I used to kill middle rings. I now do my best to share the work load between all 3 rings. Plus I change the chain whenever my Park chain checker indicates it is worn.

This has meant my middle rings now last ages.

But chains are more expensive than middle rings, so arguably that's a false economy!

It would be if I didn't use cheap SRAM 8 speed chains :-)

They work and last well. Even with the grinding paste that is produced on winter rides!

can highly recommend middleburn hardcote mike, after all of the usual suspects that me and my riding buddys tryed.they lasted the longest, shift well too.

been using them for ages now.

well, new college/road/singlespeed is almost built, so that should take a lot of riding off of the hardrock, i'll be putting a deore steel on it for now, esp as it's not gonna be heavy usage anymore