Wolf Tooth Components Shines with 30T 104BCD Drop Stop Ring in 416 Stainless Steel

Written by Zach Overholt Jul 15, 2015 11:00 a.m. ET

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One by drivetrains are great, but not all riders can or want to push bigger rings. Fortunately for them, a number of manufacturers have introduced ways to get rings that are smaller than the standard 32t on various cranks. Rings like the Wolf Tooth Components Drop Stop 30t which uses threaded posts in order to clear the spider on your average 104 BCD crankset.

The downside to downsizing your chainrings is that the smaller rings in some cases wear noticeably faster. After all that’s the theory behind Shimano’s Dynasys – keeping the chain in bigger gears up front helps to diminish overall wear. Rather than throwing out the chainring with the chain lube however, WTC has an answer. Utilizing a material that is by their own account incredibly difficult to make chainrings out of, WTC is introducing their second stainless steel chainring option which happens to be the first for 104 BCD cranks…

In spite of the fact that 416 stainless steel is expensive and takes longer to machine, WTC feels it is the perfect material for narrow-wide chainrings like their Drop Stop rings due to how much longer it will last. Claiming 5-10 times the lifespan of a comparable aluminum chainring, the SS rings are designed and manufactured in Minneapolis and use their patented Drop Stop tooth pattern.

Weighing in at 72g for the 30t chainring, the ring uses a standard 48mm chainlink when used on a 3x crank and 49mm chainlink when used on a 2x crank. The 30t SST ring joins the 24t SDM SST which WTC has been selling for now for about 6 months. According to WTC’s Brendan Moore, their testers have been on the 24t rings trying to destroy them, but without a single report of wear issues.

As an added bonus, WTC claims the 30t 104 BCD Drop Stop ring is the only 30t ring that is Quarq power meter compatible thanks to the little cutout at the edge. Currently only available in 30t, WTC says they may consider a 32t SST ring due to the popularity of that size. However, Brendan points out that once you get to 32-34t chainrings their larger size makes the aluminum rings fairly durable which means the additional cost of the SST rings will be harder to justify at $119.95 for the 30t 104 SST. However, WTC listens to their consumers and if there is a demand – they will be more than happy to make it.

Riders looking for even smaller SST rings will be happy to hear that WTC will be releasing 26-30t direct mount rings for SRAM starting in August.

wolftoothcomponents.com

Zach Overholt

5,630 articles

Zach Overholt is the Editor in Chief of Bikerumor. He has been writing about what’s new in the bicycle world for 12+ years. Prior to that, Zach spent many years in the back of a bicycle shop building and repairing nearly every type of bike, while figuring out how to (occasionally) ride them.

Based in Ohio, Zach is now slowly introducing a new generation to cycling and still trying to figure out how to fit the most rides into a busy schedule as a new dad.

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WV Cycling

8 years ago

Bam! Sold!

I’m going to be the doofus that uses this on a double, doing a 20t granny ring, and this 30t (single intended) with an 11-30 rear. Save weight, still have the gears I need.

Shifting ease? Pfeh 😛

Eric Hansen

8 years ago

Would this not walk chainline toward the centerline of the bike? Either way, WV Cycling, shifting on and off this ring is going to be exceptionally sh*tty in a double configuration.

J N H

8 years ago

I want my 32t 104 steel narrow wide already. As the owner of a positively ancient Stronglight chainring that will still be good at the heat death of the universe, no Alu chainring has yet been invented that can cut it. The Alu one on my mtb is visibly wearing and I’ve only ridden it for a thousand miles!

CXisFun

8 years ago

Shifting on and off this chainring will work 50% of the time at best since the teeth need to match up to the chain. So unless you plan on dismounting, moving the chain by hand, then continuing on, I’d recommend against trying this as part of a double setup.

WV Cycling

8 years ago

Hmm, as stated, poor ideas are that. Ideas.

What’s the chance I could get WTC to one off me a regular-tooth setup?

I’ve had way too much coffee this morning, and love hypothetical ideas.

Derek

8 years ago

There are plenty of steel shifting rings available if that’s what you’re after.

anonymous

8 years ago

So are these heat treated, or just annealed for easy machining?

Heat treatment is half the formula to making hard wearing steel, not just the chemical formulation.

rob

8 years ago

YES, this is what was really needed, thanks guys, but I want one in 32 and others no doubt 34. Alloys wear out to quickly out here in the UK.

chasejj

8 years ago

WV-I have a hand shift 30TWTC DropStop and a 22T on a 64/104 spider for my Raceface Next SL.
I hand shift it when the climbing gets steep and long. No big deal as long as the shifts are 1-2 a ride.

chasejj

8 years ago

SS sems like a great idea if super low weight is not a concern. But I have to wonder if chainring wear is preferable to chain wear?

I have noticed wear on my NW rings but chain life is pretty good even when running 10 and 11 speed chains. I use Shimano XTR chains and am pretty good with lube and cleaning. I think the 1X and small chainline extremes (compared to 2x and 3X setups) is responsible for less chain wear.

Pete

8 years ago

Too bad WTC only makes up to 34t drop stop singles… Anything less than a 36t is for weaklings.

J N H

8 years ago

@Chasejj, chain wear is preferable to chainring wear, rapid chainring wear is an indicator of chain stretch and a worn chain will keep ruining chainrings and cassettes attached to it until it’s removed. I always used to tell customers to buy cheap chains and bin them regularly, three cheap kmc chains a year (if you ride a lot) is still less money than one XTR/Dura Ace chain and your chainring/cassette will last longer too.

Tad Dickman

8 years ago

CXisFun – are you drunk? Or just not paying attention? It’s a ring for 1x. There is no shifting in front. All narrow-wides are for 1x. Arm chair mechanics are hilarious.

Awesome

8 years ago

@ Tad Dickman, I believe @CXisFun was replying to @WV Cycling who further down reposted that the idea was “poor”. Don’t worry, @CXisFun is not drunk and all has been resolved.

@Pete “Anything less than a 36t is for weaklings.” .Yep a 1:1 ratio is all that is needed. 11-36 10spd on the rear and 36 on the front.

Here is a quote from the early 1900’s, I think from the organiser of the TdF.
“I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five….We are getting soft… As for me, give me a fixed gear!” — Henri Desgrange

WolfTooth

8 years ago

@anonymous — Yes, they are heat treated after machining. Also electropolished after hardening for increased corrosion resistance (and it makes them look really nice).

Brendan

8 years ago

@anonymous – after machining it is heat treated then electropolished.

Marco

8 years ago

Titanium Grade 5 is better material and it is much more lighter than steel.
Carbon-Ti makes it.

Major Glory

8 years ago

These are cool but be sure the 48mm chainline works on your bike before you buy.

J.D.

8 years ago

Thank you WTC ! Will be ordering.

jeff

8 years ago

That’s a really impressive looking chainring.

ranggapanji

8 years ago

Zach, I think you meant 48mm chainline, not chainlink.

Tom

8 years ago

I would buy one of these immediately, if/when available for X1 stuff (94 bcd?).

ginsu

8 years ago

Get the Surly steel ring, save money. Positively bad idea to use the WTC in a double!

Jantzen

8 years ago

Why would a 48mm chainline not work for anyone? I have yet to see a bike where it would not.

Also, for the guys at WT, is 416 superior to 300 (by that I mean stronger and more corrosion resistant)? I thought 416 was a “lesser” SS for the most part, but it was machinable.