Absolute Black, which makes the exquisitely machined single chainrings we recently reviewed, just sent over images and info on a few more goodies they’ve been working up.
Their XX1 style chainring with wide/narrow tooth profiles was announced a while back, but now we’ve got images (and a test unit on the way!). The ones shown here are for 104bcd cranksets, which means many from Shimano, Race Face, etc. Founder Marcin says he’s had athletes testing them for seven months with no chain drops. They’re available in 32, 34, 36 and 38 tooth counts.
Think they’d be perfect for cyclocross? So do we. And so did Marcin, so he’s been developing them for 110bcd and 130bcd, also using the wide/narrow tooth profiles. Check those, and some beautiful CNC’d bash rings, below…
A couple more photos of the mountain bike chainrings.
The cyclocross versions will look similar. They’re in development now, and Marcin says each one takes just over an hour to machine.
The bash rings are machined from the same 7075 Txxx alloy as the chainrings, then hard anodized. They’re available to fit next to 34t and 36t chainrings now, with 32t coming soon.
The design’s meant for moderate protection for trail/enduro style riding, not full downhill action.
