I think all those rings are going to do the job. Just depends on what you like the look of and the amount you want to spend.
For what it’s worth, Works Components 34t on my hard tail plus an X9 short cage clutch, no guide. Not dropped in maybe a month of on and off riding on that bike and I’m deliberately chucking it down the rootiest and rockiest I can find in Surrey. Okay it’s not that rocky in Surrey, but if it can (and it does) cope at full blast down “I Should Coco” then think it’s doing it’s job. More than my arms cope going down there on a hard tail but anyway 😀
Amazing things and so simple. Seem to help keep it quiet too.
I just hope SRAM’s patent doesn’t get in the way (how they managed to patent it given such an old established design I don’t know, but this was in the US and they grant anything). Hopefully a non issue outside US.
What I’m not sure about yet is on the full sus. Currently I have a guide on it. It would be fine with a ring like this for normal trail stuff, but still feel a guide may be required for Cwmcarn / Aston Hill / the Alps! / etc. I could be wrong though. Maybe when my current chainring is wearing I’ll take the guide off and try one on it.
