Aluminum chainrings wear down over time, and when the teeth start showing hook shapes or the chain skips under load, you need a fresh ring. The Campagnolo Record 52-tooth outer chainring drops into the four-arm spider on Record 12-speed cranksets using eight bolts that secure both the outer ring to the crank arm and couple the two chainrings together. The 145mm bolt circle diameter is specific to Record outer rings, while the paired 36-tooth inner ring uses the shared 112mm bolt circle that works across Record and Super Record.

Campagnolo machines these rings from black hard-anodized aluminum and applies a surface treatment that resists wear from chain contact. The teeth incorporate X.P.S.S. technology, which uses mathematical simulation to determine the angles where the chain climbs onto or drops off the ring. Contoured pins on the upshift zones guide the chain during front shifts, and drains machined into the inside of the ring move the chain efficiently during downshifts. The design delivers what Campagnolo tested as a 25 percent improvement in shifting under load compared to previous designs.

The bolt set ships with the chainring, so you have everything needed for installation. If you're running the 52/36 combination and your outer ring is worn, this is the direct replacement. The ring threads into the right crank arm where it mounts to the spider, and the same bolts secure the inner chainring on the other side of the spider. Campagnolo designed these rings to work specifically with the 12-speed chain width and derailleur trajectory, so mixing them with 11-speed or 13-speed components won't shift properly.