absoluteBLACK Sub-Compact Oval Chainring Review - 48/32 & 46/30 with Shimano Ultegra Cranks!
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- Опубліковано 11 вер 2024
- "absoluteBLACK is a cycling company devoted to extraordinary design, European manufacturing and production of parts that not only perform great, but also last long."
"absoluteBLACK introduces premium Gravel - Road 110/4 oval chainrings in Sub-compact (super compact) sizes to improve your climbing and cadence."
JOM of the Gravel Cyclist crew reviewed these two chainring pairings of 48/32 & 46/30 with a Shimano Ultegra 6800 series 11-speed crankset. Part of his review included thrashing the 46/30 pair at the 2018 Dirty Kanza 200!
Link to Tony Brandotti's absoluteBLACK edition T-Lab X3 - wp.me/p4V4se-63Z
This video is a collaboration with GravelCyclist.com and BikeRumor.com
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Interesting. I thought about buying the fsa adventure chain set. Now I found through your video a new way of getting easier gearing for less money. Thanks!!!
Wondering if the oval chainring would wear out a rear derailleur with a clutch since its constantly varying the chain length.
Quite simply the most beautiful craftmanship on my bike - okay maybe they are cnc'ed on a robot, but everytime I look at them I think Wow :.)
Great video.
Great review thanks it's a petty shimano wouldn't think along the same lines as absolute black
Thanks for posting this video. I purchased a lynskey gr260 based on your reviews. I usually ride road and I purchased it with a 50/34t chainset but I am going to start doing more gravel/off road riding and I was struggling because I was already thinking how much I'd suffer. Thanks to your video I've found a pretty nice solution.
Thanks again.
You are welcome. As an FYI, if you don't want to run an ovalized ring, you can purchase a Shimano 46T round chainring - assuming you have a Shimano 11-speed groupset? If you have a 6800 series crankset, you will need to purchase the Ultegra 6800 Outer Chainring Bolt and Cap Set if you want to make it look nicely finished.
Gravel Cyclist yes, I bought the Shimano Ultegra 6800. Thanks I'll be looking into the chainring bolt and cap. I'm trying to make this my n=1. But it is better if I can change a few parts once in a while. Have you ever install a Lauf fork in a gravel bike are you planning to do it or perhaps other forks? That'd be a nice video too. Hehe thanks
Check out my Lauf Fork review - www.gravelcyclist.com/bicycle-tech/review-lauf-grit-fork-does-it-take-the-edge-off-the-rough-stuff/ - a short video accompanies it. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to do a full video review on this one, so you have to read the review so it all makes sense.
Gravel Cyclist great. Thanks again. Great content.
@@GravelCyclist any recommendations to pair with Sora 3000?
"One cog harder when climbing" with the oval chainring. That's a result, and it fits with the main concept behind non-round chainrings. Thanks. I stumbled on an Absolute Black video that is supposed to be scientific testing. I think it was shear malarky. But one cog harder when climbing does makes sense and worth having for a race. I'm not a racer. I've got an old Biopace chainring, no complaints, I only notice a difference on very steep, very slow, very low cadence (because I'd prefer to have a lower gear) climbs.
Great video, loved the on board camera work. I'm buying a set of these for my new road bike build.
Tempting, will budget for it and pick them up next year or maybe ask for them as a Christmas gift this year! Thanks for the review!
Excellent production and share , Thank You , Mate !
Going to try this on my 1x bike. Gotta love a single chainring.
Excellent video. Thanks.
Awesome review! I had to buy the Ultegra to replace my 105 5700 to accommodate the 4 bolt 46/30 Absolute Black.
It's compatible to 105 5800. For Tiagra 4700 their website says "*requires modification - please contact us" - I guess it's a similar incompatibility on the 5700 105? For better understanding- Would it have taken too much time or hassle to do it yourself or cost or why did you prefer to swap the cranks instead?
Just curious.
Btw, "Rides of Japan" made a fabulous DIY video about his 1x conversion with a probably similar modification of the Wolftooth chainring ( including his very instructive error😋) - maybe that's what absoluteBLACK mean about modification.
ua-cam.com/video/B0N07GfnNw4/v-deo.html
Great footage.
Despite these chain rings being advertised for gravel they move the chain line 3mm inboard. If your gravel bike has wide spaced chainstays to accommodate wide tyres then the inner chain ring can foul the chain stay. If there rear OLD is 135mm then the cassette is moved 2.5mm outboard further deflecting the chainline and making small / small cross chaining impossible
Hey Jamie, I didn't have any problems during the review, but I appreciate you chiming in with this helpful observation.
3 years later I just found out this. What was your solution?
@@partyinparadise My solution was to put them on my wife's bike that has less tyre clearance and narrower chain stays.
Why would you ride in small/small?
@@Tullebukk75 because I am human.
Interesting setup. For the 9070 rear derailleur, are you running that with a 30/32 tooth cassette? And for the front derailleur braze-on, did you move the front der down at all from the position it was in with 50/34 chainrings (or was it at the bottom previously)?
Do you think 46/30 exclusive road use (ultra distance/audax) will be be good? or maybe the 48/32 will be better?
48/32 to a 12 25 would be perfect. For endurance and climbs in my opinion
Can i run this 48/32t to my 11-46 cassette? Any suggestion? Tq
At 9:29 when you talk about appearance what is the Spider on the Easton crank? I would love the same crank set.
Once again, thanks for an awesome review and valuable insight! I guess this makes the Ultegra long cage with 11-34, obsolete, since you can get a 'better than 1:1' with this 46/30 and a mid cage with 11-32!... and save a few grams!
Peter, I don't know if you've checked out my video where I cover my 2018 bike for DK200? I ran 46/30 AB combo at that race with a short cage Dura-Ace 9000 rear derailleur paired to an 11-32 cassette. Less chance of picking up sticks and other crud with a short cage derailleur, handy if you ride the bike on trails once in a while, etc
Gravel Cyclist did you need a “roadlink” for your DA rear mech to work with the 11-32?
No Roadlink required. This also works with the short cage Ultegra derailleur, Di2 or mechanical as well.
Thanks. Just ordered the 46/30 direct from them. How long did shipping take?
Less than a week in my experience.
Interesting. I stumbled across this review as I’ve just ordered my first gravel frame, a Lynskey GR270, to be sent over to me in Australia and have been pondering whether to build it with 1x or 2x. I’m a keen road cyclist using an awesome Canyon Ultimate which runs Shimano Ultegra but interestingly had been thinking about Absolute Black chain rings on that bike to assist climbing. Here you have given me some good reasons to consider 2x Shimano with Absolute Black chain rings. The trend seems to be 1x SRAM but you might have turned me to a smarter route when you consider that with the 2x rings in various sizes I could switch out sizes for different purposes and even between my road and gravel bikes. Given me great ideas. Thanks!
Thank you Brett, good luck with your build!
Pretty much in same boat as you. Ride Canyon Endurace road with eTap on road, and just received Lynskey GR PRO frame. Building it with Shimano Di2 r8070 and AB 46/30 chainrings.
Reasons are 1: I do not like Sram disc brakes calipers (to say at least), replaced them on Canyon with Hope RS4 calipers and didn't want to go same road on gravel bike. 46/30 chainrings and 11-42 cassette on 650B wheels give me same range as my mountain bike I sold in favor of GR PRO. On other hand 46/30 with 11-30 or 11-34 gives me perfect range for less steeper gravel / fire /paved roads on 700c wheelset. Di2 Rx805 or mechanical Rx800 rear derailleurs clear 11-42 cassette on GR PRO with easy without any extenders such as Wolf tooth roadlink etc. AB subcompacts made GR PRO really great all terrain bike. Win-win in my books
Vitaliy Uvakin thanks. Those are useful ideas as I ponder my build
Thank you. Do you think, a 48-30 combination would be compatible with a Sram (Force Etap AXS) front derailleur?
Something else: do you think, a 1 x or 2x (with an 11 or 12 cassette) Sram groupset (save for the crank) would be compatible with non-Sram (i.e., Shimano, FSA, Rotor, Campagnolo etc.) cranks?
Thank you.
I am not really sure, you're talking about an 18 tooth jump there. As for your other question, I don't think the cranks would pose much of a problem. However, the best way to find out the answers for all of this is to try and see.
@@GravelCyclist Thank you, Gravel Cyclist. There's so little information on this topic online. The shifting ratios are discussed everywhere, but Shimano-Sram chainring to derailleur, chain etc. mix-and-match compatibility is a rarely discussed.
I got these and have a problem, when I switch to the highest gear the chain slips off the outside of the chainring.
Jamil Uddin did you check/adjust your upper limit screw?
Great video. Why Shimano, SRAM and Campag don't offer these two chain ring sizes is beyond me. Incidentally, did the manufacturer mention compatibility with SRAM eTap? Or SRAM in general?
Thanks Darren. I don't see why those chainrings on a Shimano crank wouldn't work with eTap. I have eTap on my gravel travel aka Ritchey Breakaway Ti CX, but that machine is running a dedicated 46/30 FSA crankset, else I'd give it a whirl. Maybe in my copious spare time later? :)
Darren Halford. I have the 46/30 on several bikes of mine (you can’t have too many bikes) . All are fitted with SRAM Etap and it works fine.
Absolute Black’s install video says a 5mm clearance between the top of the widest part or the ring and the front mech. However, I think the video assumes Shimano and according to one of their staff it assumes mechanical as well.
Interestingly the SRAM video says a 1-2mm gap, but of course their video assumes round rings.
So, nobody seems to know how to setup your rings with SRAM ETAP.
Anyway I have done a lot of testing and I can tell you what works.
What worked is a 3mm clearance. Hold a 3mm Allen key against the front mech and turn the chain ring. Set the mech height so biggest oval tooth will still turn. It will line up with bottom of the reference line on the mech itself. Any lower (say 2mm as Shimano recommend) and the tab inside the mech catches the chain. Higher and then you have too much outer top clearance and the chain drops outside the big ring, irrespective of how you set the upper limit.
Which bolts did you use to tie down the 46 ring? I have 105 cranks. And want to use the 46/32 combo. Did you use the Absolute Black gravel specific bolts?
I used the bolts supplied by AB. Unless AB has changed the design, those ring pairs are machined to work together, so I don't know if 46/32 will work. You best ask AB themselves.
@@GravelCyclist Thank you. Yeah that sounds like the best option.
Seem like the chain line is moved slightly inboard. I wonder if this could present any problems.
I finished Dirty Kanza 200 riding these chainrings, there were no problems.
May I enquire if the 2x version is compatible with cassettes with larger largest cogs (i.e., up to 50T)-? Thank you.
Hi there, I've only run these chainrings with a 34T biggest cog, but I don't see why there would be any issues? 40T is the largest cog I've ever run on a 2x setup, I could not confirm either way. If you try it, good luck, post a comment with how you did?
@@GravelCyclist Hi! Thank you for the reply. I'm considering to ride through Krakow on my upcoming cycle tour; will see if I can call by Garbaruk's headquarters / factory and ascertain whether a 38T (the smallest size they stock for 107 BCD AXS chainrings) and ca. 48T; if so, I might just buy a couple. Unfortunately, they're all sold as "1-x setup rings", meaning there is a chance they don't fit a 2-x system. I will report. Cheers…
Is it possible to use the smaller inner 30t.withba standard shimano 46 tooth?
Negative, those two chainrings are machined to work together on Shimano's bcd for that crankset.
I honestly find having to shift the front derailleur to be more annoying than the jump between gears on a wider range cassette.
Hmm, this sub compact is interesting as I have a compact now and wondering if going sub will be better, you mention tighter ratios, you referring that a 48-32 x 11-32 gives a tighter gear ratio than a 50-34 x 11-32?
I guess if I’m on the flats, for a 48 to hold onto a 50, means you’ll have to go to a smaller cog at the back?
He is likely referring to an 11-32 cassette being tighter in general, versus an annoying single chainring setup with huge gaps in gears, and limited gear range.
Going to get this for my roadbike with a 11-30 cassette. Dont think I will spin out quickly with an 48-11.
Tnx for the video, very informative.
Hi, I liked the video, interesting. Question, I have Shimano Ultegra 11s, 52-36 and 11-34 Di2 but Absolute Black says their rings are not compatible to my setup.
Hey Kevin, 48/32 and 46/30 is all I have tinkered with. I know for a fact these two pairings are machined to work perfectly together, no mixing and matching. I cannot speak for your 52/36 setup, sorry.
Gravel Cyclist , sound, I really appreciate you reply. Thanks very much. Happy New Year.
I have AB 46-30 on R7000 cranks - have had for over a year now. At the time it wasn't a combination that AB said was possible. It fitted just fine and works just perfectly.
@@Paddystyx Your Shimano 52/36 chainring has a different bcd (bold circle diameter).52/36 has 130 bcd. In order to use Absolute 48/32 or 46/30 you have to have 110bcd. Which is typically if you have Shimano 50/34 or 46/36 chainring.
@@n.heroep2786 thank you.
@Gravel Cyclist Have you Notice any difference between AB chaingring and the ROTOR? Since AB have a single OCP position ve ROTOR which have 2-3-4 OCP ... Thanks
Hey Pedro Jr, I have only ridden the round Rotor rings so I cannot compare, sorry.
CAnnondale topstone 105 comes standard with 46/30
Anyone tried them on FC-R3000?
I'm wondering the same thing. I think I'm just going to buy a set and try for myself. I can't think of any reason why they wouldn't fit.
Update: these DO work with SORA. Both the 4 bolt and 5 bolt. The 4 bolt requires a slight modification (same as tiagra). I use them with my 9 speed system
is 48/30 do-able?
Shimano does 48/31 with GRX, but you have to check for compatibility between those chainrings. I know for a fact the 46/30 is specifically machined to work together as a pair.
Hi GC. I'm an avid cyclist since 2010 and have done many centuries and 2 double centuries and a several 10,000 to 15,000 elevation gain in a day rides; so I'm a pretty tough bloke not known for quitting. My question is I want to do an everesting on a 6-10% climb 700ft each summit. And will the AB 46x30t with 11x28t rear cassette be enough for me? I have a ultegra 6800 and 8000 both in ss, and the 8000 can handle 11-30t per shimano. But should I do more mods? Love the channel, RIDE ON!
Hey there, I've used a 32T cog with the 8000. If you check my channel, you can see a video I shot where I show a 32T cog being used with the 9100 series Dura-Ace Di2 rear derailleur, which the 8000 series is modeled from. The B-screw is sensitive on this derailleur, meaning if it isn't adjusted correctly, you will experience shifting issues. Everesting isn't my bag, but I imagine after several hours of your effort, you're going to be feeling it. If it were me, I'd have an 11-32 or at least an 11-30 - 1 to 1 would be nice for turning over the legs easy. BTW, I've also used the 9050 SS Dura-Ace Di2 derailleur with an 11-32, no issues there.
@@GravelCyclist thank you GC! I'm going to borrow a mate's 32t cog and screw in that b screw to see how it gets on with the 8000ss rear der. I'm sure if it works In the di2 world it should have similar workings in the mech world. Thank you for this valuable info. Much respect to you sir.
Lol the "be-yauch" climb
By the looks of it, these chainrings seem to herd sheep extremely well on top of the climbing aspect. 🤣
Oval chain rings are hard on my knees after 10 or 20 miles I start feeling pain I go back to round rings no problem
They definitely are not for everyone, hope your riding continues to go well!
For me it was the reverse. I felt pain in the knees while commuting, until I started to use an oval chairing. Maybe it was coincidence? Or just more time to get used to pedaling after a big break in cycling..
One thing is for sure, u know it's oval when you accelerate hard: the oval one is more "round" without that spikes in too hard-too easy pedal stroke. ;)
That's funny I read they take the stress off your knees.
@@MrChippiechappie yup.. the oval chainring might be mounted incorrectly i guess..
A few grams here and there... Take a dump before your ride and voilà you lost a pound! 😉
Haha, free weight loss is the best!
Just here looking for a Hairdresser.
Maybe try the Yellow Pages.
Gday cobba
G'day bloke!