Cyclocross Racing - 44T Chainrings. Are they really that hard to find?

Seriously.

Since I'm no Sven Nys I want to swap my 46t for a 44t, less shifting up front while still retaining a nice range of effective gears, but I can't find a 44t, 130BCD outer chainring anywhere. And I work at a bike shop.

For shame.

too small to be a big ring of a road double, too big to be a small ring. i had trouble finding one i liked too, i ended up with a sugino messenger 44t 3/32" ring. should be available through qbp.

Really?

http://www.speedgoat.com/product.asp?part=116759&cat=30&brand=1004

I have a 44T FSA.

too small to be a big ring of a road double, too big to be a small ring. i had trouble finding one i liked too, i ended up with a sugino messenger 44t 3/32" ring. should be available through qbp.

I've seen those but wasn't sure if they would work or not.

No problems shifting?

Really?

http://www.speedgoat.com/product.asp?part=116759&cat=30&brand=1004

I guess I should clarify.

I know a 44t, 130BCD chainring exists, but none are available through any of our regular vendors.

I'm not paying that much for a chainring if I don't have to.

Orange Sport Supply carries a decent selection of FSA rings that work well for 'cross.

I've seen those but wasn't sure if they would work or not.

No problems shifting?

nope, shifts great on a nine speed. ten is probably a little more iffy because the chain is narrower.

i don't recall shop cost specifically, but it's likely to end up as much as or more than retail on the rings flargle linked to. plus it's kinda heavy for a chainring (which still isn't all that heavy).

the one thing you need to be sure of, though, is that you get a 3/32" version of the messenger. the 1/8" version won't work.

I'm not paying that much for a chainring if I don't have to.

Are you serious. It's $27.00, you must be realllly cheap.

Dura Ace cross rings are $150.

Seriously.

Since I'm no Sven Nys I want to swap my 46t for a 44t, less shifting up front while still retaining a nice range of effective gears, but I can't find a 44t, 130BCD outer chainring anywhere. And I work at a bike shop.

For shame.

Get a compact crank. This is a CX application, and CX cranks are compact cranks. At least all of the that I've seen are.

Yeah, that would require me to spend even more money.

I don't particularly need/want a compact crank. I don't foresee ever needing anything smaller than a 38t chainring.

Get a compact crank. This is a CX application, and CX cranks are compact cranks. At least all of the that I've seen are.
wtf? cx cranks are NOT specifically compact.

that advice is like recommending someone a new wheelset when they want a new tire.

wtf? cx cranks are NOT specifically compact.

that advice is like recommending someone a new wheelset when they want a new tire.

Yeah, I was going to comment on that as well.

Most CX cranks are standard since you don't really need a chainring smaller than a 38t, which still fits a 130BCD crank.

Yeah, I was going to comment on that as well.

Most CX cranks are standard since you don't really need a chainring smaller than a 38t, which still fits a 130BCD crank.

I'll argue that gearing is more subjective than you think and a lot of people out there make good use of 36 and 34 tooth chainrings. Aside from the category you race in (which loosely relates to how big a gear you could hypothetically push) there's your riding style and the local course conditions/terrain.

how big of an issue would i run into running a 9spd crank with a 10spd setup, i understand the spacing issue, but up front how nasty do you think it would be...not to jack the thread or anything but its a very similar question.

Cranks are pretty much 8/9/10 speed agnostics. Shifters, chains and cassettes get dogmatic. TA make a ring like you are looking for. I bet you could source it from Cyclocross World or Euro Asia Imports. Would be pricey. Miche also makes one in the Supertype range, but they have even worse distribution.

Yeah, I was going to comment on that as well.

Most CX cranks are standard since you don't really need a chainring smaller than a 38t, which still fits a 130BCD crank.

When I was shopping bikes, everything I saw had either a triple (commuter builds) or a what appeared to be a compact with a 36 or 38 and a 46 or 48 (cx builds). But hey, what do I know.

Also, if nobody makes the tires you want that fit the wheels you have, then suggesting different wheels isn't such a huge stretch. But hey, what do I know.

I'm sure somebody somewhere makes a square peg for that round hole. Someone always does.

I have a SINZ 44t BMX ring. It is 110BCD though.

Rocket rings makes a 110/130 bcd 44t ring. 3/32

Seriously.

Since I'm no Sven Nys I want to swap my 46t for a 44t, less shifting up front while still retaining a nice range of effective gears, but I can't find a 44t, 130BCD outer chainring anywhere. And I work at a bike shop.

For shame.

It was pretty easy for me:
http://www.loosescrews.com/index.cgi?d=single&item_id=SU-130J44

Sugino. The pins n' ramps are more important on the smaller ring.

Or go single ;)