Road Cycling - Chainrings: SRAM Red or Stronglight CT2?

I want to try some new chainrings, and am considering either SRAM Red (http://www.competitivecyclist.com/road-bikes/product-components/2009-sram-red-outer-chainring-5831.1737.0.html) or Stronglight CT2 (http://fairwheelbikes.com/stronglight-ct2-chainring-130x53t-p-1433.html). The Stronglights are lighter of course and marginally cheaper (the 53T is much less but the 39T is more), but how is the shifting? Does anyone have any experience with them? I am also concerned with the stiffness in general as it may affect the power metering. And finally, since no matter how much I may try to confine the question to only these two, I know you guys will offer other suggestions anyway... so what else should I consider?

I have the T Alize chainring in the big...i could care less about the small ring as there is really no flex there. i had a DA ring on there but they are expensive.

DA shift the best but how much time do you really spend shifting up to the big ring, it shifts fine (the TA ring, just not as good as DA)

I have the T Alize chainring in the big...i could care less about the small ring as there is really no flex there. i had a DA ring on there but they are expensive.

DA shift the best but how much time do you really spend shifting up to the big ring, it shifts fine (the TA ring, just not as good as DA)

How does your TA ring compare to the specialized ring? This is for my s-works crank.

Stronglight chainrings are very high quality, imo. I bought a set of them for my track bike and haven't been disappointed. Granted, I can't comment on the shift quality though =D

Any hint as to what got bleeped out?

Any hint as to what got bleeped out?

Haha, i meant to write shift.

I'd go for the Stronglight rings. They are a specialist in those fields. Sram has to make everything. They are also most likely overcharging for mediocre replacement rings. I would either buy the Stronglight rings, or if stiffness is a big priority, some of the new TA Squale rings.
http://fairwheelbikes.com/ta-squale-chainring-130-bcd-p-1075.html

I'd go for the Stronglight rings. They are a specialist in those fields. Sram has to make everything. They are also most likely overcharging for mediocre replacement rings. I would either buy the Stronglight rings, or if stiffness is a big priority, some of the new TA Squale rings.
http://fairwheelbikes.com/ta-squale-chainring-130-bcd-p-1075.html

that looked interesting but it was a little more than I wanted to spend and I didn't see a matching inner ring. I'll probably go with the stronglight, I just wanted to see if anyone had any firsthand experpience with them.

great chance to try Rotor Q rings

You might consider getting TA chainrings from Peter White Cycles.

Here is the web site: http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/chainrings.asp

I purchased a set for my S-Works compact 50/34 but I have yet to place them on the crank.

I had Stronglight rings. They sucked donkey balls. Wore the little one out in a month. I don't think they were the CT2 model though.

I run Stronglight 53 and 39 T rings on one of my bikes with a Fission crankset. The rings work quite well and the shifting is identical to my DA rings on another bike.

that looked interesting but it was a little more than I wanted to spend and I didn't see a matching inner ring. I'll probably go with the stronglight, I just wanted to see if anyone had any firsthand experpience with them.

I had some stronglight rings on some fsa kforce cranks, and when the cranks died I just bought an entirely new crankset - Dura-Ace.

I was stunned by the difference in shift quality going to the big ring. dura-ace blew the stronglight rings away.

Interesting reading the post above as my experience is quite different! The bike was setup the same besides the cranks...

Stronglight, the CT2 are great rings.

I have the Zyrcal rings and they shift well. Very lightweight rings if you are into that sort of thing. The CT2 is reputed harder wearing. I ordered some Stronglight replacement rings from Wise Cycle Buys last week - nice guys and very fast shipping.

The SRAM Red chainrings are/were very flexy. I'd avoid them until the new generation has been on the road for a while.

I've had both. I'd buy CT2's everytime between the two.

the TA rings are considerably stiffer than the specialized ones were. they shift about the same, but as i mentioned, how often are you and i jumping to or from the big ring?

the TA rings are considerably stiffer than the specialized ones were. they shift about the same, but as i mentioned, how often are you and i jumping to or from the big ring?

Not that often but when you crest a climb in a race you want it to shift reasonably quickly, not think about it for a while... Anyway, I ordered the Stronglights...

Not that often but when you crest a climb in a race you want it to shift reasonably quickly, not think about it for a while... Anyway, I ordered the Stronglights...

You'll be happy with them. I ran them on my SL -Sowrks on the Specialized cranks. They were a lot better than the crappy specialized ones. You can also pick them up on Ebay for really cheap for a set.... which is another plus.

Is there a compelling reason to change from a DA chainring?

Is there a compelling reason to change from a DA chainring?
No.

Is there a compelling reason to change from a DA chainring?

No way! DA is the standard.

Is there a compelling reason to change from a DA chainring?


No.


No way! DA is the standard.

Well I don't have DA rings...

And I don't have any Shimano on my bike, so I'm not going to start now :p

Currently riding Red rings and I have never once felt any flex on them. I have had no issues with the rings and shifting, just with the Red FD but that is for a different thread.

Let me know how the new rings work. My Specialized rings suck. Its hit and miss to get the chain to shift up into the big ring. The finish is also peeling on the edges. I'm going to swap out the big ring soon.

Which rings perform well and look good on the Specialized cranks? The DA rings work great, but look out of place on the Specialized cranks. Anyone have pics of the Stronglight or Sram rings on the Specialized cranks?

don't mean to hijack the thread :)

I think the stronglights will look cool because they are black and the cranks are black. There are also fairly open as opposed to the s-works rings which are more solid, as are the Red and DA rings. I have FSA rings on my S900 right now and was using the standard SRAM rings before which worked pretty well and I think looked nice int he gunmetal gray finish.

I want to try some new chainrings, and am considering either SRAM Red (http://www.competitivecyclist.com/road-bikes/product-components/2009-sram-red-outer-chainring-5831.1737.0.html) or Stronglight CT2 (http://fairwheelbikes.com/stronglight-ct2-chainring-130x53t-p-1433.html). The Stronglights are lighter of course and marginally cheaper (the 53T is much less but the 39T is more), but how is the shifting? Does anyone have any experience with them? I am also concerned with the stiffness in general as it may affect the power metering. And finally, since no matter how much I may try to confine the question to only these two, I know you guys will offer other suggestions anyway... so what else should I consider?

I have used the RED and have had absolutely no problems with them. I just purchased the Rotor Q rings and am amazed already at the difference they make when climbing/sprinting out of the saddle. Also, reduced my leg fatigue quite a bit for a given workload. Check em out online. I was hard pressed to find someone to speak ill of them. Best of luck and show us what you end up with.

Is there a compelling reason to change from a DA chainring?

Yes, if you want to decide your own gearing. I have TA chainrings on my touring rig because I wanted 48-38-24. Shimano doesn't make those for their road triple cranks. Anyone want some never used Shimano chainrings?