Elliptical chainrings. Any real benefit?

[Cycleops]

After reading a review in the equipment review section here on 'Q' rings I thought I would ask the question if there is any benefit in using them. They have been around since the 1890's so are not a new idea. Last tried by Shimano in late eighties but no longer produced as "Biopace". This rather extreme example was from the seventies.

 

[smokeysmoo]

I remember having 'Biopace' chainrings on my Muddy Fox Courier MTB, circa 1987.

I can't remember feeling any advantage to having them though, but I was just a tarmac terrorising teenager if truth be told.

That said, they work wonder if you've legs like Mr Wiggins

[EDIT] this made me Google the bike and I found THIS example on eBay, complete with Shimano Exage 500 LX Biopace chainset. Funny how people think something is worth £££'s though just because it's old

 

[MontyVeda]

maybe you've answered your own question... they've been around for some 120 years... last tried 20 years ago... if they're not popular yet, maybe it's because they don't have any real benefit 'off paper'.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Is there a cut off, below which one's legs are insufficiently Wigginsesque for them to work?

I say yes, it helps me sleep better thinking that

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

I run Q-rings on and off and remain undecided on them, they seem to make the legs feel slightly better but I believe this is due to placebo as much as anything at this time, more extreme elliptical rings such as osymetric rings may have some noticeable benefit but I have not tried these. At this time im not convinced on Q-Rings at this time. They look great and I want to believe but after using them for a year I'm starting to think bullshit.

My coach is not a believer in Q-Rings and to support his belief that he felt it was marketing and placebo at a later date told me he had optimized the ring setting for me but actually did the exact opposite to what is suggested, I still perceived an improvement because I believed it was now optimal.

 

[Pale Rider]

Perhaps elliptical chainrings would work better with elliptical wheels - suitably aligned, of course.

 

[srw]

Is there a cut off, below which one's legs are insufficiently Wigginsesque for them to work?

Yes. Bradley Wiggins.

 

[betty swollocks]

http://www.cycletechreview.com/2012/news/oval-chainrings-good-tour-de-france/

 

[DiddlyDodds]

If they are rubbish on the bile, take them off and use them alomg with a colourfull felt tip , as a cheap version of Spirograph

 

[stumpy66]

I have shimano biopace on my holdsworth which is on turbo duties, i dont notice any difference using them

 

[jdtate101]

I recently bought a Rotor crankset with Q-Rings, my review of them is here:

http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/rotor-3d-crank-with-q-rings.120001/