Retro Chainrings ?

[Jan-Cor]

To finish my project I only need chainrings and the chain.
It's for my GT rts-1 with black Kooka ( bcd 94/58 ) but which chainrings are really retro?

On eBay there are lots of Raceface but I think they are too young or not?

XTR M900 I cannot find it anywhere.
And I prefer black chainrings because I think it looks way better.

What do you think about it?
What options do I have ?

 

[Splatter Paint]

Re:

Stronglight / Middleburn / TA Specialities are all popular

 

[syncrosfan]

Pending on how high your budget is, there's a set of Moonhead Machine chainrings on evilbay (166$). Expensive but the nicest machined chainrings I've ever owned (they shift really well too). They're newish but still look retro.

 

[Jan-Cor]

Well that's the problem.
They all look retro but are newish.
I've found Cannondale rings but they are way too expensive but are the best looking I'v ever seen.

The TA, Stronglight etc are they really retro or also newish ?

 

[syncrosfan]

Aaah, the Cannondale Magic Motorcycle rings! Really nice looking but bloody expensive! A fellow retorbiker from Canada had a big Race Face chain-ring blowout not too long ago.
He has the proper (good looking) old school rings not the ugly new ones, had quite a few too. 94/58 BCD in black, do a search on the site. Fact is: it's getting more and more difficult to find proper old school wear and tear items in NOS condition (especially chainrings and casettes), and if you find them the seller wants outrageous amounts of money for them. The TA, Stronglight and such are new chainrings but look fairly classic. I have the polished Moonhead Machine chainrings on my '95 Sweet Wings cranks and they look pretty good together... sometime you gotta go modern.

 

[FMJ]

I can get new standard and compact first gen. outer and granny (Al + Ti) Race Face rings by the dozens. The inner rings are hard to come by. Stands to reason, as you spend most of the time in it, hence they were replace more often.

 

[hamster]

Well that's the problem.
They all look retro but are newish.
I've found Cannondale rings but they are way too expensive but are the best looking I'v ever seen.

The TA, Stronglight etc are they really retro or also newish ?

TA rings are essentially unchanged in 25 years.

 

[xerxes]

Re:

I think TA and Stronglight have been around since the 1930s or 40s, they do make some other components, but I think both companies are best known for cranks and chainrings.

In any case, here you go:

http://www.stronglight.com/stronglight/ ... _catalogue

http://www.specialites-ta.com/gb/plateau-compact.html

 

[Max Mudroom]

I had the same problem replacing a 94BCD STX outer chainring recently. I really wanted a matching Shimano one but all second hand ones that come up tend to be worn out. NOS can be found, but as mentioned by Syncrosfan above tend to be too expensive, in my opinion. OK if you're building a period-correct museum piece perhaps. It takes patience for one to come up, too.

The only new ones I could find available were Stronglight, TA and Middleburn.

I went for Stronglight in the end, they're an established brand and look the same as they always did. I think they are the best value of the new rings mentioned here (although I happened to find a brand new one going cheap on eBay so was lucky). They are available from Spa Cycles in the UK. Looks the retro part because they are just plain rings with no ramps or pins. Doesn't shift quite so well as a Shimano ring but it is hardly noticeable in practice.

If your budget will stretch then I would be tempted to go for Middleburn Slickshift, available in different colours and I think they would look good on a retro ride.

 

[FMJ]

Just the RF granny rings. There's hundreds of RF, and Shimano rings hanging on the same wall. Some Syncros and Black Spire, Real, and Vuelta as well. I should take a pic of the entire wall.

I had the same problem replacing a 94BCD STX outer chainring recently. I really wanted a matching Shimano one but all second hand ones that come up tend to be worn out. NOS can be found, but as mentioned by Syncrosfan above tend to be too expensive, in my opinion. OK if you're building a period-correct museum piece perhaps. It takes patience for one to come up, too.

Compact Shimano is easy to find. Found this yesterday while looking for something else. It's the standard stuff that's getting to be a bit harder to find.