Direct-sale firm Superstar Components is best known for offering what other manufacturers are selling, but at a fraction of the price. And the company has done it again, this time offering UK-made narrow-wide-style chainrings for just £25.99.
The new rings, officially badged the I/O Chainrings, are produced from 7075 T6 aluminium in the common four-bolt/104BCD standard and, for now at least, are offered in 32, 34 and 36 tooth sizes. There's a whole array of anodised colours, each with distinctive but not garish laser-etched graphics.
These rings sit alongside Superstar's new £22.99 Trident alloy bashguard, as part of the company's long-awaited first generation of UK-made components. BikeRadar first heard details of this range last year after Superstar discovered that a sharp rise in costs associated with Taiwanese manufacturing made the UK a viable manufacturing location. Since then the firm has invested heavily in new machinery with the goal of expanding its British component line to eventually include pedals, headsets and bottom brackets.
At this price Superstar is undercutting the competition by a big chunk. In fact the Superstar narrow/wide rings' closest competition comes in the form of the £34.99 thick/thin ring from Works Components and Hope's £45 Retainer ring. Should these prove as durable and effective as the competition then these will undoubtedly be one of the best value drivetrain upgrades out there.
