Next up, and very much related is Hope’s take on the whole ‘narrow/wide’ chainring thing. For those who’ve been locked away in confinement for the past few years, these rings have alternating thick/thin teeth so as to mesh better with the varying widths of chain links. The result of this improved meshing is significantly improved chain retention, to the point that if you’re running a clutch style rear mech many ridders are finding they don’t need any form of chain device. They really do make a big difference, but they are of course only of use if you want to run just a single ring up front.

SRAM were the originators of the idea, well certainly when it comes to bikes they were, and their chainrings do feature some very complex shapes, whereas like many other copies this Hope Retainer Ring has a far simpler profile. Do the fancy shapes make any difference? Well some riders who’ve tried both swear it does, but others reckon this simple style works just as well. Only time will tell I guess, but in the meantime we think think these look to be great value, and they’re finished just as beautifully as any other Hope product.

Price: £45.00

Sizes: 30t, 32t, 34t and 36t (104 PCD 4 bolt pattern)

Colours: Black, Silver or Gold.

Designed to work with conventional 9, 10 or 11-speed set ups