Why Your 12-Speed Setup Grinds in the Wet
absoluteBLACK’s new chainrings solve the 12-speed mud problem, plus a $13 tool to kill brake drag. Efficiency upgrades for the deliberate cyclist.
Tighter tolerances generally equate to higher performance—until you introduce the chaotic variable of gravel. The shift to 12- and 13-speed groupsets forced chains to get narrower, leaving virtually zero room for the slurry of a wet ride. When grit gets trapped between a FlatTop chain and a standard ring, you aren't just hearing noise; you are actively grinding away your drivetrain's lifespan and efficiency.
absoluteBLACK’s redesigned gravel chainrings attempt to solve this fluid dynamics problem with geometry, not just material. The standout feature isn't the ovality or the titanium finish—it's the relief notch on the wide teeth. This patented profile creates a physical escape hatch for mud that would otherwise pack into the chamfers of a standard ring. It is a specific solution for the specific headache of running narrow chains (like SRAM FlatTop or YBN-MK12) in suboptimal conditions.
While you are under the hood, their new Copper-Titanium brake alignment tool offers a high-ROI fix for another common parasitic drag: rotor rub. For the price of a couple of energy gels ($12.95), it spaces pads perfectly parallel to the rotor. Note the caveat: this only works if your frame mounts are faced and flat. If your frame manufacturing was lazy, no amount of titanium tools will fix the geometry. But if the foundation is solid, this is the cheapest way to ensure your watts aren't being wasted on friction heat. 🧠
Why It Matters
- Preservation of Assets: Narrow 12-speed chains wear out faster when mud acts as a grinding paste. Better shedding equals longer component life.
- Marginal Gains, Low Cost: The brake tool is an affordable mechanical intervention. Eliminating pad rub is "free speed" that doesn't require extra training stress.
- System Integrity: High-performance parts (like absoluteBLACK rings) only function correctly when the tolerances are managed. These updates acknowledge that laboratory perfection rarely survives contact with the real world.
Absolute Black
