Stainless steel chainrings

What does the panel think about a 3/32" stainless ring in place of a 1/8" alloy ring for small sizes? It is a 1/8" chain and sprocket so it might be marginally noisier. Unfortunately no-one seems to make 1/8" stainless steel rings.

It'll be fine. I ran that combo for about 5,000m on my old pug and it was quiet.

Hubjub sell a Surly ring here. Also Fyximatosis branded rings exist, they might even be 1/8".

I'm going to try an alloy Goldtec chainring when this Campag's dead. They can be flipped – which is neat.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/174535033612

Found these on ebay, seem good quality and decent price.
Should last forever
Apologies for the dredging.

They look good, would be good to know which steel they’re made of. Let us know how they do if you get one.

Found this company too, these are made in uk, and also do a super thick 3mm version too, chainring for life.
https://www.bikepunx.com/5x144-bcd-chainrings-219-c.asp

Cheers for posting that.

Chainring for me and some soap for Mrs m_v's crimbo on the way!

Which ones are you getting? And let me know what they are like esp the finish. I think I deserve to treat myself too.

A 3mm 46t 144bcd ring and the Orange and lavender soaps.

Such a weird combination of things!

Cheers ... chainring is gonna be beast! I know someone that uses on for cyclocross

They look interesting!

I have one of those eBay track rings to fit. I can’t really comment on roundness until it’s in use ... but it looks to be good quality.

Does anyone know where these ebay rings came from?

I don’t. The same seller has had them available for a few years I think. There is a post on TT Forum offering them for sale.

The cogs look good too.

I asked him. He says he has them made. Suggested to him there'd also be a small market for 130BCD but possibly bigger than for 144?

Got my Bikepunx chainring in this morning. I'd exchanged a few emails with Michaela as they were out of stock of the 46t 144bcd 3mm that I ordered but they were really great and got a batch made super quickly.

I was going to wait till spring to fit it but that its looks bloody indestructible so I think I'll chuck it on first chance I get.

Nice eco friendly packaging on everything too.

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Menacing looking teeth on that, bit less relief/rounding on the tips of the teeth than most rings have?

I'd agree. Maybe they used their own sprocket profile formula.

Menacing looking teeth on that,

Indeed! @gbj_tester - what do you reckon?

what do you reckon?

Most designs have much more flank relief than that, but as long as there's enough, clearance is clearance. This is what "full profile" looks like on a bigger chainring

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And here's the same tooth count with a simplified profile which has more relief at the top of the teeth, so the theoretical roller engagement point is moved from the tip to about 80% down the flank

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Well I didn’t get around to fitting it yesterday so can’t comment on how it runs yet.

Fuller profile would retain the chain better if that were an issue (eg 1x drivetrain) I think?

Drawbacks? Slightly more friction from earlier engagement/later release of the chain rollers?

Done a couple rides on my Bikepunx chainring now and can't say it runs noticeably rougher than the Miche it replaced.

Probably not as smooth as a Dura Ace but then again, last time I used that it was summer, I had a nice fresh chain on and I didn't take the bike it was fitted to out in the wet.

I noticed my chain was really pretty slack* when I got back from my ride today so tried pushing it off the ring just out of curiosity and couldn't so maybe there are benefits to the 'menacing' tooth profile.

*I'm sure I've stopped mid ride to sort my chain tension when its been that loose before as I've felt what I thought to be the chain sort of catching on the top of teeth. Didn't feel that at all today.

I was hoping to pull the trigger on the 'menacing' teeth ring over Xmas, but got refurloughed so thought I should hold off.
The noise doesn't bother me but worried that the ring especially being steel with menacing teeth will adversely effect life span of the chain.

I think it will not. Chain life is determined by wear on the inner surfaces (pin/bushing wear). Wear on the rollers which bear against the chain ring and the exterior of the bushing (or bushingless surface) is irrelevant for life although can become noisy. I do not think that tooth profile can impact on the inner surface wear although I suppose it might increase roller wear?

On the other hand, we know chains wear rapidly to 'match' a worn chain ring or sprocket and vice versa, a worn chain will wear the sprocket and ring. A harder wearing chainring should theoretically take longer to become worn.

Interesting..ill be sure to stick new chian on and hope it lasts. Itll be for the commuter.. so all weathers and poor cleaning schedule.