Best bike chainrings according to redditors

Truvativ makes C/R bolts that use hex keys for both sides.

Ok your issue is that your front ring is too small, even though it’s 38 which is already on the bigger side as it is but whatever. So what you want is just a bigger chainring, don’t mess around 2x or roadie groupsets, just get the bigger ring, it’ll be a lot easier.

It’s your choice how to go about that but I found a 42 tooth on amazon that should be good even though it’s a little pricey for only one ring.

Something like this will work for you: https://www.amazon.com/FSA-Middle-130mm-Black-Chainring/dp/B000C15FX4

You definitely want a middle-specific chainring, there are ramps and pins that aid in shifting up to the ring that will be missing on a single-speed chainring, but manufacturer otherwise doesn't matter much, as long as size and BCD match.

From the picture it looks like you need 104 bcd narrow wide, says it on there. You can find cheap ones on Amazon that come with single chain ring bolts. Like this. I've used this one on budget builds and it works nice. As for the size you probably want a 34t, maybe a 36t if that's too low for you or even a 32t if that's too high. Just whatever you prefer.

First, did you mount the NW to the outside or inside of the spider? Generally you want it on the inside for conversions.

Second, if it's already inside, you may need spacers like these:
Juscycling Middle Chainring Spacer 0.5 0.8 2 5 mm , 25pcs/bag (2mm) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076NKC4SX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_bk4i7fWKF7t39

What you need to do is put it in 5th gear and determine how far you would need to move the chairing to have perfect chainline. Then get that much in spacers.

Other solution is to buy a 1x crank. It will already be spaced correctly.

if you take it to a bike shop they should be able to replace the chainring and sprocket and put a chain on.

If you want to do it yourself you'll need to following:

https://www.amazon.com/Shimano-SG-3C40-Nexus-Sprocket-23T/dp/B007FOVIDW

https://www.amazon.com/KMC-Bicycle-Chain-Speed-32-Inch/dp/B000AOA3PS

For the chainring you should measure the BCD, directions here: https://wickwerks.com/bolt-circle-diameter-bcd/ This chainring works for 110BCD or 130BCD: https://www.amazon.com/Origin8-BMX-Singlespeed-Fixie-Chainring/dp/B003J7ZP9W

You can find them in 3/32 variety.

Origin8 BMX/Singlespeed/Fixie Chainring, 38t, 110/130 BCD, 3/32, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003J7ZP9W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Au8EDbKDECG2S

This is the one I have. 44t with a 12-28t cassette.

I just read your hybrids bcd.

Hmmmmm. That’s gonna be the tough part.

I've had anodized bolts break on me as well. I've gone through a few choices for chainring bolts & have found that the Truvativ bolts that come with a spacer are your best choice. I've got these bolts on three bikes now & have had zero issues with them. Two of those bikes are setup as singlespeeds FWIW.

http://www.amazon.com/TruVativ-Steel-Chainring-Bolt-Black/dp/B001GSQO3W/

2010 Langsters come with a 42t chainring. It was the first thing I upgraded.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001GSOEZW/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I would go with a OneUp chainring instead. After further investigation you can remove the whole spider and buy something like this

> a longer chain

Mine is 114 links, will it be enough or do I have to change it?

> a 42T 104BCD chainring

Would this be ok? I'm not necessarily going to buy this one, but just to make sure if I applied the search criteria right.

So either of these should work?
1, 2, 3

Amazon has it. At least it looks like the one you are looking for.

https://www.amazon.com/RaceFace-Cinch-Direct-Chainring-9-12sp/dp/B077YLLKRD/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1549589057&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=Race%2BFace%2BCinch%2BDirect%2BMount%2BNW%2BChainring%2C%2B38T&th=1&psc=1

you can't use regular chain rings from geared bikes because they were designed for the chain to derail easier rather than harder. look for 1/8 chainrings.
something like this with the 1/2 x 1/8" dimensions
http://www.amazon.com/Sugino-46t-Chainring-130mm-Black/dp/B001GSOEZW/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1405701973&sr=8-8&keywords=single+speed+chainring

I got a Redux 1 when it was on sale on the Raleigh website a couple of months ago. I got it primarily as a grocery hauler. I put on a Topeak Explorer Disc rack, and use my Ortlieb Back Roller Classic pannier bags for said grocery hauling. The gearing was too tall for hauling weight in any kind of a hilly area; it came with a 40 tooth chainring and an 11-34 cassette. I bought this chainring from Amazon, in the 36 tooth version. Easy install, works perfectly, did not remove any links from the chain. If you’re not hauling any weight and you’re in a flat area, the 40 tooth may be right for you, just throwing it out there.

I have a 2018 Trail 6 that I got last November and really love and it's been a great bike to learn on. I have ended up doing a lot of upgrading on and there are some idiosyncrasies to the Trail series that I wish I would have known.

First big upgrade was the dropper post, and that's been awesome. You can internally route a dropper on the Trail series so just find a good deal on a dropper that you like and you're good to go. I was able to get a KS Lev Si used for $100 and it's been solid.

Putting the dropper on prompted me to want to get rid of the front derailleur/shifter and go 1x. I ended up ordering this chainring as the FSA cranks have a weird chainring size. Thankfully I was at a friend's house to help me because FSA does a little proprietary thing with their chainrings and he ended up having to grind a bit around the bolt holes (the flat part towards the center of the circle) to get them to fit. The other thing is that the rear derailleur didn't have a clutch so my friend suggested running the chain a little smaller than stock to keep from dropping the chain. I ran it like that from January to July and never dropped a chain. It also helps that I was intending to upgrade the rear derailleur within the year, definitely not a long term plan as it would wear a lot faster.

So, if you're really set on going 1x, my advice would be to do the cranks and bottom bracket too unless you have access to a grinder and someone competent to use it. I ended up installing a Shimano XT bottom bracket and a used set of XT cranks/chainring this summer and have been really happy with them. I don't know that I can actually feel the difference, but they are lighter for sure. I also upgraded to an 11 speed SLX cassette, derailleur, and shifter and have really loved having the bigger gears (46T) on the hills (also went from a 30T chainring to a 32T).

The other thing to consider is the tool cost if you're doing it yourself. You'll need a tool to pull the square taper cranks and another one to pull the bottom bracket. Then you'll need a new one to install a Hollowtech BB. And you'll want a cable cutter for the upgrade to a 11 speed too.

I've been tracking stock and upgraded parts here, feel free to ask about any other upgrades you're planning on.

This guy might work if you are going for chain retention: https://www.amazon.com/Sunlite-1-Piece-Chainring-Double-Chainguard/dp/B07BM21Y9S. Might be pretty difficult to find a chain guard like you have on there currently as the 'universal' bottom bracket mount won't work with a one piece crankset.

​

Absolutely! It's an IXF external bottom bracket / crank set combo, paired with a Snail 30t tooth narrow wide chainring, all available on Amazon. Super affordable. The conversion required a few specialty tools for removing the old hardware (square taper crank puller and internal bottom bracket removal tool) with one hollowtech wrench for installing the new bottom bracket.


There's a few good tutorials out there, just be mindful since you are working on the aluminum frame itself and stripped bottom bracket threads mean you'll need a new frame. I also took a few links out of the chain to help with chain slap and this thing is damn near silent now.

Tires are Bontrager XR4s, but they seem to have been discontinued in 29x2.3. They grip really nice off road but suck on the road due to high rolling resistance. Going to have to try something new once these wear out since anything wider might start scraping the frame.

depends on if you have 4 bolt or 5 bolt and what bcd you have. I bought this in 38t because it's cheap. Still works and almost never drops the chain. Just get anything with good reviews.

Cool, I'm now eyeing this 38t sugino chainring.

https://amazon.com/gp/product/B001GSQITW/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A36CSOLF9Y1DF1

It's labeled a 9-speed chainring, but this drivetrain is 7-speed. Is that even a problem? I know spacings.widths are much more crucial on the casette compared to the chainring.

I'm running a Solodrive 36T on my rigid 29er, which costs half what a raceface does. Color, fit, finish are all great and it's held up fine for the 400 or so miles I've put on it. I would definitely buy one again.

​

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01A73Y1P4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'm using this one https://www.amazon.com/SOLODRIVE-104BCD-Single-Chain-11-Speed/dp/B01A73XYPW/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=narrow+wide+chainring&qid=1563493316&s=gateway&sr=8-8 .

​

It's fine, does its job and the chain doesn't come off.

As others have said below, I'm not really sure about your bottom bracket situation. There are tons of "standards" and I'm not familiar with the bike to know which yours is.

But the more I think about it, the more I think you should use the existing crankset and bottom bracket and just put a narrow wide ring on it. They have some really cheap ones, I bought this one for a bike and although i haven't thrashed it, it's held up fine so far.

Solodrive 104BCD Single Chain Ring For 9/10/11-Speed,Black,32T https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A73XV7S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_OT0OAbCFVKJPF

The Zee derailleur, that xt cassette, chain, and then a shifter (an slx 10 speed shifter is like $30 USD) should be all you need. Probably some single speed chainring bolts as well as someone else noted.

So these two are on my list https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002I7REMU/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_qaC5xbFFCQ5SE all of the single chainring bolts look the same so i just got the cheapest option and https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01I8V13LW/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_QdC5xbKWYD6E3 for the ring. Looks like an off brand but its 20 $ cheaper and red which matches some other stuff on my bike but also has 2 extra teeth would this be a mistake? The only alternative i could find on amazon is https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00W4HE5L2/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_PgC5xb43YKKVG but its quite a bit more money..

Anybody have any experience with USAmade chainrings? Found this on Amazon, and was wondering if it would be a good budget option instead of a race face narrow wide-

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UDMYTK2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Fq7izb13HRFJF

Any recommendations for cheap 30t chainrings would be greatly appreciated.

Twenty bucks on Amazon but search "origin 8 130 110 chainring" to shop around. I've seen 'em on ebay for $10ish.

Lol All those flavors to choose from and you choosing to be salty as hell.

For the record: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001GSQITW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_f4AXzbRYWZQYW

Boy, that's some bling ring. Fucking prick.