Looking at CRC etc, decent (E-13/MRP/Salsa/Surly etc) singlespeed/1×9 chainrings are all £30 upwards which seems a little pricey. Are there any cheaper alternatives around?

I'm currently using a cheapo FSA ring I got for £12.99 at my LBS. Replaced the cheapo one that had lasted me two years. I think the Surly stainless steel ones would last longer, but I wouldn't have thought expensive alloy ones last all that much longer than the cheapo ones to justify the cost really.

got a not used much salsa one for 20 quid if you want dave 😉

BETD/Goldtec DH Chainrings were £15 + postage when I last looked.

What size Mick?

Ah, BETD. I knew I'd seen some cheap(ish) ones somewhere. I'll have a gander!

its 104bcd 4 arm std shimano 32t mate

I've had a couple of Blackspire ones that were good. You can usually get them for about £20 on CRC. Otherwise, I'm using one of the FSA ones mentioned above just now. It seems to be wearing a little faster than others, but it only cost about £12. If you factor in that Surly ones are reversible, as well as being harder-wearing, they are worth the money. It's worth considering a bash-guard though. They don't like rocks and logs, but you can bend them back into shape.

Already running a bash. Will be in touch Mick. Brand spankers ones on BETD are £15 so might get one of those…

Middleburn rings but without the slickshift machining are around £20 or so depending if you want the hardcoat or not.

Well, in VFM terms I'd say the Surly chainring is probably the best, as while it might be about £30, it is made of stainless and they seem to last forever!

I've got one on my SS and it's been running on there for about 4 years now with only slight signs of some wear…

I'd say that's pretty good value for money to me!

True. Plus stainless steel…. mmmmm, shiney shiney.

surly are great til they bend , ive a surly bike covered in surly bits but not a surly chainring. cogs work well tho

surly ones bend if a chainring bolt loosens, or if you're nice and lend someone a bolt 😡

alloy ones don't have that problem

BETD are out of stock of 32T

http://www.mountainbikecomponents.co.uk/items.asp?CategoryID=32&Name=Goldtec+1%2F8th+Track+and+Single+Speed+Chainrings

Goldtec
Best of the bunch..

I'd still get Surly again, even after this:

I just hammered it back into shape 🙂

that's not bent simon!

Chainrings should come with a grr-manly rating.