XD600 vs XD300

One more confuser on the 520 touring bike. I was all set to pull the trigger
on the XD600 with the alloy outer rings, but on Sheldon's site he mentions
this about the (fully?)steel ringed XD300: "This is the model to choose if
you want to customize the sizes of the chainrings."

I think I may be changing around the rings at some point, how critical is
this choice? And most of the rings available I see out there are alloy to
start with.

"R Brickston" wrote in message
news:C2Gcg.5549$oa3.4845@trnddc08...
One more confuser on the 520 touring bike. I was all set to pull the
trigger on the XD600 with the alloy outer rings, but on Sheldon's site he
mentions this about the (fully?)steel ringed XD300: "This is the model to
choose if you want to customize the sizes of the chainrings."

I think I may be changing around the rings at some point, how critical is
this choice? And most of the rings available I see out there are alloy to
start with.


The reason he says that, is that the 300 is so much cheaper. If you're not
going to be using the stock rings, why pay more for the alloy ones?

I got the 300 because the steel rings don't weigh much more in relation to
the entire bike (less so in relation to my fat ass), and they'll last
forever.

R Brickston writes:

-snip-

Sheldon's site he mentions this about the (fully?)steel ringed XD300:
"This is the model to choose if you want to customize the sizes of the
chainrings."

-and-

And most of the rings available I see out there are alloy to
start with.

-snip-

There has to be some confusion somewhere in these communications. There
can be little doubt that alloy CRs offer the greatest diversity. Also
there is little need for steel CRs. Alloy CRs of any reasonably decent
quality last for just about forever. That is until their size reaches
~30th (Then it may be reasonable to use stainless steel for just the
granny gear*). And that the chain is replaced when it becomes worn.

*I've gone both ways over the years. Using a SS granny, or using alloy
& figuring on replacing it more often.

Regards, John

"john" wrote in message
oups.com...
R Brickston writes:

-snip-

Sheldon's site he mentions this about the (fully?)steel ringed XD300:
"This is the model to choose if you want to customize the sizes of the
chainrings."

-and-

And most of the rings available I see out there are alloy to
start with.

-snip-

There has to be some confusion somewhere in these communications. There
can be little doubt that alloy CRs offer the greatest diversity. Also
there is little need for steel CRs. Alloy CRs of any reasonably decent
quality last for just about forever. That is until their size reaches
~30th (Then it may be reasonable to use stainless steel for just the
granny gear*). And that the chain is replaced when it becomes worn.

*I've gone both ways over the years. Using a SS granny, or using alloy
& figuring on replacing it more often.

Regards, John

I believe the point is that your should buy the steel if you are going to
"customize" because it is less expensive and you are going to discard the
steel rings in exchange for alloy rings. No sense paying extra for rings you
are going to replace.
Bill