Chain Suck....? Why am I knackering it?

[Gazzab]

Had terrible chain suck last weekend - so got the front granny ring changed this week and all is well (and whilst he was it he changed the front crank bearings/cup...things as they were stiff). anyway all now back to normal. This is the 2nd front granny ring I have had in less than a year. I am only riding once a week, albeit reasonably tuff stuff, with lots of hard terrain long steep climbs.
The rings are XT.
Any idea why I am wearing them out so quickly? I wash, degrease, lube etc the bike well after each ride. I wonder whether I am using the front granny ring with those gears at the back that put the chain at more stressful angles? This weekend I concentrated on ensuing I kept the chain 'straight'.
any idea what wears out a granny ring so quick? cheers.

[snotrag]

XT is high end, light weight kit.

Im not saying there aren't are underlying problems but - XT kit doesnt have an indefinite life.

Where do you live? Whats the mud like? Soggy broadleaf forest type mud, or Peaks style gritstone sandy mud?

Is it M770 XT? So I guess Steel inner, Alloy/composite middle and Alloy outer?


The Shimano rings give great shifting at the price of reduced life. Next time aroumd might be worth looking at Middelbrun hardcote maybe.

STW forum will be a useful place to ask the masses.

[Parrot of Doom]

The XT rings are made from cheese. Next time, replace them with Deore rings - steel. They'll last years, and you will never notice the weight difference.

[Mr E]

Granny and big ring will be softer than the centre "normal" ring to save weight.

If you climb a lot, especially if it's a bit gritty, not surprised you wear them out.

Depressingly, I wear the middle ring out these days on the commute to work.

[Gazzab]

Cheers guys. Yeah I live in the Peak Park so am climbing in White Peak gritstone based mud etc....
Maybe next time I will dump the XT stuff.
When I lived in surrey my hardtail (again XT front rings) never wore out and that was 2 yrs of 2 x 2 or 3 hour rides every week in all conditions (but the hills are smaller and the mud softer).

[snotrag]

Thats your problem.

When I lived in Sheffield a twice weekly ride up the hill towards the Hope Valley put more wear on my bike in a few months than i'd ever done in years.


What chains are you using? Might be worth running 2 chains to minimise wear in that respect.

Edited by snotrag on Monday 16th November 16:31

[Gazzab]

snotrag said:

Thats your problem.

When I lived in Sheffield a twice weekly ride up the hill towards the Hope Valley put more wear on my bike in a few months than i'd ever done in years.


What chains are you using? Might be worth running 2 chains to minimise wear in that respect.

Edited by snotrag on Monday 16th November 16:31

I use a SRAM chain.
What tyres did you use in the Peaks. I am struggling to find tyres that can deal with the varied terrain eg big rocks, roots, mud, loose small rocks etc....... I know there is no miracle tyre but I wonder what a good compromise is?