Chain Rings – pedalnorth

Rotor Q Rings on MTB And Gravel Bike

Pedalnorth Website — Wed, 13 Jan 2021 14:42:41 +0000

ROTOR Q-RINGS ON MTB & GRAVEL BIKE

by Scott Cornish

ROTOR Q-RINGS
Scott talks about oval Q-Rings on mtb & gravel bikes

Some riders swear by them, others aren’t so convinced. Oval chainrings can be a bit marmite, but are certainly here to stay, with Rotor fully dedicated to the cause for over 15 years, having developed their Q ring. As a physio and bike fitter, the explained science behind the advantages of oval rings makes sense as a means to increase pedaling efficiency, but does it measure up in real world settings? As an early adopter of Rotor’s Q ring, in the days before 1x chainsets, I have put in 1000s of km racing mtbs, training and bikepacking, from using their 2x set up to the now customary 1x set up, across both mtb and gravel.

Research around the efficacy of oval chainrings is still limited. Some papers conclude that oval rings do offer more pedaling efficiency, existential proof within a controlled environment that they are a biomechanical upgrade. These results should then translate to the wider population, but we aren’t all riding within controlled environments on flat terrain with constant resistance such as is carried out within the test with riders on turbo trainers and set resistance levels. We are constantly shifting position (with exception of TT/triathlon). The rings have to perform over constantly changing terrain and pedalling forces, especially off road, from constant climbing to sudden bursts of effort up steep and/or challenging terrain with low cadence. Data from research reveals useful information, but the real proof is under real world conditions where the proposed benefits will potentially be experienced.

Rotor have always understood that as individuals we differ in our biomechanics and bike set ups, the knee over pedal (KOP) position being an advisory position, not an absolute one, depending on numerous physical factors. With this in mind they are unique in offering up to 5 different orientations of their Q ring, which is their Optimum Chainring Position (OCP), allowing riders to individualise the timing of the high and low spots within their pedal rotation.

With their ongoing research, the level of ovalisation has increased from the original 9% found on their double set ups to 12% used across their 1x rings, said to increase the efficiency further. This article pertains to their 1x rings as this is the set up I currently used on the Shand Bahookie drop bar, mtb and gravel bike.

Fitting the Q ring

With 5 orientation options, where do you start? There is a lot of information on the Rotor website here, so I won’t go into details, but I started out in the recommended #3 position during the full adaptation period and then experimented with different orientations. I didn’t think that there would be much point experimenting with the various positions until the feeling of riding oval had become normalised. Both bolted and DM cranks are straight forward to adjust. Granted, there is a certain level of faff associated with doing this, so it’s ideal to do during the off season. That faff however will be rewarded. You will find an orientation that works best for you across all terrains and your riding style, as you will feel a difference in the force that you can drive through the legs. Depending on how you respond to changes with the bike set up, being either a macro or micro adjuster (changes are either felt as small or significant respectively), the differences can be subtle or black and white. I am certainly the latter for example.

Another way to determine your OCP and with accuracy, is with Rotor’s power meters: Inpower, 2Inpower or the Inspider. Downloading the software for a PC or using the App on a mobile is straight forward. I have been using the Inspider power meter for a few weeks now on a DM Kapic carbon crank as we head into that off season training period, optimistic for a season of events and racing in 2021! No news to power meter convertees, but it has been somewhat of a revelation and, moreover, the quantity of useful, live data that is derived from the Inspider as single sided power meter has been a real plus. A more in depth article and posts about the Inspider and how it works as a modular system across Rotor’s DM cranks to follow.

Adaptation

I remember those first few km well and it did feel awkward, pedaling felt lumpy as each foot came over the top of the pedal stroke. Having read all the marketing material I was naively expecting this sudden performance increase! It just felt odd initially, almost as though more effort was required when riding over familiar terrain and up local climbs for a given speed. I was simply overly expectant of an immediate, positive outcome, I had to remember that years of teaching yourself to ride in a particular way, to pedal in efficient circles overcoming the upper and lower dead spots, had to be unlearnt. Riding oval means learning a new movement pattern, which, like learning any other skill, takes perseverance and time before it feels normal, natural and efficient. This adaptation period will be different for everyone. I had over 15 years of riding round rings in the legs and was of a ‘certain’ age. Younger and relatively new riders may find their adaptation experience is faster. Personally, it took around 15-18 hours of riding before pedaling started to feel smooth again and relaxed, eliminating the deliberate effort of pedaling through the dead spots. The oval rings now felt ‘round’, although, as I came to realise, real adaptation and thus true gains from riding oval became more apparent over the course of months rather than simply from the point where they felt smooth to ride.

Just as an experiment, some time ago I returned to round rings for a couple of weeks, riding the same routes. Adapting back (smooth pedal stroke) was significantly quicker, within a couple of 3-4 hour rides. 15+ years of an ingrained movement pattern will always linger, so it didn’t surprise me, although I did feel that something was missing with each pedal stroke, that added drive during the most powerful section of the pedal stroke, the 12 to 3 o’clock position and I was having to make a deliberate effort to pedal through the dead spots. This definitely confirmed my choice to ride Q rings.

As the legs became adapted, there was a sensation of being to turn through the gear a little quicker and more efficiently, a subtle, but positive difference in how I rode. On long climbs, there has certainly been an enhanced ability to maintain a strong cadence. Where the gradient ramps up and cadence plummets on short, punchy climbs, whether seated or out of the saddle, getting over the top of the gear feels a little easier. Similarly on longer climbs where the surface was rough, being able to maintain a more smooth and constant cadence has been easier with the Q rings.

A quick mention about chain retention with their 1x rings too. I have never dropped a chain across both Sram and Shimano rear derailleurs.

As mentioned, in terms of actual research, it is limited and it’s important to take into account the allowed adaptation period prior to the testing. The authors’ comments in addition to the actual results are also interesting as there are numerous variables, such as with this article. This article about long term adaptation in a 1 year follow up with subjects suggests that true adaptation to gain the most from oval rings takes much longer than a couple of weeks. This article is an extensive read, quantifying in significant depth the effects of oval chainrings and summerarises many previous studies.

One area that is more anecdotal than research proven is the positive effect on anterior knee pain (AKP). There have been numerous comments from riders that oval chainrings have reduced their pain and with Rotor’s OCP options, the forces through the knee can be adjusted to your riding style. Although, if you are experiencing anterior pain on cycling, seeing a bike fitter who is also a physio (really important!) should be on your to do list, as the cause can often be mechanical. We are the aspect that is asymmetrical, not the bike! Muscle imbalance and weakness in certain areas can often be the cause of AKP.

Summary

In all, the claimed performance advantages do ring true, certainly over the longer haul and especially on long climbs (long being relative depending on your location of course). A main benefit was demonstrated on steeper inclines, or rough off road terrain where cadence can drop significantly, helping to maintain strong forward momentum. Adaptability of the Rotor’s Q rings has been a real plus point too with their OCP. We all differ in our riding styles, which comes from numerous biomechanical factors and injury and the OCP system takes that into account. You do have to allow for that adaptation period though, with true adaptation taking longer. Just don’t expect immediate results on that first ride, where riding may even feel harder, persevere and the results will show themselves.

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Absolute Black double chainrings

Pedalnorth Website — Wed, 22 Jan 2020 11:35:39 +0000

Absolute Black Chainrings: Scott Cornish

Absolute Black are absolutely fabulous at making great chainrings; it’s about time that we took a look at them then …

Some riders swear by them, others aren’t so convinced. Oval chainrings can be a bit marmite, but are certainly here to stay, with Absolute Black dedicated to the cause. As a physio and bike fitter, the explained science behind the advantages of oval rings makes sense as a means to increase pedalling efficiency, but the proof is in the riding. I have been putting in some hefty km on a set of Absolute Black’s sub-compact rings, installing their 32/48 combination on a Praxis Alba chainset as a gravel oriented set up.

Due to Praxis’ proprietary design to have a 32 chainring fit into a 110pcd, there isn’t a choice of ratios for this chainset, so Absolute Blacks’s 30/46 combo won’t fit. The specific sizes are designed to work intimately together, with tooth shape and position optimised for maximising shifting performance.

The chainrings vary slightly in their % ovalisation. It is subtle, but this is said to optimize efficiency for each ring due to the generally different pedalling torque through each ring, i.e. flat to rolling terrain for the big ring, inner for more sustained climbing or steeper inclines.

Unpackaged, the rings feel light, yet solid, like they would be unwaveringly stiff under some powerful legs. As with the original Praxis chainrings, these have the thread within the inner ring, the outer bolts directly the inner. Bolts are provided being a proprietary size with the thoughtful feature of having threads coated in a loctite compound. Installation is straight forward, a tiny peak on each ring indicating orientation under the crank arm. The only technical part is rearranging the front derailleur, moving it up to clear the ring’s high point. Full instructions can be found on the website here. Chain length stays the same and I used an 11spd Shimano 105 with quicklink which worked just fine.

Adaptation

Fitted and eager to get out, living in the Alps, both inner and outer rings get full use on every ride. Those first few km along flat terrain did feel awkward, pedaling felt lumpy as each foot came over the top of the pedal stroke. Expecting a performance increase, it felt odd initially, almost as though more effort was required over familiar valley terrain and local hill climbs for a given speed. Overly expectant of an immediate positive outcome, I had to remember that years of teaching yourself to ride in a particular way, to pedal in efficient circles overcoming the upper and lower dead spots, had to be unlearnt. Riding oval means learning a new movement pattern, which, like learning any other skill, takes perseverance and time before it feels normal. This adaptation period will be different for everyone. I had over 25 years of riding round rings in the legs and am of a ‘certain’ age. Younger and relatively new riders may find their adaptation experience is faster. Personally, it was around 15 hours before pedaling felt smooth and relaxed, eliminating the deliberate effort of pedaling through the 2 dead spots. The oval rings now felt ‘round’, although, overall, I have felt that the gains from riding oval have become more apparent over the course of months rather than simply from the point where they felt smooth to ride.

Shifting performance did take a while to dial in, setting the bottom of the cage about 3mm from the peak of outer ring. Once that sweet spot was set, shifting was on a par with the round rings they replaced, although I didn’t test this in a race situation.

Just as an experiment, I returned to the round rings for a couple of weeks, riding the same routes. Adapting back (smooth pedal stroke) was significantly quicker, within a 3 hour ride. 25 years of an ingrained movement pattern will always linger, so it didn’t surprise me, although I did feel that something was missing with the pedal stroke, added drive during the most powerful section of the pedal stroke, 12 to 3 o’clock.

As alluded to, we all differ biomechanically and how we interact with our bikes. Adaptation and overall outcome will vary from rider to rider. The micro adjusters will normally notice the greatest positive effect with the macro adjusters most likely noticing the least, but it is there. I sit in the former group and with that, I did notice the difference in oval shape between the inner and outer rings, especially transitioning to the inner ring at the start of a lengthy climb from riding flat or rolling terrain, where cadence had been lower. It took a few minutes for pedalling to feel smooth on the different shape as I ascended. This is very much a personal experience and may be different for everyone else. Additionally, I found moving the saddle forward by 12mm over my position with round rings seemed to enhance the oval ring’s effectiveness.

In terms of actual research, it is limited and it’s important to take into account the allowed adaptation period prior to the testing. The authors’ comments in addition to the actual results are also interesting as there are numerous variables, such as with this article. This article about long term adaptation in a 1 year follow up with subjects suggests that true adaptation to gain the most from oval rings takes much longer than a couple of weeks. This article is an extensive read, quantifying in significant depth the effects of oval chainrings and summarises many previous studies.

The claimed performance advantages do seem to strongly ring true, certainly over the longer haul and especially on long climbs (long being relative depending on your location of course). A main benefit was demonstrated on steeper inclines, especially off road where cadence can drop significantly over technical terrain, helping to maintain forward momentum. Of course, the ‘problem’ with finding a product which enhances your cycling experience and/or performance, is that it can be a costly exercise if you have n+1 bikes, installing said product on each one. Although not low cost, Absolute Black’s pricing does make the change at least accessible. You do have to allow for that adaptation period though, with true adaptation taking longer. Don’t expect immediate results on that first ride, riding may even feel harder. Do take the time to set up the front derailleur properly to ensure accurate shifting as well, then you’re set. Personally, I am a convert.

Absolute Black Road Chain Rings

Pedalnorth Website — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 14:40:03 +0000

Absolute Black Chain Rings

Cyclists are always looking for ‘the next thing’ to give them that edge and to make them faster. It seems to be addictive with some people, who are looking for those same marginal gains that British Cycling has mastered.

Weird shaped chain rings are one of the current items that people are looking towards for help and performance improvement; so it’s refreshing to see a British company entering the market.

Absolute Black are absolute quality in terms of the items that they produce. We’re really impressed with the quality of the finishing, the machining and the anodising on their premium oval chain rings. The level of detail is superb, with obvious care and attention given to the finished item that carries their brand name.

Here at Moonglu, we specialise in custom builds, and have done so for many years, and can honestly say that if you want you bike to look the biz, these chain rings from Absolute Black will do the trick; but for me as a mechanic and a rider, the ultimate test is in how they perform. Time to fit them to a bike …

Fitting was as simple and straightforward as any normal set of chain rings, and the bolt covers are a classic finishing touch. Consumers will however need to adjust and raise the front derailleur to accommodate the rings. Once fitted and in use, we wondered if the quality of the shifting in relation to the usual Shimano rings would be as smooth, but this was unfounded. It was at least as good and as smooth as the global brand. This smooth transition was particularly noticeable between the small and big ring under load.

In terms of speed and performance, that golden nugget that riders seek, I can’t say that I noticed a change when in the outer ring, but I did notice a slight performance gain in the small ring. On some of the steeper gradients, of which we have plenty here in the Yorkshire Dales, and when in a lower cadence, the performance is there – not bad then.

They do seem to take on the issue of the dreaded dead spot reasonably well, and can produce something for you. If you’re the type of cyclist that’s looking for a high quality performance driven upgrade, then these could be just for you – and they do look very smart too. It’s great to see British design at the forefront of cycling technology, and Absolute Black are definitely a brand worth looking at for that special customised bike.

Some cyclists will clearly get that marginal gain and performance benefit from these oval chain rings from Absolute Black.

Rotor Q Rings for MTB

Pedalnorth Website — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 13:24:00 +0000

Rotor Q Rings for MTB

When you ride a mountain bike in the north, you take any assistance that you can get on the hills. They’re steep – really steep; great fun coming down, but a real sod to get up at times. Mix that with some loose gravel, slippery mud or damp grass and it makes things really interesting. Then of course you’ve got hills such as Park Rash and Fleet Moss on the roads adjoining – you get the picture.

Q -Rings from Rotor are not wholly new. Some of you will recall the Bio rings of a few years ago; but what Rotor have done is to research and refine things to get what they believe is the ultimate chainring. Question is then: ‘how do they perform off-road?’

Fitting and setting things up was left in the capable hands of our technical editor and fettling guru, Simon. All that was left for me was to jump on board and take them for a spin…or two or three. If you want to test a mountain bike upgrade, there can be no better starting point that Swaledale. The place is full of some of the best and the toughest trails in the Yorkshire Dales, so the Apedale route was an obvious choice; and for round two, the Nidderdale Loop was the trail to test things on. Off we go then.

Those of you who know Swaledale and the Apedale will know that there are some tough climbs to tackle. Not least of which is the testing ascent from the ford at Grovebeck Gill, with loose gravel and steep gradients that fail to ease until they peak at Harkerside Moor. Ordinarily my buddy and I would be side by side on these climbs, but the Q-Rings did actually seem to be giving me an edge that allowed me to keep a flowing spinning action going, biting into the loose surface and ascending with comparative ease – for Swaledale. The ride generally followed a similar pattern, with the pedal action being steady and constant, with no adverse feelings in the calf muscles or elsewhere. There was no discernible knee pain, which can plague me at times, and fatigue wise I felt far better at the end of the ride than I deserved.

The addition of the rings seemed to be working – on to Niderdale then. A few weeks later the weather and commitments allowed me time to revisit the classic Nidderdale Loop, starting from Dallowgill just to make it more interesting and a better ride. Steady climbs came and went with ease, and some short rocky technical sections came and went in a better gear than usual. In fact, overall the gear changing was smooth and precise, with the rings working well alongside the Shimano XT set-up; and at Twizling Gill where the gradient becomes about 20% off road gravel, the rings did their job, spinning and driving constantly, with the result being an easier ascent that I could have hoped for. On the ascent of Scar House Pasture things remained user friendly, and the overall feeling was of a rhythmic pedal action with no dead spots or adverse spinning action on these testing trails. My acceleration was improved when it was required, with the more efficient pedal action transferring to power when called upon.

It’s early days I know, but the feeling at the moment is that Q-Rings do seem to work well on mountain bike trails, allowing you to keep that necessary drive at crucial moment of the trail. They slip from inner to middle to outer with ease, and seem to allow you a few extra gears to call upon, ensuring a more efficient pedal action – all good news. The quality of the product engineering is not in doubt; they’re extremely well made and well finished. The shape isn’t too extreme to the eye, and as this test seems to show, it serves its purpose. Weight wise, there was no actual difference; after all, I’d be using a set of rings anyway and these rings are made of high grade lightweight materials.

If you live in the Yorkshire area, Fulford Cycles will fit your Q Rings for you. For others, pop along to your local bike shop and get them fitted expertly.

Rotor Q Rings for Road

Pedalnorth Website — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 12:38:34 +0000

Rotor Q Rings for Road

I’ve been lucky enough to work in the cycling industry for some time, so I’d come across Q Rings before, a few years ago, but it was good to use them again. Having them fitted to a good Italian Sarto frame should do the trick for testing, and during the ride my legs felt great; they turned the cranks over nicely and didn’t feel fatigued at all. Crucially, it was when I got home that I really noticed the difference though. The feeling in my legs after a ride is normally tired but ok, and they recover quite quickly. However, this time I could feel the different muscle groups in my legs had been worked as if I’d been to the gym, and walking up the stairs to grab a shower was quite interesting, feeling like I’d climbed in the Dolomites that day and not the Dales.

This wasn’t because of a very hard ride I might add, but just my legs getting used to the movement of the Q-Rings. That said, the feeling quickly goes the more you use them. They’re very stiff and the motion is comfortable, but you don’t have to go like the clappers while riding up hill, as the Q-Rings make it more efficient to just tap out a steady rhythm and munch the hills away.

On the flat is where they come into their own, as they assist in reducing the negative effect of the “dead spots at 12 and 6” and it really smooths out your pedal stroke if you jerk a little while pedalling. All in all a really nice product to test, but I’m not sure that they would be for the Sunday morning club run. They’re more suited for riders that like to compete at club level or do a triathlon. In this arena, they’re a good investment. They’ll also help you if you suffer from Knee issues the Q-Rings imitate a circular (but smaller) chain ring around the Dead Spots. I look forward to my next ride with these on!

I’ll be continuing the test over the next few months, seeing how it helps to improve my overall rides in the Dales and Moors and across the Vale of York. In the meantime, Q-Rings are available from Fulford Cycles in York, who will happily fit them for you.

Alternatively, take a look at our developing technical section, where we’ll be showing you guys how to do the deed for yourself, along with some other useful skills.

Osymetric Oval Chain Rings

Pedalnorth Website — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 12:28:33 +0000

Osymetric Oval Chain Rings

When I received two yellow packets of Osymetric chain rings, both displaying that they have wins at the Tour De France, I was looking forward to fitting and trying these chain rings. The fitting, though daunting for some, seemed to be very easy to set up once I’d come to terms with the fact that there is no way to have chain clearance on the front mech when in the high end of the cassette and on the inner chain ring! With that in mind and the chain drop catcher fitted I was looking forward to getting on the saddle and trying them out.

Chris Froome used to swear by these chain rings, and with 4 Tour de France wins to his name, and a questionable second place to Wiggins (he should have been alowed to take the win), that should be a good recommendation.

When I finally got on the road with them, the difference from using these to your standard round chain rings was amazing; the rings almost propel your foot forward, keeping the steady motion of a smooth cadence. It was deliberate and noticeable, both in terms of the action and the result. After around 2 months of usage, with my legs getting used to them, I’m sold on using these strangely shaped rings— they are really great to use.

The science says several things, but the basic thing is that they stop your legs from feeling as tired as they used to get and are even better while climbing uphill—and in North Yorkshire we have a few!

The look of them is ok; its no classic Campagnolo chain ring look but its quite nice, with matt black and the white writing across the front of the outer chain ring. Aesthetically they don’t look out of place, and they even add to the overall look of quality on a good bike. I haven’t had any technical issues with the chain rings, despite some testing rides in the Dales and across the Vale of York. I’ve had no chain throw or problems changing gear; they can sound a little noisy, but so can most chains and chain rings when not lubed correctly. And in operation they do what they’re designed for, so a little noise is worth it.

In conclusion, they have made my cycling more enjoyable and my average speed has increased a little. The cost of the chain rings are expensive at £115 for the outer and £95 for the inner, but if you fancy trying them and have the spare dosh then I’d give it a go you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Keep Riding and Keep Smiling!

P.S. Don’t forget to wave at other cyclists — it’s obligatory!

Chain Rings – pedalnorth

Rotor Q Rings on MTB And Gravel Bike

ROTOR Q-RINGS ON MTB & GRAVEL BIKE

ROTOR Q-RINGS

Fitting the Q ring

Adaptation

Summary

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