Clearly, 1x drivetrains are so hot right now. At the center of the trend is the concept of the narrow wide chainring which uses alternating tooth profiles that are thick then thin to essentially grab the chain and keep it from bouncing off. Like all drivetrain components, chainrings wear and one of the concerns with the narrow-wide design has been the ability to retain the chain retention properties once the wide teeth start to wear out.
MRP’s answer to the quandary is to get rid of the narrow wide tooth profile all together. So how do you make a chainring that will retain the chain without the narrow-wide teeth? For MRP it’s all about riding the wave.
Full details on the new Wave chainring plus new chain guides, forks, and more, next…
Instead of forcing a wider tooth between the chain plates, MRP’s design pushes only one side of the chain. In order to keep the chain planted on the ring there are three tooth positions, left, center, and right. The teeth alternate from left to right and then right to left in a wave pattern that causes the chain to ride in a wave pattern on a small scale as it passes over the ring. Since the teeth are only pressing against one side of the chain, MRP claims the design offers increased security with less concentrated wear than other narrow wide chainrings.
MRP’s Noah Sears and Nick Simcik say that they have been testing the design for more than 6 months now with excellent results. The rings are machined from 7075 aluminum and are compatible with 9, 10, and 11 speed chains. Chain rings will be available in 4 bolt 104 BCD for 30, 32, 34, 26, and 38t, 5 bolt 110 BCD in 38, 40, and 42t rings, as well as SRAM direct mount options for GXP and BB30. The GXP DM rings use a -7 mm offset for a chainline that is 1mm narrower than previous, and both GXP and BB30 DM rings will be offered in 28, 30, 32, 34, and 36t. Four bolt rings will retail for $49.95, 5 bolt for $59.95, and DM for $79.95. Chainrings will start to be available in a staggered release late this year and into early next year.
Spotted first on the Reeb Cycles DJ bike, MRP is now offering their Slope DJ fork for either 26 or 27.5″ wheels. Based on their 34mm chassis, the forks will have 100-120mm of internally adjustable travel with an extremely progressive EQUALair spring that will allow for aggressive riding with low air pressure.
Equipped with standard rebound and compression adjust, Slope forks come in around 4.3 pounds with a tapered steerer and 15mm Qtaper axle. Slope forks will retail for $899.
In the chainguide area, MRP is introducing carbon models of their SE, FD, and new CX1 seat tube mount 1x guides. The guides use either pressed or machined carbon mounting brackets and offer lighter weight at $115 each. Their ISCG 1x guide will also get a bit of an upgrade as they have determined that 2 mounting bolts are all that is necessary. The removal of the third bolt and machining away of half of the aluminum mounting structure will reduce the weight of both the aluminum and carbon mounts.
Speaking of carbon, MRP has a new front derailleur mount cover for the true weight weenies out there. The carbon FD mount cover comes in at just 4g for the cover and the bolt, and will retail for the same price as the decapitator if you value weight over post ride beverages (or are ok with cracking beers open with your pedal).
