• I noticed aarn have restocked 1/8" 144 bcd track chainrings in their online store as of yesterday.

    They are more expensive than I expected: total for a 'Basics' chainring posted to the UK is $128, which puts it into the price bracket of the likes of Dura Ace 7710 (around £85-95) and Sugino Zen (around £105). That's without attracting potential import duty and VAT.

    One of my fixed audax friends has been using an aarn for some years and raves about its durability and roundness. This is exactly what I am after for a similar application, married to an Omnium chainset. I've used cheaper ones like Gebhardt and Velosolo until now and would like something a bit nicer.

    So: are aarn that good or is this more of a hipster tax situation? What's the forum consensus on 'nice' chainrings up to about £100?

    Nim

  • hipster tax

    This.

  • Maybe you are set on buying new but I can’t remember the last time I bought a new track ring. They are so easy to find in good condition as they’ve never been used outside.

    I bought half a dozen rings from a guy at the last jumble I was at, mix of Dura Ace and Sugino 75, all mint condition. Think it was £75 for the lot so like £12.50 each.

    Even if you don’t get that lucky you can definitely get the DA and Sugino rings for a fraction of the cost of the Aarn.

  • Some may remember I was punting a couple of 49t AARN rings on here a while ago. From memory, after import duty they cost me about £130 or £140 each.
    I sold them on as I switched to 47t.
    I regularly use Sugino 75 and 7710 rings on all my bikes. They 'feel' to me at least as stiff and round as the AARN if not more so.

  • hipster tax situation

    As mentioned above

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