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Clever Standard teases yet-to-be-named molded full carbon chainrings

carbon tactic full carbon chainrings for 1x gravel road and mountain bikes
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Our friend Tomo, founder of Clever Standard bike tools, was at NAHBS showing off molded layered carbon fiber chainrings. Made by a friend of his, what separates these are that the tooth profiles and widths are molded into shape as much as possible, then only machined from the top down to preserve fiber integrity. He says other carbon rings machine the tooth profiles and widths from the side to get both the width and the shape.

carbon tactic full carbon chainrings for 1x gravel road and mountain bikes

carbon tactic full carbon chainrings for 1x gravel road and mountain bikes

The chainrings come out of the mold looking like this, with the proper width for the narrow-wide teeth pre-formed. Machining happens radially, rather than perpendicular to the ring. Why not mold the entire tooth profile and eliminate CNC’ing altogether? Because the precision tolerances needed for smooth running wouldn’t be tight enough.

carbon tactic full carbon chainrings for 1x gravel road and mountain bikes

Tomo says they’re about 25% lighter than alloy for same tooth counts. They’ll offer Shimano, SRAM DM and Race Face DM options with 30-56 tooth counts for now, but they can open the mold for more based on demand.

They’re designed for anything from road to gravel to cyclocross to mountain bikes, but only in 1x designs. They’re not molding or machining shift ramps into them as that would cause too much wear for this material. They’re still testing for durability against alloy, but say they’ve already proven them longer lasting than other carbon rings.

Retail will be $130 – $150, launching officially at Sea Otter.

If you’re headed there, find them at the Clever Standard booth and their quick-link-opening tire levers and mini chain breaker, along with Silic1 bar tape.

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ChrisC
ChrisC
6 years ago

I can see these *EASILY* lasting a full lap (maybe lap and a half) in CX… 😛

Crash Bandicoot
Crash Bandicoot
6 years ago

Seems like a bit of a silly area to use CF in an effort to save a slight modicum of weight. Why not make the spindle from carbon instead? Whatever floats your boat though aerocoach has been doing this for a while and they even make a 58 tooth which only Tony Martin is legally allowed to use.

boom
boom
6 years ago

Funny that the chain tool is exactly the same as the KMC version I have here. I wonder which mfg makes it and sells to the other?

skitchmacboy
6 years ago
Reply to  boom

KMC rebranded the original tool. Clever Standard makes them.

lop
lop
6 years ago
Reply to  boom

I don’t know if it’s a Spur Cycle/RockBros situation or something, but there’s someone making these in China and selling them on AliBaba for like $5. You can get a branded knockoff on Amazon and eBay for under $15.

FFM
FFM
6 years ago

I know I’m going to get hit for this but the higher your tooth count the more reasonable this becomes. You’d save around an ounce on a 42t Cinch ring and you’re only paying $40-70 more. Plus more teeth should increase wear life. Not for everyone (especially low tooth-counts) but by weight weenie standards that’s not a bad deal.

Crash Bandicoot
Crash Bandicoot
6 years ago
Reply to  FFM

I think this is dependent on wear in comparison with alloys. This might be great in comparison with carbon rings but at this point those are really race day only luxuries for short tts. Not very functional if they only last a few hundred miles.

therealgreenplease
6 years ago

I hope they sell “aero” versions of these chainrings which would basically just be a solid chainring. I’ve been trying to find an “aero” 52t 1x chainring for ages (since the AeroCoach aluminum rings are sold out). No dice thus far :/

Volsung
Volsung
6 years ago

Absolute Black makes one

Volsung
Volsung
6 years ago
Reply to  Volsung

Oops nm it’s a 50

Ryan s
Ryan s
6 years ago

Looks like many tremendous over-the-bars opportunities to be had.

Justin Savord
6 years ago

compatible with new DA!?

Tom
Tom
6 years ago

I will never understand things like this.

Joe Bond
Joe Bond
6 years ago

I wonder if they’ll be touted for their self lubricating properties as you’re turning money into powdered graphite.

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