biopace rings

[e-rider]

biopace chainrings seem to be re-appearing at an alarming rate - saw a few guys on the club run using the modern version - same as Wiggo.

why has it suddenly become acceptable again? In the early 1990s after they had already 'been and gone' club riders would piss themselves if some new guy turned up and had biopace rings.

Now it's cool again or what?

Is the modern design slightly different?

 

[palinurus]

I expect quite a few people were wondering why elliptical chainrings started reappearing in the late 80s too. They weren't new then either.

 

[snailracer]

Biopace rings work in completely the opposite way to most other oval chainrings. The disparity suggests that the placebo effect overrides any actual biomechanical advantage in a race.

 

[e-rider]

so why are people using them again?

 

[snailracer]

so why are people using them again?

Fashion, marketing?
e.g. long hair, short hair, long hair, short hair, etc.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Oh...are people starting to use them again now?

Fitted an old early 90s set to my virtuoso a few months ago...I reckon people are just copying me

Yay...I get to be a trendsetter

 

[e-rider]

'Rotor Q rings' is the 21st century name

 

[Norm]

so why are people using them again?

Some of us never stopped using them.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/biopace.html

 

[fossyant]

Awful looking first time round, even worse now !

 

[Alembicbassman]

Just about to fit a Biopace Exage 300EX 52/40 to my 1990 Claud Butler roadie.

I'll compare it to the Shimano 105 on my other bike and report back.

Only cost £15

http://www.cyclechat..._1#entry1433886

 

[guitarpete247]

Some of us never stopped using them.

http://www.sheldonbr...om/biopace.html

Same here. I've still got Bio Pace on my '88 Saracen.

 

[e-rider]

Same here. I've still got Bio Pace on my '88 Saracen.

shame on you (for not wearing them out yet)

 

[zoxed]

so why are people using them again?

I think the answer is in the original post !!:
"saw a few guys on the club run using the modern version - same as Wiggo"

 

[Hilldodger]

I think the answer is in the original post !!:
"saw a few guys on the club run using the modern version - same as Wiggo"

Wiggo - who is paid to use them

Oval chainrings first appeared in the 1890's at the same time as belt drives, having a front wheel 2" larger than the rear and many other ideas.

None of them lasted more than two years before people realised they made no difference but that hasn't stopped them being (re)invented by desperate marketing men every few decades.

 

[MartinC]

Non-round chainrings do make a definite mechanical difference - it's impossible to align your front mech optimally.