US components specialist Wheels Manufacturing has expanded its aftermarket range with a fresh line of direct mount chainrings built specifically for SRAM’s 8-bolt gravel crank interface. The rings are aimed squarely at riders running modern 1x setups across gravel, all-road and mixed-terrain builds.
Each ring is CNC-machined from 7075 aluminium, a material prized for its strength-to-weight ratio, and the tooth profile has been shaped to keep the chain seated securely when the going gets rough – think washboard gravel, root-strewn singletrack or mud-caked lanes where chain retention often becomes an issue with narrow-wide rings under load.
By using the direct mount 8-bolt standard rather than a traditional spider-and-ring arrangement, Wheels Manufacturing says riders benefit from a stiffer, lighter interface with less flex and a tidier overall look. The range is expected to cover a spread of tooth counts to suit riders chasing lower gearing for climbing-heavy routes as well as those wanting a bigger ring for faster, rolling terrain.
For UK gravel riders, this sort of aftermarket support matters because it widens the options available beyond stock OEM rings, particularly for those wanting to fine-tune gearing for events like the Dirty Reiver or the growing calendar of British gravel races without switching crank brands entirely. Chainring choice has become a genuine performance lever in 1x gravel setups, and having a durable, purpose-built option machined specifically for SRAM’s direct mount standard gives riders one less compromise to make when building or upgrading a gravel bike ahead of the new season.
Sam Allcock is a digital PR entrepreneur and publisher with over two decades in SEO, content and media. He founded PR Fire, the pay-as-you-go press release distribution service, and has worked with brands including Red Bull, Nokia and Liverpool FC. He contributes to HuffPost, HubSpot and The London Economic, and owns a portfolio of news and media titles, of which On Track Magazine is one.
