danielmramos

I figured if any bike riders knew of a source of afffordable large chainrings (65T - 80T) that the recumbent riders would know the source. I have looked around and found that greenspeed sells large chainrings in that range; however, they can get pretty pricey in the range of $200 for one large chainring. I have also seen what the hostel shop has to offer. It would be nice if I didn't have to spend lots of time on google if anybody here knew one off of the top of thier head. FYI, I am thinking of mating a large chainring to a capreo cassette.

Thanks

BlazingPedals

I know this isn't what you asked, but then it gets really hard to find chainrings over about 63 teeth, and a Capreo cassette requires a Capreo hub anyway, so...

Why aren't you thinking in terms of a Schlumpf Speed Drive bottom bracket or a SRAM 3x9 rear hub? My experience with the Sachs (which became the SRAM) was that the losses were negligible, and probably not any worse than what would be caused by using a 9T cassette gear.

danielmramos

Well, the answer to that question is simple. The dual drive setup is way too expensive for my blood. I would rather have a simple less expensive setup that is easier to maintain. I went over to the hostel shop gear calculator and did some crunching. The capreo range is good enough for me. The max speed attainable with a 9 tooth small capreo cog and a good size chainring is all I need for 20" wheels. I don't need the fancy stuff. As far as the fact that the capreo hub and gears have to be matched, well I don't find that to be a big deal. So you may have to build a wheel; however, it will stil be cheaper and simpler to operate than the more expensive dual drive setups. I think that the hostel shop sells a 63T chainring for about $48. that isn't too bad; although, I think it is still a bit much for what a chainring actually is. So far the best prices I have see on capreo hub and cogs has been at Harris Cyclery. If anybody knows of any other source please let me know.

Thanks.

jeff-o

TW-Bents uses a 68 tooth chainring on a few of its models with a 20" rear wheel. Perhaps you could contact them or ActionBent (their US distributor) and see if they could supply you with one (I don't have any, sorry).

danielmramos

Jeff-o, that is some really great information. I had not considered TW-Bents at all. I will certainly see if getting one of their chainrings is a possibility as that would be just perfect. I imagine that their prices will be much more affordable as they ship much higher volume than any of the other bent companies.

danielmramos

Ok Jeff, I wrote to TW bents to see if they would sell me a 68T chainring as a stand alone part. If they are willing to do so I am sure that they will ask that ActionBent handle the transaction.

Thanks again.

danielmramos

https://www.flickr.com/photos/number5...7600708232631/

It looks like those guys are using that 68T chainring Jeff spoke of in a folding 20" road bike. That is what I planned to do as well; although, I also planned to add on a recumbent conversion kit so that I would be able to take advantage fo the better gearing.

danielmramos

https://www.ozhpv.org.au/shed/sprocket.htm

Giles Pucket linked a program to the URL listed above. The program allows you to create any chainring pattern you would like. It even will allow you to do an eliptical pattern. I guess making a large chainring yourself using this program may actually be the least expensive way to go. I am sure it doesn't take much skill to cut out a flat pattern and file down some teeth.

How does that sound for affordable?

danielmramos

The verdict from TW-bents is that they will not sell their chainrings as stand alone parts. After reading Giles Puckett's information about making your own chainrings I am rather inclined to give that a try. Has anybody else tried to make their own?

jeff-o

Ah, that's too bad. Did you contact ActionBent about it? Perhaps TW just doesn't want to deal directly with individuals, and would rather go through a dealer.

airxxxwolf

Don`t know the cost, but this place makes large chainrings.... https://www.highpath.co.uk/cycles/eggs/01.html

Don

danielmramos

It seems to me that they would be very expensive, since they are in Wales and do not have a standard price list.

RiotBoi

+1 on the chainring drawer. Looks like a new project

meb

Warhawk used to make chainrings up to 125T, but they dropped them from their webpage.

They might still make them even though they are no longer on their website:

www.chainrings.com

Their prices were much lower than Highpath, although Warhawk only had round rings.

danielmramos

Does anybody know why they took them off of their website? Wow, 125T is extreme. The only reason for something like that is to break a speed record in velomobile.

meb

It was a group of competition cyclist that evolved into a part time business, so maybe it wasn't worth the effort.

I've been meaning to contact them sometime and find out if they still will make them.

I see Highpath has posted prices, they have gone up substantially-about double what i remember others having gotten from them.

meb

Warhawk used to be located nearby in Springfield, VA. The website no longer has a 703 area code nor does it list any address (let alone the address on the north side of Springfield it used to have), but the new phone has an Ashville, NC area code. So, there may have been a transfer or acceptance of a new job by a principle in that bunch, or there may have been a sale of the business.

meb

Their old prices were 49.95 up to 60T, 99.95 up to 74T, 149.95 up to 89T, 174.95 up to 99T, 224.95 up to 114T, and 324.95 up to 125T.

danielmramos

Those prices sound fairly reasonable compared to what I have seen on other sites. It is too bad they pulled them from their website.

meb

Anyone got suggestions for metal plates as blanks if one wants to use Giles program?

meb

Someone made an enlarged homemade large oval chainring by cutting a chainring in half, bolting the chainring to a plate, and the plate to the crank. He added a pair of flanges along the straight run to keep the chain in line. You might be able to get a pair of 52T rings fairly cheap, then cut them in quarters, joining sections to each other. There'd be a weight penalty with this approach.

Another option might be to get a large 110 ring, cut it in 5ths, then extend the effective diameter by bolting the arm of the cut up ring ring to a large 130 large ring, with the arm extending radially outward from the intact large 130 ring.