New drivetrain

[bonker]

After three years of hard all year round commuting my Giant Bowery is sounding a bit gritty. I thought I would treat it to a new chainring, chain and rear sprocket.

I'm looking low cost. Any ideas?

BTW if I buy a new 42T chainring off Wiggle are all of the bolt holes in a standard form?

 

[Pennine-Paul]

Chainrings vary due to bcd (bolt circle diameter)
this usually quoted on the description
eg could be 104 130 135
If your buying a new chainset it will come with a chainring anyway
miche do a decent one for around £50,I'd treat myself to a sugino if i had the money
they're around £70 ish tho

 

[Smurfy]

Stainless will last a lot, lot longer than aluminium alloy at the front:

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CROOSS/on_one_stainless_chainring

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/surly-stainless-steel-38t-to-44t-chainring/

Cheaper than Wiggle:

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/surly-110-pcd-5-arm-stainless-steel-chainring-42t-silver-prod19787/

Sheldon tells you how to measure BCD: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_bo-z.html#bcd

And there's a cribsheet of BCD and bolt-to-bolt measurements too: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/cribsheet-bcd.html

 

[bonker]

Chains are cheap as chips so I'll be getting a new one.
The back sprocket looks OK. Should I change that while I'm at it ?

 

[PpPete]

What's making it "gritty" ? More likely to be BB or wheel hubs than the cogs and chain on a SS ?

 

[fossyant]

Get a Miche Advanced chain ring - very nice (got one myself)

 

[fossyant]

Ah, the Miche isn't cheap - sorry !

Gritty will be the chain. Change the rear sprocket and the chain - much cheaper, and give the chainring a good clean - it will be unlikely you have worn that. There saved you a few bob.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I use the Gebhardt Black Chain Rings, about half way down the page here
http://www.velosolo.co.uk/shopcrank.html
Are you sure you need to replace the drive train? Or does it just need a good clean? I must admit I usually change the transmission about every 12 months, the bike is used for commuting and winter club rides.

 

[bonker]

As it's 3 years old and has done all year round it must be due for a bit of TLC. I'll go for the chain and sprocket option and see how I get on. Thanks peeps.

 

[bonker]

Went for the sprocket and chain option. Bought the components at:
http://singlespeedcomponents.co.uk/
Fitted them in about 30 minutes ( spent most of the time messing around with the chaintugs which came out when I tried to loosen them).

The bike is now silky smooth and like new.

About £13 for both delivered.