In a recent press release from Wolf Tooth Components, they shared their plans to expand their Drop-Stop one-by chainring line. We love to let our readers in on new gear, and have a soft spot for those that make it right here in the USA. In a short time, Wolf Tooth has come to rate high on our list of quality bike parts. They have always been innovative in the bike scene, so we are proud to share these chainrings that have been specifically manufactured to include Shimano’s road cranksets. Roadies, cyclo-cross racers, and gravel grinders unite!
We wanted them. You asked for them.
We made them.
That‘s right: Wolf Tooth Components‘ Drop-Stop one-by chainrings are now available for Dura-Ace, Ultegra, 105, and Tiagra cranks with Shimano‘s asymmetric 4x110mm bolt pattern.
Beautifully machined from hard-wearing 7075-T6 aluminum, the 110BCD Asymmetric 4-Bolt chainrings take advantage of Wolf Tooth‘s patent-pending Drop-Stop® tooth profile for unrivaled chain retention and mud shedding. The 38-44t even-sized chainrings are ideal for cyclocross, road, and gravel applications, bringing the advantages of quiet, lightweight, and secure single-ring drive trains to some of the best and most popular cranksets on the market.
Wolf Tooth Components designs and fabricates all Drop Stop chainrings in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Designed to be mounted in the outer chainring position, 110BCD Asymmetric 4-Bolt chainrings are offset for a 1x road-optimized 44mm chainline.
Wolf Tooth 110BCD Asymmetric 4-Bolt chainrings are now available* in black for $78.95. Complimentary US-made single-ring-specific 6mm chainring bolt sets are also available in eight colors.
*38t, 40t, 42t on available now. 44t available Nov 13.
**
In the past we have featured the Drop-Stop one-by chain ring, and tested it on a 1by9 setup. Since then, I have installed two more chainrings on my other mountain bikes. The strength, low weight, reliability, low cost, and customer service provided by Wolf Tooth is quite impressive to say the least.
Something to consider if you want to go to a Drop-Stop chainring on your crankset is how often you use the other rings. If not often, find a happy medium between all three or two rings if you have a compact crankset. Think of the added weight of the bulky front derailleur, the monstrous extra chainrings, the added shifter, cables, ect. Wouldn’t it look a lot cleaner with just one ring up front? Do you really need the added weight of these extra components for a just in case situation? Personally I’ve found by going to one chainring up front on my mountain bike to be quite liberating. I’ve dropped close to a pound in weight off my bikes on average and no longer do I have to worry about shifting multiple sets of gears.
The only thing simpler than converting to a one-by is to convert your bike to single speed. But if that is something you are considering Wolf Tooth makes equipment for that too.
– Ryan
The main question is did your test version indeed stop the chain from being dropped up front? Not just on the road but in real world bumpy descents where you’ve accidentally left it in the 11 at the back and the chain is slapping on the chain stay a bit?.
Also, interesting deep cut teeth profile, did you find chain wear (stretch) time improved?
Only drops I’ve ever had with a WT n/w ring are from me not paying attention and rotating foot in pedal and snagging chain with edge of shoe.
They seem to wear down in a year of solid riding/racing and require replacing. The narrow teeth will start to shark fin and hold the chain a little too long as it is going back off the ring. But still, awesome stuff
The only chain drop I ever experienced was when I tried to ride a double teeter totter. I fell off the side and the chain dropped. Other than that never a problem. Never had to replace my chain yet. I’ve been riding one bike this way for a year now.