Chainrings
Used MTB chainrings from UK sellers, covering narrow-wide, direct mount and BCD-bolt patterns from Shimano, SRAM, Race Face, Hope, Wolf Tooth, absoluteBLACK, OneUp and more. Match the mount type and tooth count to your crankset before you buy.
What tooth count should I run?
The chainring tooth count sets where your gear range sits. A 32T is the default for trail riding, balancing climbing against flat-ground speed; 30T is better for steep, technical climbing on enduro and steep trails; 34T suits faster, less steep riding and XC; and 28T is extreme climbing territory for ultra-steep alpine riding. A 2T change in chainring size is roughly equivalent to one gear shift, so the choice isn't dramatic — but it affects every gear in your range.
Direct mount or BCD?
Direct mount chainrings attach to a splined interface on the crank arm, and SRAM DUB, Shimano Direct Mount, Race Face Cinch and Hope all use proprietary spline patterns. BCD (Bolt Circle Diameter) chainrings bolt to a spider with 4 or 5 bolts, with 104mm BCD the most common MTB standard. You must match the mount type to your crankset. Wolf Tooth and absoluteBLACK make chainrings in almost every mount pattern, which is why they're popular on builds that mix brands.
What does narrow-wide actually do?
Narrow-wide chainrings have alternating thick and thin teeth that match the chain's alternating inner and outer plates. That interlocking keeps the chain on the ring without a chain guide on most terrain, and every quality 1x chainring uses narrow-wide profiling.
Are oval chainrings worth trying?
Oval (non-round) chainrings from absoluteBLACK and Wolf Tooth modulate the pedalling force through the stroke. Some riders swear by them for climbing traction, others notice no difference — they're worth trying if you're curious, and the change in feel comes through the pedals rather than in the gear range.
Alloy or steel?
Alloy chainrings (7075 aluminium) are light, stiff and relatively affordable. Steel chainrings last 2-3x longer but weigh more. For most riders alloy is the right choice — chainrings are a consumable item and the 30-50g weight saving over steel is noticeable. If you ride in extremely abrasive conditions like sand and grit and burn through alloy rings, stainless steel options from Race Face, Wolf Tooth and Hope will save money long-term. Used rings often appear in the same listings as other MTB components when a drivetrain is stripped.