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Chainrings
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Several standards exist for chainrings. Some rings are spaced closer together for nine speed gearing, since nine speed chains are narrower. And rings are made to different standards for placement of the attachment bolts that hold the ring onto the crank. Racing bikes tend to use the highest range of gears. So racing chainrings tend to be the largest used. So crank manufacturers use larger bolt circles for racing cranks than for touring or ATB cranks. Touring bikes use many components from ATBs or mountain bikes. ATBs used to have cranks with 110mm outer bolt circles. But several years ago they switched to a smaller bolt circle to reduce the size of the rings and improve ground clearance. The bolt circle defines the minimum number of teeth that can be had in a chainring. For example, if you look at the 130mm chainrings, you'll see that 38 teeth is the smallest number of teeth available. It's not possible to make a chainring with fewer teeth because the chainring bolts would get in the way. So there's little to be gained by looking around for a 37 or 36 tooth 130mm bolt circle chainring. They don't exist because they can't exist. 33 is the smallest number of teeth for 110mm bolt circle rings. I stock replacement chainrings for a wide range of gearing combinations. |
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The quickest shifting with Shimano's STI shifters can be had only with matched sets of chainrings. For example, the Shimano Ultegra Triple crankset comes with three matched rings; 52 - 42 - 30 teeth. The alignment of the teeth and the positions of the steel pins that lift the chain from smaller to larger rings are carefully positioned to make up-shifts as quick and smooth as possible, even under considerable pedaling forces. With a few exceptions, TA chainrings are designed to be used with many different adjacent rings. The TA rings have pins for lifting the chain, but since you can choose from many chainring combinations, the three rings you end up with won't be matched for tooth position or pin position. That makes the shift a bit slower than if you use Shimano's matched chainring sets. But STI shifting still works. You just can't pedal as hard while shifting as you can with Shimano's rings and still get a smooth shift. Don't worry though, they still shift very well. My most popular chainrings are 48 - 38 - 26 and 24 tooth replacements for Shimano's Ultegra and 105 triple cranks. This makes for a much better range of gears if you're touring. Most of Shimano's 9 speed cassettes start with a 12 tooth cog, and some start with 11, which is wasted when your largest chainring is 52 teeth and you're carrying a heavy load. Reducing the size of all the chainrings lets you actually use all nine cogs in back. Why have nine speeds if you can't use them all? 48,38,24 shifts very smoothly with the Ultegra front derailleur and STI shifters. When you change the size of the outer chainring, you'll need to change the position of the front derailleur. With every tooth reduction, the derailleur needs to be lowered by 2mm. For chainrings compatible with Shimano road triple cranksets, like Dura Ace, Ultegra, 105 and Tiagra, scroll down to the TA Alize 130mm rings for the middle and outer positions. Then scroll to the TA Zelito 74mm rings for the inner (triple) position. If you are using STI, you'll need to use a Shimano derailleur specifically designed for STI. The Ultegra Triple FD is designed for a 10 tooth difference between the outer and middle chainring. It's more flexible about the difference between the middle and inner ring. The Dura Ace Triple FD is designed for a 14 tooth difference between the outer and middle ring. I get frequent requests for 38 tooth rings to replace the middle 42 tooth ring on the Ultegra Triple crank. But the shifting will be very poor if you do that. If you want a 38 in the middle, either change the outer to a 48, or change the FD to a Dura Ace Triple. For best shifting without STI, I recommend the Shimano XT front derailleur. It works best with a 12 tooth difference between the outer and middle ring on a triple to shift well. But the XT isn't compatible with STI road shifters. Use it with bar end or down tube shifters instead. TA chainrings also have a few advantages. There's a huge selection available. Who else makes chainrings in one tooth increments? So you can get the gearing you want, rather than what Shimano thinks you should have. And TA rings are more durable than most Shimano chainrings, so they will cost you less to use in the long run. Only Shimano's Dura Ace and XTR chainrings are as durable as TA. And they cost much more. We have many Shimano brand chainrings in stock. I should have them listed here soon. TA does make a few matched chainring sets, but only for double chainring cranks. See the Hegoa and Horus chainrings below. Lastly, we do not special order chainrings from TA. If you don't see it listed, we don't have it and can't get it. We can get most Shimano and Campy rings that are in current production. |
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Specialites TA Zephyr TA 110mm bolt circle chainrings for most touring cranksets Outer Position 110 (silver finish) Outer position chainrings can be used in both double and triple configurations. These chainrings are supplied as stock with the TA Zephyr triple cranksets, and TA Carmina cranksets when fitted with the 110mm spider. They also fit many other cranks from Shimano, Sugino, White Industries, Race Face, etc. Most of these rings are now Campy 10 speed compatible.
Middle Position 110 (silver finish) Middle position chainrings can be used in both double and triple configurations. But of course the pins are not needed for doubles.
TA Zelito 74mm bolt circle inner chainrings for triple cranksets Aluminum 74mm (silver finish) Only TA makes inner chainrings in odd tooth counts; 29 and 25 teeth. 27 teeeth are no longer made. These work on TA Zephyr, Alize and the new Carmina cranksets, as well as all Shimano road triple and Campagnolo triple cranksets. They also fit old Shimano Deore XT and LX cranksets and any cranksets which use 110mm middle and outer chainrings. That includes Ritchey, White Industries, Race Face, Sugino, SR, Dimension and FSA. Most of these rings are now Campy 10 speed compatible.
Aluminum 74 (black finish)
Stainless Steel 74 TA used to make a 26 tooth stainless ring in this bolt circle. They no longer make them and we have no more.
TA 56mm Bolt Circle Stainless Steel. These fit the alternative inner bolt circle on the Zephyr crank.
TA Syrius 110mm double chainrings for all 110mm double cranksets Syrius chainrings provide ultra smooth shifting for 110mm bolt circle cranks, such as the TA Zephyr and Carmina cranks with 110mm spider attached. They are standard equipment with the Zephyr Light and Carmina Light 110 crankset. Mix and match between 50, 48 and 46 outer rings, and 36 and 34 inner rings. The rings are sold individually. These are only for use as double chainring sets. While they could be used on a triple, the 34 and 36 lack pick-up pins for shifting from the inner ring to the middle. (black finish only) All are now Campy 10 speed compatible.
TA Hegoa 130mm chainrings for Shimano racing double cranksets and TA Alize and Carmina cranksets TA's Hegoa chainrings replace the stock rings on Shimano racing cranksets. The teeth and pins are precisely aligned to give the most precise shifting with Shimano STI indexed shifters. Shimano's Dura Ace chainrings are also precisely matched and give great shifting. But they only make a few sizes. They are not suitable for use in triple cranks, only doubles. The sizes listed below are the only sizes available. These rings are all 9 and 10 speed compatible.
TA Horus 135mm chainrings for Campagnolo racing double cranksets TA's Horus chainrings are the same as Hegoa, but have the 135mm bolt circle needed for Campagnolo compatibility. The sizes listed below are the only sizes available. These rings are all Campy 9 &10 speed compatible.
TA Alize 130mm Bolt Circle Chainrings for TA Alize doubles and triples, Shimano road doubles and triples, and TA Carmina when fitted with a 130mm spider These fit Dura Ace, Ultegra, 105 cranks from Shimano, TA Alize and TA Carmina cranks. All rings have pins for STI shifting compatibility. The most popular chainrings in this series are 48 tooth outer and 38 tooth middle. People use these to replace the 52 and 42 tooth rings on Shimano Ultegra Triple cranks. TA is the only company I know of making chainrings smaller than 42 teeth for the middle position on the Ultegra Triple crank. This allows you to reduce the gear ratios with Ultegra groups and not sacrifice good STI shifting. You can replace the 30 tooth inner ring with a 24, 25 or 26 tooth TA (above) to complete the conversion. Most of these rings are now Campy 10 speed compatible. Outer Position 130mm (silver finish)
Middle Position 130mm (silver finish)
Outer Position 130mm (black finish)
Middle Position 130mm (black finish)
TA Vento 135mm Bolt Circle Chainrings for Campagnolo These fit current Campagnolo double and road triple cranks. The middle position rings also work in the inner position on a double crank. 39 teeth is the smallest that will fit on the 135mm bolt circle. Most work for 8, 9 and 10 speed drive trains. If you have a 10 speed drive train, be sure to ask for 10 speed compatible rings. We still have some rings that are 9 speed compatible but not 10 speed compatible. The difference is in the thickness of the teeth. The inner chainring on the Campy Racing Triple has a 74mm bolt circle. So you can lower the overall gearing on a Racing Triple crank by using the 49-39 outer and middle rings with a 26 or 27 tooth inner ring. See the 74mm rings above. Most of these rings are now Campy 10 speed compatible. Outer Position 135 (silver finish)
Middle Position 135 (silver finish)
TA Competition 144mm bolt circle chainrings for old Campagnolo To fit Campagnolo Super Record and Nuovo Record cranks
TA Track 130mm 1/8" width These cannot be used with derailleur chains. They must be used with wider 1/8" chains, which are more durable. See my fixed gear page for more on compatible chains, rear cogs, hubs and cranksets.
TA 94mm bolt circle rings These fit TA Carmina when fitted with 94mm spider and many other mountain bike cranks
Triple Conversion Chainrings What if you have a racing crankset, like a Dura Ace, Ultegra, or Campagnolo Chorus or Record, and you decide that what you really need is a triple? TA makes special chainrings that replace the inner ring of your double chainring crank, and provide a mounting point for a third, inner chainring with a standard 74mm bolt circle. This is the design that Shimano copied for their new Dura Ace triple crank. These conversion rings are only made in standard polished silver finish. 130mm and 135mm rings are pinned to shift smoothly with STI and Ergo shifters. 144mm rings for the older Nuovo Record and Super Record Campagnolo cranks are not pinned. To use one, you'll need a 74mm bolt circle ring for the inner or "granny" chainring, a longer bottom bracket axle, a triple type front derailleur, and probably a long cage rear derailleur.
More 94mm and 58mm bolt circle chainrings I have many in stock from Real, and Race Face. But so far no time to list them here. Call or email for availability and price.
Return to: TA Zephyr cranksets page Return to: TA Alize cranksets page
Back to: Products page Back to: Peter White Cycles home page Mail to: The email link above uses javascript to hide the actual address from spambots. Your browser needs to be set to run javascript in order for you to use any of the email links on my website. If you can't see the links, you can call us or send a fax. You can also type the address into your email software. First, type the alias, "pjw". Then type the "@" sign. It's above the number 2 on your keyboard. Then type the domain, "peterwhitecycles.com". Don't put in the quotes! That should do it. We use the javascript so that the spammers can't see the actual email address. I hope it works. Sometimes the volume of email is so great we can't get to it all. For important communication, please phone, or phax. It's best to call before 4PM Eastern time since after that we're either running around like headless chickens or at home ready to jump into the pot. Under no circumstances should you place an order without first reading this. This page updated: Wednesday, July 16, 2008 Peter White Cycles |
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