Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Chainring selection/reviews

Looking for reviews on the sugino/duraace line of chainrings, or any others that you feel are truly worth mention. 144 BCD only, for my purpouses at least.
I'll spend what I need to for quality, but not much extra for bling.

get a soma hellyer chainring, much better.
http://store.somafab.com/sohech.html

I don't have it yet but I'm ordering a custom made chainring from AU. It's from a company called cycle underground and that is almost all they make. You get to choose one of twelve designs and they will make any combination of bcd and teeth that you want. you can even choose between different thicknesses! best part is that it will be about as expensive as a sugino messenger chainring. I'll post a review when mine arrives in a week or two.

Stoked to hear the review! They're site looks cool. I wonder if they would do a custom design for you (me).

get a soma hellyer chainring, much better.
http://store.somafab.com/sohech.html

Why is the hellyer chainring much better?

Also interested in how the soma one is better than unspecified others- have you tried several?

I don't have it yet but I'm ordering a custom made chainring from AU. It's from a company called cycle underground and that is almost all they make. You get to choose one of twelve designs and they will make any combination of bcd and teeth that you want. you can even choose between different thicknesses! best part is that it will be about as expensive as a sugino messenger chainring. I'll post a review when mine arrives in a week or two.

Thank you renton: I checked their website, and these guys are winners through and through. I am very much interested in technical details, and to me it seems they checked all my checkboxes: chainring material, tooth shape, availability of 1/8", any BCD and T.

It's really strange that they even exist, as most cyclists don't distinguish (or aren't even interested) between alloys, let alone chainring tooth machining details. I wish them good luck and prosperity, as they could, as a side-effect, educate a portion of the cycling community.

P.S. I really like it that they also offer the option of unpolished (and hence cheaper) chainrings, for those of us who are not so hung up on looks, and would rather save Us$30 or us$45, than to have the "oooohh... shiny!" Nothing wrong being obsessed with looks... I guess... it's just nice that they cater to the rest of us, too.

I'll post a review when mine arrives in a week or two.

One thing, renton: when you review your chainring, please pay special attention to roundness: it's the one thing they *might* get wrong. I tend to notice even the slightest ovality, and it bugs me.

What are the specs of the chainring you are ordering?

Yep, roundness is one of my biggest concerns, and it'll require a CNC with either zero backlash, or a very good feedback/encoder system, plus the fixturing must be nearly perfect

Lots of input, huh?
I knew I should have just asked which matched my deepVs best...

Lots of input, huh?
I knew I should have just asked which matched my deepVs best...

Haha, yeah, this is the fixed gear guy's subforum, after all (I feel a bit of a stranger, being a SS dude myself, and being into technical stuff rather than bling).

Well, I can give you my input: the only chainrings that I strongly recommend against are the Rocket Rings, mainly because of the very poor aluminum alloy they're, apparently, made of (they claim they're made of 6061, which is indeed not very hard, but I doubt they're using even that alloy). It's more like a mixture of butter and styrofoam. They are cheap, but they last very little. It's not even that the teeth wear rapidly (they most certainly do), no, they DEFORM! And they do it almost so quickly, you feel stupid for buying them. It's not only the money you threw out for that garbage: it's the work you do to put them on your bike and then get them off after a few weeks. They are so bad, you might just as well save yourself some effort and put them in the trash as soon as you receive them.

So if anyone who tells you that you get what you pay for when you get Rocket Ring chainrings, rest assured that it's BS.

Too bad Salsa doesn't offer any 144mm BCD chainrings. I have been using Salsa chainrings with much satisfaction. I am pedantic when it comes to wear-resistance of my components, and follow them scrupulously. Well, I used to before I got married - now I don't have that much time anymore. The Salsa chainrings have impressed me with their longevity and precise machining.


EDIT: I would strongly recommend you avoid any chainrings made of 6061, whether Rocket Ring or otherwise. Salsa makes them of 7075, which is almost twice as hard. Vuelta, for example, only makes the granny rings out of 7075.

while I do not have experience with every chainring available, I have picked up the belief that it is generally true that the more you pay, the better (read: rouder, higher quality material) the chainring is. dura ace, higher end sugino, campagnolo...those are the only rings I purchase when seeking top quality.

while I do not have experience with every chainring available, I have picked up the belief that it is generally true that the more you pay, the better (read: rouder, higher quality material) the chainring is. dura ace, higher end sugino, campagnolo...those are the only rings I purchase when seeking top quality.

Not necessarily. For instance, I never understood what justifies the price of the Sugino 75. Sugino themselves don't even try - it's all a myth and magic kind of affair. In other words, it smells of hype. I will be hated for saying this, I know. FG guys just love the Sugino 75. (That said, even more overpriced and hyped is the Sugino 75 crankset. Absolutely NOTHING justifies that kind of price of what are essentially two pieces of forged aluminum. I can just imagine how hated I will be for saying that - I'll get cancer for sure.)

I have bought one of the chain rings from Cycle Underground (http://www.cycleunderground.com.au/chainringdesigns.htm), it arrived during the week, and yet to be used
I can have it measured up.
What are the tests of 'roundness' you would like to have checked? I have mates who can measure it.
John from Cycle Underground has provided some information on his manufacturing process
page 1 (http://www.cycleunderground.com.au/chainringproduction1.htm) page 2 (http://www.cycleunderground.com.au/productcomingsoon1.htm) page 3 (http://www.cycleunderground.com.au/chainringjigcloseup2.htm)

I have bought one of the chain rings from Cycle Underground (http://www.cycleunderground.com.au/chainringdesigns.htm), it arrived during the week, and yet to be used
I can have it measured up.
What are the tests of 'roundness' you would like to have checked? I have mates who can measure it.
John from Cycle Underground has provided some information on his manufacturing process
page 1 (http://www.cycleunderground.com.au/chainringproduction1.htm) page 2 (http://www.cycleunderground.com.au/productcomingsoon1.htm) page 3 (http://www.cycleunderground.com.au/chainringjigcloseup2.htm)

Just install the chainring on your bike and then tension the chain really well - much more than you normally would - and then turn the pedals with your hands, slowly. If the pedals offer a uniform resistance, then you have yourself a nice, round chainring.

As for Dura Ace, I have experience with Dura Ace 130BCD rings, only.

However, regarding Sugino, I recently purchased a Sugino 75 Track ring, the one that looks more like a conventional road ring than the Zen or Messenger rings.

The Sugino 75 Track ring exceeds any design and engineering expectations I could have possibly entertained.

Sugino addressed details that I didn't know existed until I mated the ring to my Sugino 75 crank and started closely examining them both.

The Sugino 75 Track ring retails for $125 and I got it for $97.

It looks and behaves as if it costs twice as much.

The Dura Ace 144bcd offering might match or exceed the Sugino 75, but I have no experience with the Dura Ace 144bcd rings.

FSA are good rings, just so damn heavy.

Not necessarily. For instance, I never understood what justifies the price of the Sugino 75. Sugino themselves don't even try - it's all a myth and magic kind of affair. In other words, it smells of hype. I will be hated for saying this, I know. FG guys just love the Sugino 75. (That said, even more overpriced and hyped is the Sugino 75 crankset. Absolutely NOTHING justifies that kind of price of what are essentially two pieces of forged aluminum. I can just imagine how hated I will be for saying that - I'll get cancer for sure.)

I do agree that there is a bit of an inflation due to the latest cycling craze around the world and sugino recognizing this, but prices will drop in the next few years down to levels they were several years ago. the retail prices will normalize and come back to earth.

But I disagree - the Sugino 75 ring is pretty good.

As for Dura Ace, I have experience with Dura Ace 130BCD rings, only.

However, regarding Sugino, I recently purchased a Sugino 75 Track ring, the one that looks more like a conventional road ring than the Zen or Messenger rings.

The Sugino 75 Track ring exceeds any design and engineering expectations I could have possibly entertained.

Sugino addressed details that I didn't know existed until I mated the ring to my Sugino 75 crank and started closely examining them both.

The Sugino 75 Track ring retails for $125 and I got it for $97.

It looks and behaves as if it costs twice as much.

Why don't you tell us what exactly makes the Sugino 75 chainring worth US$97. Here, take this opportunity to educate us. "The Sugino 75 Track ring exceeds any design and engineering expectations I could have possibly entertained. Sugino addressed details that I didn't know existed until I mated the ring to my Sugino 75 crank and started closely examining them both." is a lot of words that aren't really saying anything, except that they have mystical magic dust all over them.

wrooom- I have sugino 75 crank and ring and love them both. The crank is nice and stiff. I don't race at a track, but I ride pretty hard sometimes and even do "sprints" on flat straightaways.

The ring is nice and round. Almost perfectly. The chain maintains an even level of tightness no matter what position the pedals are in.

The finish on both the ring and the crank is very smooth looking. No flaws

What else do you want from a crank? How about you tell us exactly what is wrong with Sugino 75 stuff instead of just spreading your magic hate dust all over it...

wrooom- I have sugino 75 crank and ring and love them both. The crank is nice and stiff. I don't race at a track, but I ride pretty hard sometimes and even do "sprints" on flat straightaways.

The ring is nice and round. Almost perfectly. The chain maintains an even level of tightness no matter what position the pedals are in.

The finish on both the ring and the crank is very smooth looking. No flaws

What else do you want from a crank? How about you tell us exactly what is wrong with Sugino 75 stuff instead of just spreading your magic hate dust all over it...

The price, that's what is wrong.

it's cheaper than campy or dura ace...

The price, that's what is wrong.

...like I said, prices of track parts are incredibly inflated at the moment.

I have an alien crank set and their chainring is 144 no complaints here but I am not as knowledgable as some of you guys. Just an affordable part that I think has good quality.

I have an alien crank set and their chainring is 144 no complaints here but I am not as knowledgable as some of you guys. Just an affordable part that I think has good quality.

I checked their website (http://www.alienbikes.com/gear.php), and they give as much information on their chainring (and their crankset, for that matter) as Sugino does about their Sugino 75. So it is reasonable to believe that they are same in quality. I have seen track cranksets with the same specs (no specs) on eBay for less than that, even.


I am really looking forward to what renton20 and Clydesdale Scot have to say about their Cycle Underground chainrings.

Well, I did a bit of homework comparing the 5083 alloy that the Cycle Underground guys (http://www.cycleunderground.com.au/chainringdesigns.htm) use for their chainrings. While the 5083 is superior to 6061 (especially in the heat-untreated/untempered form), it severely lags compared to 7075-T6 (heat-treated 7075):

5083-0 (http://www.australwright.com.au/datasheets/alloys/Aluminium/Aluminium%205083.pdf) has a tensile strength of 275-350 MPa.
7075-T6 (http://www.alcoa.com/mill_products/catalog/pdf/alloy7075techsheet.pdf) has a tensile strength of 510-538 MPa.

After this, I am not as enthusiastic about the Cycle Underground chainrings as I was before. It has to be said that 5083 has excellent corrosion resistance, considerably better than 7075 , but who would be cycling on the beach half immersed in sea water?

the sugino 75 chainring is 7075 T6 and probably more round then the generic chainring that Alien sells (which is perfectly adequate, by the way).

the sugino 75 chainring is 7075 T6 and probably more round then the generic chainring that Alien sells (which is perfectly adequate, by the way).

The info I found on Ben's Cycle confirms that Sugino 75 chainrings are 7075-T6. but it would be nice if Sugino themselves said so. At around $100, it's still overpriced. Yes, I know what you were going to say: track equipment is such. But look at the FSA Pro chainrings (http://www.thefind.com/sports/browse-chainring-fsa-pro-track), or Miche Advanced (http://www.thefind.com/search?query=miche+advanced+chainring). They are made of the same material as the 75, but they are quite a bit cheaper (in the $60 range, both of them). And while I will openly admit that I have not tried either, I know both have good reputation. Now, psirue, if you will tell me that you tried them and are sure that they were worse than your Sugino 75 , then that will be a valuable contribution to this thread. Or if you say that you could not feel/notice any difference at all (as I suspect), that would be also a very valuable contribution.

I have no idea about the FSA and Miche chainrings -- never used them. All I know is the S75 chainring is high quality and very round.

I would not hesitate to use a Miche chainring since I have had decent experiences with their components (aside from their crap bottom bracket that I do not recommend). I know nothing about FSA, honestly, other than their Orbit headsets that I avoid.

I'm thinking of ordering a 46t Miche Advanced.
Reasonably priced = tick
Black = tick
Huge Ugly Lettering = tick. This point kinda turns me off a bit though.