Upgrade Your Drivetrain: Installing an Alugear Direct Mount Chainring on Race Face Cranks

When upgrading your mountain bike drivetrain, few modifications offer a better mix of weight savings, aesthetic enhancement, and chain security than switching to a high-quality, CNC-machined direct mount chainring.

If you are currently running a Race Face crankset, pairing it with a premium Alugear Direct Mount Chainring is a fantastic choice. Known for their ultra-lightweight construction, beautiful precision engineering, and elite chain retention, Alugear components deliver a premium upgrade for modern 1x drivetrains.

Why Pair Alugear with Race Face Cranks?

The interface system on Race Face cranks makes them highly adaptable. By removing the traditional standalone spider and mounting a chainring directly to the crank arm, you build a cleaner, stiffer, and significantly lighter setup.

Precision CNC-Machined 7075-T6 Aluminum

Alugear chainrings are structurally optimized and fully CNC-milled from high-grade 7075-T6 aluminum. This ensures they are strong enough to withstand heavy torque while remaining among the lightest options on the market today.

Advanced Narrow-Wide Tooth Profile

To ensure your chain stays locked in place without the added weight and friction of a dedicated chain guide, Alugear utilizes an alternating narrow-wide tooth configuration. This profile guides the chain seamlessly through extreme terrain. Additionally, the teeth are custom-shaped to effectively clear out mud and debris, reducing drivetrain wear and keeping friction minimized in poor weather conditions.

Step-by-Step Installation Overview

Swapping out your chainring requires just a few standard bike tools and can be completed quickly on a home workshop stand.

Step 1: Remove the Crankset and Old Ring

• Shift your drivetrain into the smallest cog to reduce rear derailleur tension and gently drop your chain off the existing ring.
• Remove the drive-side Race Face crank arm from the bottom bracket spindle using the manufacturer-specified hex tool or puller.
• Use your lockring tool to loosen and unthread the interface ring holding your old chainring or spider onto the splines of the crank arm.

Step 2: Mount the Alugear Direct Mount Chainring

• Clean any residual grit or old grease off the crank arm splines.
• Slide your brand new Alugear direct mount chainring over the splines. Ensure the alignment matches up correctly according to the built-in orientation markings.
• Re-thread your lockring back over the interface. Apply a light coat of anti-seize or waterproof grease to the threads to prevent future creaking or binding. Securely tighten it down to spec.

Step 3: Reinstall and Check Alignment

• Slide the drive-side crank arm back through your bottom bracket shell.
• Secure the crank assembly tightly to your frame using a calibrated torque wrench.
• Replace your chain onto the new narrow-wide tooth pattern, verifying that the wide teeth sit flush within the wide outer chain links. Give the pedals a slow spin to ensure everything operates completely smoothly and quietly.

Final Thoughts

Upgrading to an Alugear direct mount chainring is one of the cleanest modifications you can make to your cockpit and drivetrain area. By removing excess hardware, you achieve maximum stiffness-to-weight transfer while unlocking ultra-reliable chain retention and a completely quiet ride. Take your time during installation, keep your components torqued correctly, and enjoy a revitalized feel on the trails.