Hoping for some help please. My middle chainring needs replacing and I want to replace it and ditch the outer ring at the same time to run 2×9. I’m looking for a 36t ring.

Do I need ring with ramps and pins and what exactly do they do to help shifting (do they matter if there is no 3rd chainring?).

I’ve seen deore steel ones on CRC (M510 or M532 – whats the difference?!) and also middleburn slickshift or blackspire superpro….any advice please?!

Thanks.

i’ve just gone 2×9 with a chain guide and bash on my SX trail , got a blackspire epic 6061 DH 36t ring. It’s only 1 ride old but seems to shift as well as the saint rings it replaced.

prefer Deore to Middleburn – last longer, better shifting and less suck.

ramps/pins/profiled teeth etc. help shifting from granny to middle, primarily.

I run 32t myself, but each to his own.

Whack on a steel deore, they last forever, shift well, but also keep their performance- lots of rings shift well on day one but by the time they’re half worn, things get a lot less good. The weight penalty’s way less than you’d think too.

Thanks! Does anyone know the difference in the m series for shimano?