FYXOMATOSIS 51T
144bcd CHAINRING

Andy's going to send along a chainring and asks "Which one do you want?"

"Well, as long as I've got a choice send me the biggest one you've got - 144 bolt centers too."

I might not be able to turn it over at 200 rpm like Anton, but at least I can't blame it on not having a big enough gear.

Seriously though, I'd been riding a 49x16 most of September and October including that hilly hundred miles that LostGears and I did in the middle of September and I was liking what riding a big gear was doing to my legs. Makin' 'em stronger that's what. Shit, I felt good after a month and a half.

So, whatda you know, when I opened the enveolope from Australia last Friday it was the 51T that emerged. I've been riding the rollers 6 days a week for the last month...some Krietler 4.5" Alloys (you'll see that review next week) ... with first a 46x16 and for the last few days the 49x16 on a Milwaukee frame.The Krietler 4.5's offer little resistance and I've been just rolling along ... and not surprisingly I've been dropping about a pound a week. Well more about that next week, let's hear if Andy's chainring is any good.

I pulled the Campy 49T off the Pista crankset and here's test #1....does the chainring drop right onto the spider or do I have to push it on? Slides right on and I've soon tightened the bolts (after a quick look around for any weasels) and adjusted the chain. Here's test #2 ... check the chain tension at 5 or 6 locations as I slowly turn the cranks. Nice! Even chain tension all around means a nicely concentric chainring. How's yours? It's surprising how many pretty big name rings and crankarms are'nt perfectly concentric. "I hate it when that happens."

Not surprisingly I was able to spin the bigger ring pretty well, We like it. This big 4mm Australian aluminum plate looks all business. It's what Andy calls a "raw" finish, but you'll be pretty happy with the slight polish on the outside and the unfinished inside of the ring looks way way better than most production chainring. The teeth are all nicely machined and ya' know? That 51 teeth makes this ring look pretty damn big.

Andy even offers a "5 Pack" deal. Buy 5 rings and get 10% off.

They're round, they're smooth, and Andy deserves it. While you're ordering, make sure you look over the rest of Andy's site. You'll find lots new there every week to look at. That's what it's all about, along with the riding, right?

Go there.

Ride safe and far...../dennis