Why Do We Need or Want Aftermarket XX1 Chain Rings?

After publishing this article about the current and coming aftermarket XX1 chain rings, I was asked: "Why!?!"

OK, so maybe it didn't have all the exclamation points, but it's still an important question. Why do we need aftermarket XX1 chain rings?

The simple answer for the manufacturers is that people will buy it, but let's dig a little deeper. Why will people buy them? What problems do they solve that other solutions don't?

One comment put it this way:

SRAM sells the chain rings by itself why not just get the real one?

Price -
We don't know the price of all the coming aftermarket chainrings, but from those that we have seen thus far, their prices aren't out of line compared to the OEM XX1 chainrings from SRAM. An ebay search for new XX1 chain rings shows us a range of prices starting at $90. Reputable and known online cycle component shops like JensonUSA are selling them for $100-$115.

Wolf Tooth Components has offerings starting at $79 for a 104mm BCD chain ring on up to $120 for a custom blue snowflake chain ring. These prices seem to fit nicely into the current pricing hierarchy.

Compatibility -
I think this is the primary reason that these aftermarket XX1 chain rings are being offered. SRAM decided to manufacture the XX1 chain rings and crank sets with a 76mm BCD(bolt circle diameter). This is a new "standard" and these chain rings are not compatible with any crank sets or spiders currently on the market.

Some riders may have bikes with bottom brackets not compatible with SRAM XX1 crankset current offerings. Other riders may have cranksets with power meters that they want to keep. Maybe they just have a crankset that they are happy with and don't want to lay out the money to upgrade. In each of these aforementioned situations, these riders are not able to use the OEM XX1 chainrings without a spider adapter  that adds cost and complexity.

None of the aftermarket rings that we know about so far are made in SRAM's 76mm BCD. They are all being made to retrofit existing cranksets.

Style -
Personally, I like the styling of SRAM's OEM XX1 chainrings, but a quick look at the aftermarket mountain bike component market should tell the obvious tale that mountain bikers have varied and eclectic tastes.

People like to have different options when it comes to design and style. The polished metal look of the OEM chainrings isn't for everyone. Personally, I'm looking forward to the e*thirteen chainrings:

If you are looking for something different in the style department, you should definitely check out the colorful Race Face narrow wide chainrings they showed at the Sea Otter Classic.

What reasons can you see for these aftermarket XX1 chainring offerings?

Racing for Mountain Bike Innovation

I love what competition does for any industry, sector, etc. It speeds up innovation. It causes people and organizations to stretch and reach for innovations and ideas that otherwise might never have entered someone's mind let alone made it to a drawing board.

Look at the technological innovations that happen in F1 racing. Exotic new materials and technologies are developed to wring every last drop of power and efficiency within the confines of the rules. Not all these technologies will trickle down to our personal vehicles, but a surprising number of them do.

Photo by Martin Pettitt

First, the high-end boutique car makers start to use the technologies, then the more mainstream manufacturers throw it into their "halo" vehicle, then a decade later, we see a more practical, cost-effective version in our own vehicle.

It works much the same way when it comes to bikes. Manufacturers use their mountain bike racing teams for R&D. If they see something that works, it trickles down to production. Fortunately, it seems the gap between mountain bike R&D and production is getting smaller and smaller.

Part of it may be the fact that mountain bikers are an inquisitive bunch. Maybe you could call it gear obsession? Either way, we watch carefully for new technologies.

I don't have numbers to back this up, but anecdotal evidence seems to suggest that a higher percentage of active mountain bikers follow and try to keep up with new technologies and trends than in the auto industry. I rarely meet a mountain biker that doesn't have an opinion on single-speed drivetrains or 650b wheels. I could be wrong, but that's the way it seems.

Why is this?

My personal opinion is that the gap between the typical mountain bike rider and the typical mountain bike racer is not perceived to be that large. When you look at auto racing and all the money, it seems so far fetched and impossible. When you look at riders on the World Cup Circuit, they seem more... like us. More accessible. More down-to-earth.

Photo by JMDGolfman

Obviously there is a huge skill gap. There is a reason we all aren't sponsored and racing around the world, but because this gap is perceived to be smaller, the gear and technologies used on the race bikes also seem more accessible. It's easier to see how it works, how it helps the racer, and how it could also help us.

Photo by Steven Wilke

Average Joe mountain biker wants that new piece of gear ASAP after seeing his favorite racer flaunt it on the international racing circuit and that's where capitalism steps in. Because people are following the new mountain bike technologies more closely, the market for these new technologies develops more quickly.

Yes, I know there are other factors in play like less regulation, less complexity, scale, etc., but I think a big reason that mountain bike technologies trickle down faster is because mountain bikers pay closer attention.

What think ye?