Currently running the std XT middle, but it needs replacing.

I have been looking at the middleburn ones on CRC. (34t)

The std unramped ones are £22 or FSA are £12, the ramped and pinned/hardcoat etc. are £28

Is there any need to go for ramped and pinned or will std middle rings do the job just as well?

cheers

Dave

Blackspire Super Pro have served me well over the last few years – worth looking at

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/mountain-bike-chainrings/set-3-7075-cnc-chainrings.html

Was looking for a 34t. Those merlins are 32. don’t seem bad value though. cheers for the link

Middleburn…..look lovely, shift slick, last for ages and British.

ramped or not?

Another vote for Middleburn here.

Middleburn hardcote slickshift (i.e. ramped and pinned) – the hardcote makes them last longer in my experience and they seem to shift well…

Assuming you are running more than 1 chainring then definitely ramped. Middleburn hardcoat slickshift are great.

If your running a granny ring you need the ramped ring, Middleburn are good but just a plain old Deore ring will last as long (maybe longer) and shift as well (maybe better), could pop an LX/Hone one on if your really flush…

I just wore a middleburn hardcoat out, it served me well, but the 2nd hand LX one I popped on so I could get the last out of my chain and cassette shifts noticably better that the middleburn did.

Weight difference between the ally Middleburn ring and the steel deore is only a few gram’s..

It’s for a twin and bash.

Can you get 34tooth Deore? I didn’t think you could.

You can get 36 tooth Deore. Not sure about the 34. I would get the Steel Deore. They shift well and last longer than any other ramped ring. Weight difference is next to nothing. Its worth running an alloy granny steel middle and alloy outer IMO. Going for a 36 tooth middle always make sense to me as I can run it in that ring for more of the time and save the outer ring for the road. Also I’m thinking of going to 26 on the granny ring to get more use out of it.

Yep – steel Deore. I used to use Blackspire, which are very good and look nice. But then I realised that you can barely even see the middle ring and in any case who gives a toss? Steel Deore is functionally identical, a fraction of the price and lasts for ages.

Sorry I managed to gloss over your 34t requirment. Seths right though there is a 36t.

Surely that doesn’t particularly matter? Just use one gear shorter on the rear for a similar ratio?