Preferred Chainring size?

With the popularity of 1x drivetrains and 50, 51, and even 52 tooth cassettes being common on new bikes, what size chainring are you riding on the Shore?

My bike came stock with a 34 tooth chainring and 10-50 12 speed cassette.

I downsized to a 32 tooth oval ring (I went with the OneUp Switch system so changing rings will be cheaper and easy to change) and I am thinking I could even go smaller, but I can't decide between a 28 tooth or 30 tooth ring.

I generally ride the Shore or Tri-Cities area and I just want to make it to the top under my own power.  Would rather have a good time than set a good time.

Where's the option for a 26?????? 

And that's w/a 50 cog on 27.5 hoop. 29'r, forget it I mullet.

I'm a wuss. 28t w/ a 52t cog.

I choose my chainring size/offset so I climb in my second or third gear. That way my chain is as straight as possible in the second or third from the lowest gear in the cassette.

Usually that’s a 28.

Gives me a good chainline in my climbing gear and a bailout option or two for when I’m tired.

28T is my standard ring with a 46T big cog. On my SS bike I am running 28T with a 21T cog. Makes stocking rings easy. My GF will run a 26T or 28T ring depending on the bike.

NSB 28t with 10-51t here too. I also bought it to climb on 2-3rd and hop on the 51 if I'm tired. Just waiting for Race Face to make a 28t steel cinch for Shimano 12 spd so I can use a steel 28t on my other crank.

I use 28t with a 46t big cog and 27.5 wheels. I wouldn't mind an even lower ratio and I've never wanted a taller top gear.

I chose 30 because that's the smallest that fits on a 104BCD crank. I'd like to run 28t for the chainline, but not enough to buy new cranks.

I'm still on 11 speed. I go with 42tooth out back. Run 28 on 29er and 30 on 27.5. My wife (who is a monster climber) runs 30 on a 29er with 50t cog. She only uses the 50 if it's her 2nd or 3rd workout of the day though. 

I think it's worth it to downsize as small as your bike can on the shore. If you can avoid using the big aluminum cog, your power transfer will be more efficient and your cassette will last 3x longer.

I have a 28t but I'm looking at a 26t Garbaruk oval. I never use the small cogs and I like being able to climb walls.

used to be 30, went to 28T when I couldn't find anything else. It's even oval! But a cleaner chainline and I use more of the cassette that I paid so much for. Staying at 28 for the foreseeable.

It depends. I didn't answer the survey, because it only allows one choice. For pedaling, I like the 32T on my 160/150 29er bike with 11-51 since that's what they designed the kinematics around. If I decided to go 11-46 11spd to reduce unsprung weight on that bike, I'd probably go 30T like I have for my hard tail. I find the 32/51 or 30/46 combos are fine for grinding up pretty much anywhere I want to go around the Sea-to-Sky.

26/42 11 spd currently. dislike huge cassettes (aesthetics, weight, price). actually like the increased antisquat of the smaller ring on my bike, but may not be optimal on some suspension platforms.

Pedalled a pile of Old Buck laps when I was last home, on a 34t and then switched to a 30t. 29er, 51t cog.

34t had to stand up and hammer occasionallyn with a few spin outs. After 2 laps my legs were less enthusiastic but still able to hold on to a roadie group.

30t was able to sit and spin comfortably everywhere. Felt noticeably fresher after a couple of long laps.

Might sound like a surrender monkey considering the low elevation of the local mountains, the availability of mild grade logging roads, and the very cool temperatures, but man I like climbing with a 30t.

The 30t still has torque in reserve to attack and spin up punchy sections. I feel like with a 28t I might be spun out already? ...Or maybe it's so good I don't even want to know.

On another note I'm running the 30t with lots of inward offset, enough so it only clears the stay by like a mm, the improved chainline is sublime.