veganbikes

What is a good chain ring for a Sugino 75 crankset that will be both used in urban fixed settings and weekend shingle shpeed cross fun (or maybe some fixed cross fun)

I wanted to go with a Sug. Zen but a coworker said it won't shed the mud well enough and he is probably right (but it look so nice) I could do some switching but that could turn into a pain or maybe not? Any thoughts?

SkylarG

You want to spend the $$$ for a Zen ring to then put it in cross? If you just want that fat looking ring, get a Miche, Blackspire, FSA, Taiwanese Fourier, whatever. Same alloys, same shape, but $50-80 instead of $130-160. The Zen is expensive because of precision in its machining and coatings that are -only- useful if it's running on a -clean- drivetrain.

veganbikes

For sure it is expensive but I want the quality and precision I am just wondering about it's practicality for off roading here and there. I was talking with a coworker also about Miche as I have a Miche chain and he hated his drivetrain, a little bit too noisy and not a smooth and clean. The bike itself will be mostly black with some red accents so the Zen fits right in with that and since the frame is going to be custom built I figure I shouldn't just slap any old stuff on there.

The cost isn't driving me off because I work in a shop so I save there. Quality, practicality and looks are what I am looking for and I also need it to be compatible with 75 cranks.

Also many thanks for responding!

SkylarG

I know plenty of people who ride the Miche ring and their drive train is pretty quiet. I also know people who run Izumi V chain on a Zen ring with EAI Superstar or Phil Wood cogs and have noisy drive trains. There are too many variables when it comes to drivetrain noise. See what works for ya.

The point is only that your Zen ring won't be any more precise than these other rings once covered in mud and street grime. It's designed with the track in mind and you'll wear the nitride coating away pretty fast. Once 'broken' in, you're not getting any more from this ring than others. If it's just style points, then go for it, but don't expect much more performance.

Also, any 144BCD track chainring works with S75s. I picked up a black 44RN ring mostly for style

veganbikes

That sounds fair. Very very fair. Thanks again. I has many decisions to make.

GENESTARWIND

Just get a blackspire

91MF

a 144 spider wont allow for very small chainrings. are you running a 19 or 20 tooth in the rear? or are the cx courses you ride really easy?

veganbikes

Currently not riding any CX courses and not planning on any racing. Mostly local trails so probably easy enough. I mean I hope to get a little more serious into it but right now more causalXcross (or at least once I get the bike together)

stryper

You'll mostly find 42t as the smallest size for 144bcd, maybe a couple 41t here and there.

91MF

exactly my point. any technical cx course full of mud and such may require a ratio closer to 2:1

yea thats cool man i have a felt breed that i run 42/17 for general urban type ripping. i have a 39 and 36 t chainring[110 spider] for when real shredding is involved. doesnt help much because i suck anyways, may as well run the section to begin with haha

veganbikes

It's about the fun. I don't ride to be a great rider just for the fun of it. So long as I can sling a leg over one side and put them feets to the pedals and have a damn good time I'ma do it.

Shotland

Get something cheap like an all city chainring.

veganbikes

If I wanted cheap I could easily figure that bad boy out. I am honestly not looking for cheap as the bike in the end is going to be a custom built steel frame (Columbus tubing hopefully a little XCr if not full XCr depending on budget) and I would be sick to my stomach and the stomachs of several other people if I put cheap **** on it. Now All City makes decent stuff not the greatest mind you. So while maybe it doesn't qualify to me as cheap it wouldn't work on my dream build.
However considering my initial plan was to run Phil Wood cranks, Sugino 75s are "cheap" LOLOLOL.

You gotta dream big and I am doing that. I want firstaclassé, topodenotcho and other fine stereotyped Italian-esque words that will have you saying mama mia that is a Speecy Spicey Wheataballa.

CharneK

Dura-Ace? Or even the matching ring?

veganbikes

I have considered that, maybe use the Zen or 75 rings for commuting and get a DuraAce for cross fun since I am a Shimano dealer and can do S-Tec training and get deals so they will probably be a quality but cheaper option.

The bike is going to be matte black with a little bit of gloss red throughout. If only you could go into my head and see it. If I went full Dura-Ace or Campy Record it would clash but using the DA ring off road probably wouldn't be too bad.

Shotland

Just don't put a nice track chainring in mud. That's not fair to the ring.