Too Risky to Ride?

Dammit The chain is sitting slightly to one side on the chain ring but I put that down to it being a nine speed width chain ring with a 1/8th inch chain, plus the bash ring doubtless is not helping!

Well, yeah, it isn't going to help. If you want a virtually silent drive chain you need to change cog, chainring and chain all at once and for it all to be either 3/32 or 1/8.

The grumbling noise is coming from the rear sprocket, not the front, which is why I am confused.

Well if the chain is coming off the chain ring towards the cog at a funny angle it's going to hit the cog incorrectly = noise.

The cranks and chain ring need to be changed anyway, but first I need to find a 104bcd 38 tooth 1/8th inch chain ring- any ideas?!
I quite fancy Shimano Saint cranks, more for the incongruity of them on the bike than anything else...[/quote]

Google, eBay, just try all the usual places. St John's St Cycle have loads chainrings on their website if i remember rightly.