Shimano STX, XT.
      Bike Setup: Sugino 700 crankset, Sachs chains, Shimano XT RF+ shifters and derailleurs.
      Bottom Line: These are the first (and so far, only) products I ever bought simply because they were gorgeous. The machine work is incredible.The big ring has been great, still using it after 3 years. I don't spend a lot of time in the big ring but it has taken more than a few impacts on rocks and the only damage is 3 broken teeth. Very impressive.The middle ring was shot in about 2 years, which I considered a pretty good lifespan (especially for an Al part). Maybe that coating really helps. None of my local shops had 32T replacements so I had to go with a 34T. Other than making it harder than hell to stay in the middle ring there was no noticable difference.I always had some problems with the granny-to-middle shift; it worked, but I had to hold it to get it to lock in. When I wore out the granny this year I decided to go back to the 32T, but *nobody* has them anymore! Most places have stopped selling Real chainrings completely. A few still stocked a variety of sizes -- but not 32T. I'm told that Real got bought by someone and has been having some manufacturing problems.Since I have no need for a new 34T I went with an XT -- and immediately noticed the improvement in shifting performance. I don't know about longevity yet (prior to the Real rings I used STX and they died in less than a year) but right now I would recommend XT over the Real middle ring any day -- it's cheaper and shifts much better.The granny -- I can't say enough good things about the granny I bought in '95. It started chainsucking last fall, three years later. It outlived my expectations by a good two years easy, what a great buy.When it started chainsucking like mad last fall it got put on my replacement list and I got the new one last weekend (along with the XT middle). The new one is nowhere near the quality of the old one; it's stamped rather than machined and seems to be a different grade of steel. I'm not impressed so far -- stamped steel is pretty lame for something this expensive -- but if it lasts like the old one I'll still be happy.Ratings:4 stars for the middle, great longevity but only mediocre shifting. 5 stars for the granny and large rings for toughness.2 stars for the new granny due to poor craftsmanship. I dunno what happened from '95 to '99 but it wasn't good.
      Overall Rating: 3

      Submitted by Jon a Cross-Country Rider from State College PA
      Date Reviewed: 4/1/1999
      FavoriteTrail: Tussey Mt.
      Duration Product Used: 2 Years
      Strengths: Last forever
      light weight
      look good
      not too pricey
      Weaknesses: ramps wear over time, could use some pins
      Similar Products Tried: Shimano XT
      Action Tec ti inner
      Bike Setup: Cr-mo hardtail, 98 SX-R fork, ESP/old XT drivetrain
      Bottom Line: These have held up well to over 2 years of pounding. I'm light-140 lbs, but I ride hard and do lots of rocky trails and downed trees. I've lost part of 1 tooth from the big ring, but shifting and pedaling haven't suffered at all. I use 46 outer and 34 middle on an old(1992) XT crank, and these went on very well. They look neat, too, with the nickel coating. My only gripe is their lack of pins, which would keep the shifting as good as new over time. It's not a big deal, though, since they still work well.
      Overall Rating: 5

      Submitted by Phil... a cross-country rider from Alaska
      Date Reviewed: 1/17/1999
      Bottom Line: My friend used to use real rings on his Campy MTB crank (Yes Campy once made MTB components, too bad they still dont...), and they were awsome. They shifted fine, and were TOUGH. He weighs around 180 lbs, and rides down stair cases, up onto picnic tables, which he then jumps off... he is also famous for using the outer ring as a third wheel while he is grinding up some object that bikes were never meant to be ridden on... he is kind of half BMX half trials rider.
      The point is that the Real rings never flinched (neither did the Campy cranks...aluminum, but tough as Iron), however, the Cannondale frame he rode finnally cracked in two...
      Overall Rating: 5

      Submitted by IGGH a cross-country rider from Victoria CANADA
      Date Reviewed: 11/24/1998
      Bottom Line: I like these. I have virtuall all XTR components. I wanted RaceFace cranks and an XT BB as I am a heavier guy than most and it seemed like a good robust alternative to the XTR crank/BB system. This opened the door for ring options and I chose Real.Here's a couple of things you should know. I should have known them too. It would have saved a bit of aggravation.The crux of the problem arose when I tried to use REAL compact 22-32-42 rings with my XTR E-type front derailleur. According to Shimano, the XTR front derailleurs can only be used with standard rings. XT and lesser can be used with compact. Strange but true. There is no compact-compatible XTR front derailleur.XTR front derailleurs can manage a minimum of 24 teeth and a maximum of 48 teeth. For smaller (compact) grannies (18, 20, 22) you must use XT or below.So I changed my rings to be 24-34-42 and increased the ring spacing a bit as a separate solution. Now the rings shift like butter using the XTR rapid-fire pod. Unfortunately, my LBS was not able to obtain a REAL 24 tooth granny immediately so I'm using a Black Spire in that position with REAL 34 and 42 tooth rings. Its a fine ring too. Oh well.... I can only assume that a REAL 24-tooth granny would work as well (and would have been my preference - only from a cosmetic prespective.In summary, ring spacing and tooth-count are both critical factors in successful shifting. Don't assume that all derailleurs will work with all ring sizes. I am able to continue using my IG-90 chain as the spacing modification added to the solution.Thanks again to Physical Culture for excellent service and a willingness to solve problems. As for Real, they did answer my email although they did not specifically solve the problem. It seems that the XTR/compact incompatibility issue is not well known. Having said that, the compact rings did shift with the XTR derailleur albeit poorly and with a lot of free-spinning. Ouch.I reiterate, with proper tooth selection and set-up, these rings shift like butter. They seem perfectly compatible with XTR rapidfire pods and my E-type XTR front derailleur.Five flaming triple-coilers with a DQ twist.
      Overall Rating: 5

      Submitted by Brad a cross-country rider from Crown Point
      Date Reviewed: 9/16/1998
      Bottom Line: GREATGREATGREATGREATGREAT!!! Here's why. I made the mistake of buying a Paul's front derailleur (at about 85% off, thank God). If anyone wants to know how poorly this thing works go to the review of it. I switched to Real rings and now even that piece of crap derailleur now shifts flawlessly. 5 big fat steaming chilli rellenos!
      Overall Rating: 5

      Submitted by R.Berta from San Francisco, Ca.
      Date Reviewed: 8/17/1998
      Bottom Line: Replaced the stock Sugino Impel rings on my Proflex Animal when the old ring teeth were worn down to the nubbs. The old Sugino shifted pretty good with Grip Shift that had a XT derailer F/R with heavier spring in back and roller in back. Got the Real Rings in a full set of 20-32-42. Surprisingly they are still very good shape after 1500 miles although I don't ride over logs (sure tooth killer). Plating still pretty much intact although I suspect that when it finally goes the rings will wear much quicker. But that plating does seem to provide a dramatic reduction in wear. I noted that the teeth also seem to be much less prone to hooking and gouging from rocks that get thrown into chain. The ramps on my compact system work very well. I would recommend that you take the time to correctly setup the F'/R derailers to optimize the shifting....and make sure the chain line is correct. The biggest concern I had was the use of a alloy granny gear instead of the steel one I had before. The cog seems to be wearing just fine....not rapid wear. These are normally expensive although I got the set for a steal as a loss leader for a mail order place. Something like $45 or under for the three of them. Haven't found any after market rings that are any better shifting....although the anodized Sugino wear pretty good shifting....just short lived. In fact I may be getting some new race face cranks and will probably transfer the rings to the new cranks.
      Overall Rating: 4

      Submitted by B.A. a cross-country rider from Crown Point
      Date Reviewed: 7/30/1998
      Bottom Line: I've used a Real 34T for my middle ring for two years now and recently installed a Real 44T large ring and they've both been flawless. I switched to the Real large ring because I made the mistake of buying a Pauls front derailleur (at a very cheap price) and needed an easy shifting large ring. My shifts through all the gears are great, even with that crap derailleur. Anyone who is having problems with shifting, don't blame these rings. Perhaps you should stop letting 15 year old minimum wage bike shop employees set up your bike.
      Overall Rating: 5

      Submitted by mike a racer
      Date Reviewed: 6/24/1998
      Bottom Line: nice rings, they shift similar to XT, as with all rings they need to be set up properly....ie chainline/ BB. the plating does tarnish with salt or sweat and if you happen to bend the large ring the plating cracks and flakes off exposing the alum. below. overall very nice, for pure performance though go with shimano, despite their ugliness
      Overall Rating: 4

      Submitted by Daniel Wentz a racer from California
      Date Reviewed: 6/16/1998
      Bottom Line: I just recently purchased a middle and outer aluminum chainrings for my bike. I have yet to have any problems with them. They are lighter then hell. To put it simplely the RULE. All my friends that have them agree with me. I belive REAL makes quality products. LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST, AND RIDE HARD
      Overall Rating: 5

      Submitted by J.D. a cross-country rider from Memphis
      Date Reviewed: 3/1/1998
      Bottom Line: I went out and bought all three rings to go on my
      sweetwings, and these rings suck !!! They are a total
      waste of my money. The ramps suck !!! Especially on the
      big ring. The damn thing won't shift. I hate country music
      and I hate these rings!!! Maybe they'll make a cool $120 windchime.
      Overall Rating: 1

      Submitted by Chris a cross-country rider from Manitoulin Island
      Date Reviewed: 2/5/1998
      Bottom Line: Got em' on my bike and they wore right down from all the logs and stuff that I'm grinding my rings on (I'm talking about my big 44 specifically)- So, kind of a drag for me as I had to get a new big ring, and being anal retentive when it comes to my drive train I had to get all new rings, chain, and cog set. Bought some from the competition (Shimano!!) that so far are a lot better!
      Overall Rating: 2

      Submitted by Sherman a weekend warrior from British Columbia, Canada
      Date Reviewed: 1/17/1998
      Bottom Line: I got all three. The big one is pretty good the ramps are great on it. The middle one on the other hand is not so hot. The ramps are not very good. They do not grab the chain very well so upshifts from the granny to the middle ring is tough. I would suggest like a lot of people here, to get a shimano middle ring. The small one is good but basically you can go with anything in that area. Just make sure it is steel. I am gonna have to give these rings a low rating because I find that it is very important to have good shifting between the middle and small chainring. Also it frustrates me a lot when I try to shift but it just won't grab and it grinds like crazy trying to get onto the middle ring.
      Overall Rating: 2

      Submitted by John a cross-country rider from Chicago
      Date Reviewed: 12/14/1997
      Bottom Line: While I love the looks and performance of the rings the nickel plating wore off over the winter. It is probable that the early demise of the plating was caused by the salt on the roads, though I didn't do much commuting. Go figure.Be warned. Don't ride these in the presence of salt. They'll look like shit in no time!5 chilis for performance.2 chilis for durability.
      Overall Rating: 3

      Submitted by Ineeda Raes a cross-country rider from Andover,CT 06232
      Date Reviewed: 12/11/1997
      Bottom Line: These rings are very long lasting. BUT, they don't climb up to the bigger ring as well as Shimano (Only other refrence, pre-IG). The ramps wore out too quick, and the attached grabbers work better. Two years of riding - Winter Mud Everything, and they're just starting to wear out. Lubed my chain every other ride, and kept it two years (HG90). I'm going back to Shimano.
      Overall Rating: 3

      Submitted by Pete a cross-country rider from Bellevue, WA
      Date Reviewed: 11/15/1997
      Bottom Line: Superb quality, nicely machined ramps, smooth shifting, no chain suck. They're great!
      Overall Rating: 5

      Submitted by ML a downhiller from SF, CA
      Date Reviewed: 10/28/1997
      Bottom Line: Put Real rings on my race face crank and it's an incredible combo. Great shifting and very tough. Just as smooth or smoother then shimono rings. Pretty light to.
      Overall Rating: 5

      Submitted by shelter a racer from dc
      Date Reviewed: 10/18/1997
      Bottom Line: I got the entire set brand new for free from a shop I worked at. The owner went insane the employees got some good deals. They look good as my hairless butt, light as a fart, strong as my spinchter muscle, and work as well as shimano. Did I mention they look good? I have raced them for two years and not even a scratch. I know these will last for many races to cum.
      Overall Rating: 5

      Submitted by VIGILANTE a cross-country rider from MI
      Date Reviewed: 9/17/1997
      Bottom Line: I've been running a full set of Real rings for well over a year now and I have been very pleased. I've ridden and raced them in ALL weather conditions and trail types, which they have yet to miss a beat! The nickel coating has just started to wear off of the teeth as is expected of any plated surface under the type of abuse hard-core mountain biking delivers. They're light, shift well, and of course look great. I would reccomend them to anyone as a serious upgrade.
      Overall Rating: 5

      Submitted by Scott from cross-country rider
      Date Reviewed: 9/12/1997
      Bottom Line: Ive ridden a Real 42 tooth and 32 tooth for a year and some change. Ive also ridden Cook Bros., Sugino and Shimano rings, for reference. These rings are pretty sweet. Great shifting and theyre pretty tough. Im not sure on the weight, though. They have a pretty slick look, too, so all in all, worth it.
      Overall Rating: 5

      Submitted by Bill Manry a cross-country rider from Los Gatos, CA
      Date Reviewed: 5/11/1997
      Bottom Line: I'm using Real 36t/46t (and an Onza Buzzsaw steel 24t granny) with Sachs M-90 chain and Sachs Quartz derailleur. Chainring shifting is smooth and quiet. I only have about 500 miles on this setup but the rings look about the same as when new. I'm sure their granny would be fine as well but the stainless Onza is cheaper, probably will last longer, and there's no need for shifting ramps on an inner ring.
      Overall Rating: 5

      Submitted by Bang a cross-country rider
      Date Reviewed: 4/30/1997
      Bottom Line: Just put these on the other day.
      The ramps work very well, better than my previous Sugino rings.
      Shifting is more precise than it's ever been
      I hope the 20T granny holds up.
      Overall Rating: 5

      Submitted by Mike Lavander a weekend warrior from Canton, MI
      Date Reviewed: 4/8/1997
      Bottom Line: These rings look bad as hell. Especially on a set of gold Race Face cranks.
      They dont shift as well as Shimano, but with the HUGE weight savings, who gives a shit???
      Be sure to replace the chain every 300 miles or so, or kiss these babies goodbye.
      Aluminum and dirt dont mix well when it comes to long wear.
      Overall Rating: 4

      Submitted by Douglas Newman a racer from New York City
      Date Reviewed: 3/27/1997
      Bottom Line: Great rings. They stand up to logs and have worn well. I just installed my second set and am looking forward to beating the crap out of them all season.
      Overall Rating: 5

      Submitted by Dave Radziewicz a racer from Wrightsville, PA
      Date Reviewed: 3/18/1997
      Bottom Line: These are some of the toughest chainrings that I've ever used. I've put
      over 1500 miles on these rings and they still work perfectly. Even
      ridding through the mud and snow of this winter did not damage them, not
      even the logs or rocks that the outer ring hit could break a tooth off.
      These rings are a definite best buy for the durability and performance
      they deliver.
      Overall Rating: 5

      Submitted by Enigma from Seattle
      Date Reviewed: 2/21/1997
      Bottom Line: They look killer, but the nickel plating is quickly chipping off the teeth, so they're really no stronger then any other CNC chainrings. I'm also geting chain suck off the middle ring. They really are killer looking though. And strong. I've allready smacked them into several picnic tables and road dividers, and they're still round and got all their teeth. Best of the aftermarket.
      Overall Rating: 4

      Submitted by Chris Wells a cross-country rider from Macon, GA
      Date Reviewed: 2/19/1997
      Bottom Line: At my LBS's suggestion, when my Coda chainwheels wore out on my Cannondale, I replaced them with Reals (22-32-42). At the same time, I replaced my chain (now Sachs 90), my cassette and upgraded my shifter cables with the Gore-tex Ride-ons. The improvement in shifting and power transfer was dramatic. Scientifically, given the other upgrades, it is impossible to attribute all of the new, better performance to the Reals, but they deserve a lot of the credit. The look good and are light but solid. Given the cost of other upgrades, these days and the relative importance of the drivetrain, I'd say that the money for the Reals was well spent. They are hot enough for all the peppers.
      Overall Rating: 5

      Submitted by Joe Karwoski a racer from Spokane WA
      Date Reviewed: 12/20/1996
      Bottom Line: I bought my real ring about a year ago and suprisingly It has outlasted my cranks, chain, cassette, etc.... If you are a racer - this is the ultimate investment.
      This is the only aftermarket chainring I've ever heard of that is an upgrade in performance to shimano. It's also semi-light, stiff, has a high coolness factor, and shifts gooooooooood. Bonus - The outer chainring comes with one of those little things that stop your chain from jamming between the ring and the crank!!!!
      Overall Rating: 5

      Submitted by Andy Friefeld a cross-country rider from Tucson, AZ
      Date Reviewed: 11/3/1996
      Bottom Line: I've had one set of Real rings (20/32/42) for about a year now. Not only do the ramps work like everyone else says in their review, but they last. I do 50-80 miles most weeks and replace the chain every 3 months or so and my rings are still not worn. My original Sugino rings lasted 4 months before the chain was skipping. The outer ring stands up to rocks, too.
      Overall Rating: 5

      Submitted by abdul winks a cross-country rider from victoria
      Date Reviewed: 10/30/1996
      Bottom Line: i didn't buy the Reals. I bought the Blackspire rings which are made in
      Canada. They have the same shape, thickness, materials and ramps as the Reals but cost one third less. They do not have the nickel coating. Instead'they are a matte grey colour which still looks cool.
      These rings are tough. I've been abusing them alot after a recent storm blew down dozens of large trees across my favourite trail. No nicks or bent teeth yet. I'll admit that shifting is not quite as super-crisp as Shimano rings, but for the price, durability and availability of sizes, these are a much better choice.
      Overall Rating: 5

      Submitted by Frank a cross-country rider from Huntington Beach
      Date Reviewed: 8/20/1996
      Bottom Line: Replaced 26T with REAL 24, hard to believe aluminum granny has lasted as long as it has, virtually no wear. Because it is a little thicker, I think it has a tendency toward a little chain suck, but it makes me keep it cleaner.
      Overall Rating: 5

      Submitted by Allen Han a cross-country rider from Redmond, WA
      Date Reviewed: 6/24/1996
      Bottom Line: Shifting with these rings are compatible with Shimano rings. There are shifting ramps machined on the inside of each rings worked really well. Real hard anodize all aluminum rings so the durability factor is better than other aluminum rings.
      Overall Rating: 4

      Submitted by Dan K. from truckee
      Date Reviewed: 6/24/1996
      Bottom Line: I have their 46/34/24 combo and it rules! Light, strong, and shifting is so good thanks to the ramps. Cost is somewhat high (85 by mailorder) but they seem to be wearing extremely well. Hardness is a 60Rockwell which is twice the industry standard so I've been told. They even have a unique look to them.
      Overall Rating: 5

      Submitted by Francis a racer from Campbell, CA
      Date Reviewed: 5/25/1996
      Bottom Line: This is the only aftermarket chainring that actually works. It's got shifting ramps that make front shifting quite good. The hardened finish makes it very durable as well. The bonus is that it is available in a lot more sizes than Shimano.
      Overall Rating: 5



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