[Closed] Recommend me a 34t chainring...

Superstar would be my go-to now, especially as they are UK made. If you're not in a hurry, wait for one of their discount sales - they come along every couple of months and often give you 20% off.

Absolute Black if you want oval - I've the 28T on my fat bike and will fit a 30T to my FS when the original RaceFace one wears out.

What's the difference between a superstar & absolute black one? Other thank cost?

I’ve got a 34t NW raceface one and it does what a chainring should do. Haven’t lost the chain yet and it looks ok.

I previously had a superstar oval one and it didn’t retain the chain well when it got muddy at FOD. I haven’t had the same issue with round raceface or Sram ones

The Superstar brand is just a bit shit imo.

I fitted a Blackspire Snaggletooth to my M8000 boost cranks, partly cos options were limited. Having said that it was cheap (Under £30) came in the desired colour (purple, but they do loads more), seams well made and performs really well.

The Superstar brand is just a bit shit imo.

Well, their chainrings are all machined in the UK. Not too many companies doing that these days and those that do are certainly worthy of our support.

Obviously, Superstar have made a huge U turn from a reseller of cheap chinese components, to a proper UK manufacturer and I suppose there's some hold-over from this in their brand value, but for those of us who aren't as worried about such things, I'm happy to support them 🙂

Works Components. Used them a few times on various bikes, UK made, Good quality, Quick delivery and cheap !!

"Not too many companies doing that these days and those that do are certainly worthy of our support."

Fair point but that wasn't the OP's criteria, looks was, (one of them), in which case, Superstar go back to the bottom of the pile imo.

Do Works do a Boost Cinch?

RE: Super* products - it's no good if it doesn't do the job plus have you ever tried to phone them to speak to someone.

Lost new business that's all I'll say.

Obviously, Superstar have made a huge U turn from a reseller of cheap chinese components, to a proper UK manufacturer and I suppose there’s some hold-over from this in their brand value,

Or perhaps it was the superstar boss coming on here  "incognito" and dissing  his competitors

Works are always my pick if they do the size/shape I want- they last well, and they were the first to bite the bullet and actually start making the things back when everyone was afraid of being sued, and they tick the UK box too.

Nothing actually wrong with superstar, but they don't last as well. Absoluteblack look lovely but have inferior retention (Ok, basically what this seems to be is, most companies just copied other companies. AB actually designed their own, but didn't do as well- in fact this is their 3rd gen and still not as good. No points for that though.

@Northwind - how do you improve on 100% retention? I've yet to have a chain drop off an AB ring.

If other companies have better retention how do they do it - spread their magic to nearby chainrings so they don't drop off either?

I may have been a bit facetious in that last para 🙂

Superstar for cheapness with a discount code or burgtec for longer lasting and a better finish

Blackspire Snaggletooth as well here, seemed to run very smoothly and quietly .

Plenty of sizes and colours is a bonus.

I run Superstar and absolute black oval, both great, no chains dropped

Do Works do a Boost Cinch?

I had a look yesterday on their site & couldn't see any.

I really miss the days when all you had were 2 bolt diameters to worry about!

My usual go to are Works Components or OneUp, never had any issues with any of their stuff

I'm a fan of the Absolute Black ovals.  No retention trouble in a SRAM 11speed drivetrain for me.  No free powah but with my pedal technique I get a smoother application of existing power on loose climbs with the effect that I can be in a higher gear but not grinding/stamping and therefore less likely to break traction and stall.

I've spoken to people that have a more highly developed clocked crank style for rough climbs than my slightly hamfisted but probably typical half-cranking and they can find ovals a little peaky due to the cam - exactly the opposite of what is intended and so it doesn't suit them.

AB are pretty forthright on having put a lot of dev time into their design which I take on face value.  Assuming it to be true, then 'which oval' probably does matter a lot but I've only used theirs.

As with all things, isn't a universal solution...

I have Absolute Black -  https://www.ubyk.co.uk/absoluteblack-race-face-direct-mount-oval-ring/30761

But if you like the look of the Superstar, get that. They work and they're a lot cheaper.

Run AB ovals on the cross bike and MTB and they've been spot on - chain retention on some heavy cross races has been remarkable, stayed on through kilos of mud and leaves building up around the BB. No bouncy impacts on a cross course, but the one I had on my MTB was also completely reliable.

Pricey like. I wouldn't have said there was much to the design of a thick-thin chain ring - looks like something from the Victorian age of engineering (probably is, actually), but I've had a few cheap ones off Amazon for my kid's bike and they've been mince.

Going to try the superstar one - should've checked my bike properly first tho - turns out it was a 30t up front...

AB are fine but the AB black series are very shortlived and ( a long time ago now) didn't work well with kmc chains.  They might have improved those cheap ones now? Superstar raptors are good, but I would be tempted by the new steel ones on an alloy spider. Alloy n/w rings always seem to have poor durability so the steel one might fix it. It's what I'll get next I reckon.

Well - after a 50 mile ride yesterday the chain ring performed boringly well, so currently more than happy with my purchase.

Another vote for the Absolute Black oval here. I ride 1 size larger with the oval than I do with a round one. It seems to work well for me and I dont notice the oval when pedaling. I now have them on all my bikes

I find Superstar is made of cheese ! last one lasted 2 weeks max, AB are good but now trying the wolftooth as its a completely different design to AB and holds the chain better and much quieter