A 2X Cannondale Hollowgram-compatible direct-mount oval chainring, designed for the Hollowgram crank family, is now a reality thanks to specialist oval chainring manufacturers AbsoluteBLACK. Available in 50/34 and soon, 52/36, the two-piece direct mount oval chainring is said to be incredibly stiff and light, and offer super fast shifting owing to AB’s patented shifting ramp design. Let’s take a look at absoluteBLACK’s new Cannondale Spidering Road Oval Chainring.
AB’s Cannondale Spidering Road Oval Chainring
Until now, owners of Cannondale Hollowgram cranks, Si, SiSL, SiSL2, wanting to ride AbsoluteBLACK Oval, were unable to unless they were willing to go back to a heavier “old school” spider + chainring combo. The new AbsoluteBLACK Spidering Road Oval Chainring is a direct mount solution.
Whereas Cannondale’s direct mount 2x ring is a true CNC-machined one-piece design, the AbsoluteBLACK Cannondale Spidering Road Oval Chainring is composed of two individual chainrings, connected by five small titanium bolts.
AbsoluteBLACK say CNC’ing everything from one piece has a lot of limitations in the design concept and machining process, especially in the teeth profiles and overall shape. Thicker aluminium plates, that you CNC the chainrings from, tend to have less strength because of the nature of how aluminium is hardened. AbsoluteBLACK believe that making two separate chainrings leads to the usage of much thinner plates maximizing the strength. Taking a different approach allowed the company to create a stiffer final product, utilising their proprietary shifting ramps, and to profile the teeth in a way that it is optimal for performance and not limited by machining constraints.
You’ll pay a 3g weight penalty for the AbsoluteBLACK Cannondale Spidering Road Oval Chainring, as compared to Cannondale’s direct mount 50/34, but you’ll have the benefit of a replaceable small ring, and the claimed up to 9% increased force effectiveness bestowed by the oval shape.
Pricing and Availability
For now, absoluteBLACK will offer 50/34T and 52/36T options, available in black and oval only, with sub-compact sizes coming soon. The 52/36T is available for pre-order with a wait of ~4 weeks. The 50/34T Oval is available now, weighs a claimed 178g, and costs £214.99 ($267.99).
