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My Sonder Camino has an Sram Apex crankset with a 40T 8-bolt 6mm offset chainring. Like this: https://www.lordgunbicycles.co.uk/sram-apex-1-dub-wide-1x12v-dm-40d-crankset
I'm looking to get a smaller one but it seems 38T is the minimum commonly available size. I'm wondering what my options are for a 36T. I've found one or two very pricey ones from companies in the states but nothing sensible from Superstar etc. How bad are the consequences of using a 3mm offset MTB chainring? Is there any way to add a spacer to adapt a 3mm one?
Thanks!
I think Unite makes one in 36T - I asked works components about one a few months ago (changed bikes in the end) in an even smaller 34T, they said they are going to but no idea when.
Superstar is no longer manufacturing (company is in administration) so unless they stock it now they wont in the future.
No, spacers are not available.
Garbaruk may offer what you need but they are not cheap.
The offset question is an interesting one and something I've pondered recently.
If a 3mm offset ring was okay for my 1x MTB with a 142 back end giving a 52mm chainline, why does my gravel bike with the same rear spacing demand a 6mm offset ring fit a 49mm chainline?
Thanks, those Unite ones look ok and not too pricey.. available on backorder
Alternative option might be a DM to 4-bolt chainring adaptor with your choice of 36t chainring? I'm not familiar with SRAM DM interface but I've got both Shimano DM cranks and Hope EVO cranks set up with 104BCD adaptors to open up chainring choices - the Hope one is the official spider adaptor but the Shimano one was an eBay special costing £10ish.
That's what I use on my latest gravel bike, although I have a power meter spider rather than the one I linked.
I haven't done this on a gravel bike, but my well tested opinion on mtb single ring driveline is as long as it clears the frame and your components are decent and well looked after, it's irrelevant, within reason. Both my bikes are biased off towards the bottom gears just now just by coincidence, which actually makes sense, since that's where you spend a lot of time grinding, but they shift perfectly into all gears and I've had them biased the other way without any noticable difference, it just works, nobody would think there's an offset mismatch.
IMO of course 😉 Do you have any cassette options? 36T is really pretty low for road use, but at the same time not really super low for offroad use, unless you've got a pretty wide cassette
Interesting but pricey, don't seem to be many other cheaper 107BCD chainring options out there
I haven't done this on a gravel bike, but my well tested opinion on mtb single ring driveline is as long as it clears the frame and your components are decent and well looked after, it's irrelevant, within reason. Both my bikes are biased off towards the bottom gears just now just by coincidence, which actually makes sense, since that's where you spend a lot of time grinding, but they shift perfectly into all gears and I've had them biased the other way without any noticable difference, it just works, nobody would think there's an offset mismatch.
IMO of course 😉 Do you have any cassette options? 36T is really pretty low for road use, but at the same time not really super low for offroad use, unless you've got a pretty wide cassette
So if I go for a 3mm offset chainring, will it end up biased towards the lower gears by about 2 sprockets? This may be ok as you said - even with a 36T chainring I don't think I'll use the smallest sprocket a whole lot. For reference this is a more offroad oriented gravel bike with flat bars and used for hauling kids about and hopefully bike packing (one day!). The cassette is sram xplr 10-44.
I've tested the current highest gear (10x40) and I really can't imagine this bike getting up to a speed where it is needed 🙂 in fact even the 11-40 combo seemed unnecessary.
I too am using a a 'wrong' offset chainring on one bike, meaning the chainline is biased towards the bigger cassette cogs. No issues at all other than insufficient clearance for a ISCG05-mounted top chain guide (not an issue for a gravel bike though).
This is the brand of adaptor I use to mount a cheap steel N/W chainring to the Shimano DM cranks I had on my dropbar bike: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003718445235.html . It then opens up more options for cheap 4-bolt 104BCD chainrings.
Some cheap 3mm offset options on Aliexpress so may as well give it a shot!
I’ve got a Superstar 32T on my Rival, I assume Apex is the same.
Although just checked and no 36s in stock.
https://www.superstarcomponents.com/products/ring-raptor-sram?variant=41068171919549