Brit/Pole CNC wizards at it again…
Bright and early this morning, the British-based Marcin, of Absolute Black, was in touch with news of the company’s latest creation: a narrow/wide singlespeed cog. Why the alternating tooth profile? Much as on the agricultural equipment for which the concept was initially patented, singlespeed drivetrains have a fixed length. The arrangement is great when things are properly adjusted and there is no flex in the system- but as the chain stretches and angry legs do their worst, the consequences of derailment can be unpleasant.
Using the tooth profile developed for their own Spiderless Chainrings, Absolute Black claim that their Cogs help to keep a stretched chain in place on rough terrain- probably not a bad idea for the sort of maintenance-averse riders singlespeeds tend to attract. The company also notes that the narrow/wide profile makes for a cog sprocket that “should outlast any other one made from aluminum.”  Faint praise, perhaps, but a steel version is on its way. To take full advantage of those fancy teeth, a 9/10/11s chain is recommended- though anything designed for 1s-8s will work as well. Half-links will make for a very sad drivetrain- so don’t use ’em.
Of course, the Cogs also make for a great an excuse to show off Absolute Black’s mastery of both CNC and camera. Being alloy, weights are impressive: 23g, 24g, and 29g for 16t, 18t, and 20t variants. Perhaps the best part is the pricing: £29/$40 seems quite reasonable for such a unique, lightweight, and attractive piece of kit- especially one made in the EU (Poland, to be exact). 18t cogs are shipping today, the other two can be ordered now for shipment in three weeks’ time.
Nice, run a thick thin chainring on the single speed already think this could replace the bmx sprocket when i have the need for some new shiny…. or matt blacky
*Insert ‘it’s a sprocket, not a cog’ rant here*
pretty
That looks fabulous and given the work involved is a bargain at that price.
Kinda pointless? 2x as expensive for something that’ll last a fraction of the time. And an expensive mechanical solution for a niche of singlespeeders who are adverse to spending money maintaining the only maintenance task on their bike?
The only niche it’d work on is non SS frames and not using a tensioner and only then in the minority where the ‘magic ratio’ falls on an even number and didnt need a half link!
TINAS – You’re forgetting those with a chain tug, this will save those people seconds of turning an allen bolt, or wingnut a couple of degrees clockwise.