This is my first post on this forum; thanks in advance for your help on this question, which is more Rohloff than Thorn.
I use a Rohloff-equipped MTB as my only vehicle in Guangzhou, China. I need to get a replacement 46t front ring that will be compatiable with an XT 2006 or 2007 crank (I bought the bike in 2007, but I'm not exactly sure the age of the crank). The original ring is now worn after about 20000 km. I am now in the US for a 2-week holiday, and expect this will be easier to source here than in China! The question is where do I go to get just the ring, when I don't need pins and all for shifting, and at the same time want to be sure it will be compatible with the older XT crank? I'd certainly like to avoid getting the whole 2012 XT setup when all I need is a ring, but my LBS in HK (Flying Ball for any of you touring aficionados who have been in E Asia) is telling me that in HK the only way Shimano will make the front ring available is as part of a complete XT drivetrain. Please let me know if I have omitted any crucial info here. FWIW, I am using this with a standard 16t rear cog. Specific info (website) and a suggestion of what exactly I should be buying (I'm assuming it won't actually be Shimano) would be very greatly appreciated!
Best regards,
Nathan
