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My chainrings are worn and need replacing. Just looked at Merlin and CRC. Staggered by the cost. £14 for the little ring £30 for the middle and £65 for the big. Are there any alternaives out there that are decent and don't cost an arm and a leg.
Even with Merlin's discount that still £100.
Just put Deore ones on, I can guarantee you won't notice the slightest difference - I've bought from Rose Bikes in Germany before now for chainrings, pretty damm cheap and also bought and whole triple chainset & BB (new) for £85 offf e-bay, nicked the rings and BB and relisted the cranks.
+1 for deore.
+1 for buying whole chainset and selling everything but the rings. If it's 9 speed you're after, this can be done very cheaply indeed with square taper alivio 9 speed cranks, (try woollyhatshop, crc or rosebikes.de) -the rings last very well (you have to file four little tabs out on the granny ring to fit round an external bb) and the weight difference over xt rings is about three mouthfuls of water in your bottle/camelbak.
Deore here (on XTR cranks! Pikey...). It's not just that they last miles better than posh rings, and that they don't actually weigh all that much... It's also that they keep shifting well for much longer. XT is lovely for a white but then they wear down a little and lose their sharpness.
I use SLX rings on XT cranks. I am a big fan of the Deore ones but the SLX and up is a bit nicer, particularly the steel and composite middle and the granny that is designed to help shifting. I stick with SLX as the granny is still steel not aluminium like XT.
I think the newer Deore setups have the composite middle ring and profiled inner now though and you can get them very cheap from Europe and then sell the arms and BB to make back at least half.
BigSteve - i've just ordered these yesterday http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/shimano-deore-xt-crankset-hollowtech-ii-fc-m780/aid:515740
and don't need the chainrings as i'll be using them for a 1x10 set up with my e13 ring.
Email in profile if you want the chainrings for a good price (i'd take £50 posted which is half rrp), should be here mid week i reckon.
Steve - unfortnately I have a 9 speed crankset otherwise I would have taken them.
middleburn were cheaper than shimano last time I looked.
Have a look at CRC - SLX cranks for £100 minus £10 off this weekend = £90. Cranks and BB resale new must fetch £60 here or the bay. Rings for £30 - bargtastic.
10spd rings will work with 9spd...or am I missing something here... 😕
(I ran 10spd with 9spd rings...)
So can I run 9 spd using 10 speed rings then (sorry if that's a stupid question to most 😳 )
I know you're supposed to replace the whole set but is your large ring really that worn, do you even use it much ? Would seem you could consider not replacing it or putting on a bash ring. I went to 2x9 and bash/chain device. I don't even use all the high gears when in the middle ring but I do ride very little on tarmac.
I know you're supposed to replace the whole set but
Looking at just changing the middle ring myslef (spend 90% of my time in it), is this really going to pose a problem?
Middleburn is another option for replacing middle or the whole lot. I dont think i've ever had to replace a granny or outer ring when i ran a three ring setup, just the middle. Ive now gone 2X9 with a 28/40 on the front. depending on your style of riding this is another option.
Raceface ones are good too, frequently dirt cheap on CRC. Just have to get your timing right.
+1 for Middleburn. Set of 3 less than 60 quid http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Kits.aspx?ModelID=3363
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Also available individually. I use Deore Steel inner rings, less than a tenner from Wooly Hat Shop and Middleburn middle. Never changed and outer ring.