diff --git a/examples/topologies/NeoPixelRingDynamicTopologyTest/NeoPixelRingDynamicTopologyTest.ino b/examples/topologies/NeoPixelRingDynamicTopologyTest/NeoPixelRingDynamicTopologyTest.ino
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..57aa6e4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/topologies/NeoPixelRingDynamicTopologyTest/NeoPixelRingDynamicTopologyTest.ino
@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+//----------------------------------------------------------------------
+// NeoPixelRingTopologyTest
+// This will display specific colors in specific locations on the led rings
+//
+// This is useful in confirming the layout of your rings
+//
+// It does require that you have the actual series of rings connected
+//----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+#include <NeoPixelBus.h>
+
+const uint8_t PixelCount = 119;
+const uint8_t PixelPin = 2;  // make sure to set this to the correct pin, ignored for Esp8266
+
+// define the layout of your series of rings
+//
+// This example is using all of Adafruits rings and a Jewel in the center.
+// The center is the input and all the rings are connected in series going outward
+//
+// Rings:
+// 0 - 1 (virtual ring, the center of the jewel)
+// 1 - 6 (virtual ring, the outer ring of the jewel)
+// 2 - 12 count ring
+// 3 - 16 count ring
+// 4 - 24 count ring
+// 5 - 60 count ring comprised of four arc segments
+//
+// The values below in Rings[] are the index of the first pixel in each ring.
+// An extra value is appended for a virtual ring start that also
+// represents the total count of pixels in the complete series and this extra
+// value is required.
+//
+class MyRingsLayout
+{
+public:
+    void Begin() {
+      // this is where you load your dynamic rings layout and init Rings and RingCount
+      // this example will just set these to static numbers to simulate a dynamic layout
+      RingCount = 6;
+      Rings = new uint16_t[RingCount];
+
+      Rings[0] = 1;
+      Rings[1] = 6;
+      Rings[2] = 12;
+      Rings[3] = 16;
+      Rings[4] = 24;
+      Rings[5] = 60; // don't forget the final count of pixels as the last item
+    }
+
+protected:
+    uint16_t* Rings; 
+    uint8_t RingCount;
+    
+    uint8_t _ringCount() const
+    {
+        return RingCount;
+    }
+};
+
+// use the MyRingsLayout to declare the topo object
+//
+NeoRingTopology<MyRingsLayout> topo;
+
+// declare our strip
+//
+NeoPixelBus<NeoGrbFeature, Neo800KbpsMethod> strip(PixelCount, PixelPin);
+
+// define some handy colors
+//
+RgbColor red(128, 0, 0);
+RgbColor green(0, 128, 0);
+RgbColor blue(0, 0, 128);
+RgbColor black(0);
+
+void setup()
+{
+    Serial.begin(115200);
+    while (!Serial); // wait for serial attach
+
+    Serial.println();
+    Serial.println("Initializing...");
+
+    topo.Begin();
+
+    strip.Begin();
+    strip.Show();
+
+    Serial.println();
+    Serial.println("Running...");
+}
+
+void loop()
+{
+    delay(2500);
+
+    Serial.println();
+    Serial.println("If your panel is correctly defined, you should see ...");
+    Serial.println("First pixel in each ring is Red.");
+    Serial.println("Middle pixel in each ring is Green.");
+    Serial.println("Last Pixel in each ring is Blue.");
+    
+
+    // use the topo to map the 2d polar cordinate to the pixel
+    // and use that to SetPixelColor
+    for (uint16_t ring = 0; ring < topo.getCountOfRings(); ring++)
+    {
+        // first pixel in each ring is red
+        strip.SetPixelColor(topo.Map(ring, 0), red); 
+        // last pixel in each ring is blue
+        strip.SetPixelColor(topo.Map(ring, topo.getPixelCountAtRing(ring) - 1), blue); 
+        // middle pixel in each ring is green
+        strip.SetPixelColor(topo.Map(ring, topo.getPixelCountAtRing(ring) / 2), green); 
+    }
+    strip.Show();
+
+    delay(5000);
+
+    Serial.println();
+    Serial.println("Cleared to black ...");
+    strip.ClearTo(black);
+    strip.Show();
+}
diff --git a/examples/topologies/NeoPixelRingTopologyTest/NeoPixelRingTopologyTest.ino b/examples/topologies/NeoPixelRingTopologyTest/NeoPixelRingTopologyTest.ino
index 64a1bcd..26d526f 100644
--- a/examples/topologies/NeoPixelRingTopologyTest/NeoPixelRingTopologyTest.ino
+++ b/examples/topologies/NeoPixelRingTopologyTest/NeoPixelRingTopologyTest.ino
@@ -34,6 +34,11 @@ class MyRingsLayout
 {
 protected:
     const uint16_t Rings[7] = {0, 1, 7, 19, 35, 59, PixelCount}; 
+    
+    uint8_t _ringCount() const
+    {
+        return sizeof(Rings) / sizeof(Rings[0]);
+    }
 };
 
 // use the MyRingsLayout to declare the topo object
@@ -97,4 +102,3 @@ void loop()
     strip.ClearTo(black);
     strip.Show();
 }
-
diff --git a/src/internal/NeoRingTopology.h b/src/internal/NeoRingTopology.h
index e598fa4..7255a97 100644
--- a/src/internal/NeoRingTopology.h
+++ b/src/internal/NeoRingTopology.h
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ License along with NeoPixel.  If not, see
 <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
 
-template <typename T_LAYOUT> class NeoRingTopology : protected T_LAYOUT
+template <typename T_LAYOUT> class NeoRingTopology : public T_LAYOUT
 {
 public:
     NeoRingTopology()
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ public:
 
     uint8_t getCountOfRings() const 
     {
-        return _ringCount() - 1; // minus one as the Rings includes the extra value
+        return T_LAYOUT::_ringCount() - 1; // minus one as the Rings includes the extra value
     }
 
     uint16_t getPixelCountAtRing(uint8_t ring) const 
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ public:
 
     uint16_t getPixelCount() const
     {
-        return T_LAYOUT::Rings[_ringCount() - 1]; // the last entry is the total count
+        return T_LAYOUT::Rings[T_LAYOUT::_ringCount() - 1]; // the last entry is the total count
     }
 
 private:
@@ -109,8 +109,4 @@ private:
         return T_LAYOUT::Rings[ring] + pixel;
     }
 
-    uint8_t _ringCount() const
-    {
-        return sizeof(T_LAYOUT::Rings) / sizeof(T_LAYOUT::Rings[0]);
-    }
 };