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TA or Blackspire chainrings?

6637 Views 20 Replies 14 Participants Last post by dom1n1k, Aug 7, 2010

Tim Arnold

Discussion Starter · Dec 23, 2009

Ok i'm thinking of changing my chainrings. I have at the moment an XT crank with 22/32/44 but thinking of goin to replace my 22 with a 28 and my 32 with a 42 or 40 and nothing on the outside. I have seen this done on another forum and apparently it works very well!

Which is lighter and better out of TA and Blackspire rings?

1 - 20 of 21 Posts

KevinK

· #2 · Dec 23, 2009

Tim Arnold said:
Ok i'm thinking of changing my chainrings. I have at the moment an XT crank with 22/32/44 but thinking of goin to replace my 22 with a 28 and my 32 with a 42 or 40 and nothing on the outside. I have seen this done on another forum and apparently it works very well!

Which is lighter and better out of TA and Blackspire rings?

Same situation, but looking at chainrings for my new crank. Between these two, I would choose TA, however, if you add Stronglight chainrings, it would be a difficult choice between Stronglight and TA chainrings.

Good luck, and let us know what you decide.

Kevin

nino

· #3 · Dec 23, 2009 (Edited)

Tim Arnold said:
Ok i'm thinking of changing my chainrings. I have at the moment an XT crank with 22/32/44 but thinking of goin to replace my 22 with a 28 and my 32 with a 42 or 40 and nothing on the outside. I have seen this done on another forum and apparently it works very well!

Which is lighter and better out of TA and Blackspire rings?

Running 2x9 on integrated triple cranksets isn't ideal: the chainline is off.You would have to compensate with placing more spacers on the right side to get the 2 remaining chainrings in a ideal position.This offsets the cranks and is also only possible if you have a 68mm BB shell where you have some spacers installed to move around.

With 2x9 you need the whole range of the cassette in the back with each chainring and therefore you need a perfect chainline.

MessagefromTate

· #4 · Dec 23, 2009

nino said:
Running 2x9 on integrated triple cranksets isn't ideal: the chainline is off.You would have to compensate with palcing more spacers on the right side to get the 2 remaining chainrings in a ideal position.This offsets the cranks and is also only possible if you have a 68mm BB shell where you have some spacers installed.

With 2x9 you need the whole range of the cassette in the back with each chainring and therefore you need a perfect chainline.

I'm doing it on a 29er (26/38) and unlike you I actually ride and have not encountered any failures.

Reactions: 1

nino

· #5 · Dec 23, 2009

MessagefromTate said:
I'm doing it on a 29er (26/38) and unlike you I actually ride and have not encountered any failures.

It's always nice when certain members can't resist to get personal...i love you and wish you a merry christmas!

Anyway - i never mentioned it would not work but rather that it will not be ideal. We all know that, you included.

Andrea138

· #6 · Dec 23, 2009

I'm guessing the TA rings will be lighter... though I went with Blackspire rings for my 2x9 conversion because I wanted durability, and had chewed up the original Truvativ rings on my crank. So far, I've really liked them.
I converted a triple Noir crank- removed the big ring, added a spacer to the right side of the BB and often take advantage of the "trim" that the gripshift offers. Not perfect, but not bad by any stretch.

G-Live

· #7 · Dec 23, 2009

Tim Arnold said:
Ok i'm thinking of changing my chainrings. I have at the moment an XT crank with 22/32/44 but thinking of goin to replace my 22 with a 28 and my 32 with a 42 or 40 and nothing on the outside. I have seen this done on another forum and apparently it works very well!

Which is lighter and better out of TA and Blackspire rings?

Depending on the frame, you may be better off with a 26/38 or even 24/36 combo for chainring clearance. I have had great luck with my Blackspire SuperPro's in both 22/36 and 24/36 set ups. For my riding/sptrt racing, I have found no need to have a "big ring" bigger than a 36 tooth. Even for "spring" finishes in sport racing. It is just about equivalent to a 42-13 ring/cog combo anyway. (Find a ratio spreadsheet or make one up for gear comparisons) Much more riding done in the lower gears in general than the 44-11/13, but 24/36 does not sound as "tough and fast" as 28/40.

G

snowdrifter

· #8 · Dec 23, 2009

TA rings are light, but wear quickly, not sure on the BS rings.

cale399

· #9 · Dec 23, 2009

I just got some FRM 26/40 rings and mounted them, but just ridden in the n-hood...will see tomorrow on the trail...I have an Anthem X1 and also added the extra spaces on the right side...and had to lower the front derl. b/c the chain was flyiing off

Tim Arnold

Discussion Starter · #10 · Dec 23, 2009

This is the kind of thing i was thinking of -
http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=496535

Seems you don't need spacers with XT cranks.

UpwardSpiral

· #11 · Dec 23, 2009

The blackspire chainrings are not the lightest thing out there. I only have the weight for the 32t 104 BCD, but it gives you an idea:

Blackspire SuperPro 32t: 52g
Shimano M760 Aluminum 32t: 43g

The rings are pretty thick. I've been told by the folks at Blackspire that the 7050 aluminum lasts a lot longer than the usual 6061. I don't have enough miles to know for myself yet.

nino

· #12 · Dec 24, 2009 (Edited)

Tim Arnold said:
This is the kind of thing i was thinking of -
http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=496535

Seems you don't need spacers with XT cranks.

They are talking about spacers between cranks and chainrings.Basically they talk about the correct distance between chainrings.It seems on XTR this is a bit different than on other cranks.

I on the other hand was talking about having to move the whole crankset assembly to the drive side to get a better chainline. So basically using spacers under the BBs to shift the cranks to the driveside.

There were a few questions regarding chainline in that thread but NONE actually measured it or could get an answer. Anyway - here's an interesting post which just reflects my thoughts:
"how is you bottom bracket spaced with this setup? are you using one 2 mm spacer on the drive side (assuming 73 mm bottom bracket)? also, do you get any rubbing on the 42 when chain is on 28-11 combo?

i ask because when i first converted my xtr to 44-30 with extralite rings, i used inner and middle positions. i had to shift the crank as far as i could to the drive side using a spacer between the bottom bracket and the crank, and the chain would still rub the 44 ring when on the 30 in front and 11, 12, and the 14 a little bit in the back. i then sanded two BB spacers down to half ,installed them on either side of the BB, and centered the bottom bracket on the frame, removed the spacer from between the crank and BB, and moved the rings to the outer and middle positions. this fixed the 30-11,12,14 problem, but made the chain line on the 44-32 combo a little off. its not as bad as with the original 3x9, but it could be better. i wonder do you have the same problems?"

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alexalecu

· #13 · Dec 24, 2009 (Edited)

Blackspire chainring weights

UpwardSpiral said:
The blackspire chainrings are not the lightest thing out there. I only have the weight for the 32t 104 BCD, but it gives you an idea:

Blackspire SuperPro 32t: 52g

The rings are pretty thick. I've been told by the folks at Blackspire that the 7050 aluminum lasts a lot longer than the usual 6061. I don't have enough miles to know for myself yet.

Here's more weights:
Blackspire SuperPro 22t 64mm BCD: 28g
Blackspire SuperPro 24t 64mm BCD: 35g
Blackspire SuperPro 32t 104mm BCD: 52g
Blackspire SuperPro 34t 104mm BCD: 61g
Blackspire SuperPro 36t 104mm BCD: 79g (I can't explain the big jump here, it's close to the next one)
Blackspire SuperPro 44t 104mm BCD: 89g
They are all 4 bolt BCD chainrings.

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cale399

· #14 · Dec 25, 2009

My 2x9 XTR setup and Merry X-mas

So here are the FRM rings (40/26) I got mounted w/3 spacers on the drive side and rode(as u can see, pics after first 14 miles ride at Blankets Creek in Canton, GA), no problems shifting, so I am happy....
and also a few pics of some X-mas upgrades just in time for The Snake Creek Gap race Jan 2nd in Dalton, GA!!!

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5

gsomtb

· #15 · Dec 27, 2009

Nicely put together.
Props.

nitropowered

· #16 · Dec 30, 2009

I find I get a better chainline in the middle and granny on my AnthemX with XT cranks. I'm gonna run 40/26. I ran a 26t today and felt it was low enough. Waiting on my 40t to come in

MessagefromTate

· #17 · Dec 30, 2009

cale399 said:
So here are the FRM rings (40/26) I got mounted w/3 spacers on the drive side and rode(as u can see, pics after first 14 miles ride at Blankets Creek in Canton, GA), no problems shifting, so I am happy....
and also a few pics of some X-mas upgrades just in time for The Snake Creek Gap race Jan 2nd in Dalton, GA!!!

Looks like your seatpost slips, there's no way that saddle angle could be comfortable...?

cale399

· #18 · Dec 30, 2009

MessagefromTate said:
Looks like your seatpost slips, there's no way that saddle angle could be comfortable...?

I think the saddle design and the angle I took pic from exaggerates it...luv saddle

erik$

· #19 · Dec 30, 2009

40/26 the TA-way:

Test mounted yesterday and with a DA fd and a 9-speed chain (will mount a 10 later today) there was barely any rub in any of the extremas when hanging in the jig. Happy happy...

And yeah; I'm the beast!

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Tim Arnold

Discussion Starter · #20 · Dec 30, 2009

I have ordered 42t middle and 28t inner TA rings for my XT cranks. Hope the 42 will fit with my frame.

When it arrives and i get it set up i will let you know what i think.

Cheers for all your help everyone.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Tim

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