Energy saving device - better than oval chainrings?

[Fastpedaller]

If only I'd had these when I was a regular time-trial rider - how much faster would I have been?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/13464411...lp:4247815&itmmeta=01HQ6Y3C6H4MJ2YZ94ZYHJ41VR

 

[ColinJ]

Not as fast as you would have been with these incredibly efficient cranks...

 

[Jotheboat]

Because I'm pathetic, if I used 20% less energy, I wouldn't be using any at all!

(If this kind of thing really worked, wouldn't we all have them?)

 

[Punkawallah]

At one time it was thought that there might be a use for five computers in the world . . . According to the head of IBM.

 

[FrankCrank]

If only I'd had these when I was a regular time-trial rider - how much faster would I have been?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134644115808?_trkparms=amclksrc=ITM&aid=1110025&algo=HOMESPLICE.COMPOSITELISTINGS&ao=1&asc=20220405142716&meid=4ee9daab8d5c48fa99d7e098347d17cf&pid=101506&rk=17&rkt=25&sd=186209192220&itm=134644115808&pmt=1&noa=0&pg=4247815&algv=AlgoIndex5SimRanker&_trksid=p4247815.c101506.m1851&itmprp=cksum:1346441158084ee9daab8d5c48fa99d7e098347d17cf|enc:AQAIAAAA8GoJD7Htoqgzdqq5KXqsWyw3H0u8zrwes4VYw5uGBIeQkyCoKnrb6mUt%2Fu3MCtdC7i%2FyKcFvax7XUBdydX0p63%2Fl2v92eZTbyKGpMfYm7hbjXf08EWAWLgz4dabR1%2F7YYJui6PlS4BjIynJAS%2Btf10Tc0TobArHi7vnw%2BiXF5tYSPGQYznU5qtBDepNyEow7qBAftMo4HyheBrwLmoakci9SiPqQ3M3qTi8U%2B9HOVIw%2Fgj0hzAJiSBR6RepAwCX7Cu4IwOaL7%2Fuc5zSWtCwqED4d4WOUZqpEQ9LA1mvAryoVwogmcnQqTThqs%2FtaH19tQw%3D%3D|ampid:PL_CLK|clp:4247815&itmmeta=01HQ6Y3C6H4MJ2YZ94ZYHJ41VR

It sounds almost too good to be true

 

[figbat]

If only I'd had these when I was a regular time-trial rider - how much faster would I have been?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134644115808?_trkparms=amclksrc=ITM&aid=1110025&algo=HOMESPLICE.COMPOSITELISTINGS&ao=1&asc=20220405142716&meid=4ee9daab8d5c48fa99d7e098347d17cf&pid=101506&rk=17&rkt=25&sd=186209192220&itm=134644115808&pmt=1&noa=0&pg=4247815&algv=AlgoIndex5SimRanker&_trksid=p4247815.c101506.m1851&itmprp=cksum:1346441158084ee9daab8d5c48fa99d7e098347d17cf|enc:AQAIAAAA8GoJD7Htoqgzdqq5KXqsWyw3H0u8zrwes4VYw5uGBIeQkyCoKnrb6mUt%2Fu3MCtdC7i%2FyKcFvax7XUBdydX0p63%2Fl2v92eZTbyKGpMfYm7hbjXf08EWAWLgz4dabR1%2F7YYJui6PlS4BjIynJAS%2Btf10Tc0TobArHi7vnw%2BiXF5tYSPGQYznU5qtBDepNyEow7qBAftMo4HyheBrwLmoakci9SiPqQ3M3qTi8U%2B9HOVIw%2Fgj0hzAJiSBR6RepAwCX7Cu4IwOaL7%2Fuc5zSWtCwqED4d4WOUZqpEQ9LA1mvAryoVwogmcnQqTThqs%2FtaH19tQw%3D%3D|ampid:PL_CLK|clp:4247815&itmmeta=01HQ6Y3C6H4MJ2YZ94ZYHJ41VR

They’re so good they even work on bikes with no pedals.

 

[Cycleops]

Cycling gadget snake oil.

 

[fossyant]

Well, oval chain rings have done the rounds at least twice. It's all about super short cranks in the MTB world now. Suckers.

 

[Windle]

Cycling gadget snake oil.

No, the snake oil is what you need to lubricate them with or they won't work properly.

 

[Fastpedaller]

Well, oval chain rings have done the rounds at least twice. It's all about super short cranks in the MTB world now. Suckers.

How long is super short? I can see that offroad shorter cranks could lead to less chance of pedal strikes. As to efficiency they raise the effort (shorter lever) but the difference can be negated by the gearing - shorter cranks also lead to faster pedalling and I think any tests have been pretty inconclusive re efficiency. I used to ride 12 hr time trials on fixed wheel with 150mm cranks - They felt strange at first compared with 170mm, but after a few miles I didn't notice. Going back to 170's felt equally strange at first (it felt like my feet were going a long way!). I now ride 165 on all my bikes (except the Brompton) and feel it's a good compromise. Taken to extremes,,, 50mm cranks would be impossible to turn, and 300mm cranks also (as they'd hit the ground ). For all of us somewhere between those extremes is ideal.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

No, the snake oil is what you need to lubricate them with or they won't work properly.

Is that wet snake oil or dry snake oil??

 

[wafter]

Most likely total rubbish but it does change the biomechanics of the crank in a subtle way; effectively reducing crank length at TDC and BDC so I guess works like oval chainrings. Which the jury remains resolutely out on despite them having been around for ages..

 

[FishFright]

Well, oval chain rings have done the rounds at least twice. It's all about super short cranks in the MTB world now. Suckers.

Can you give us the date when everything worthwhile was invented ?

 

[fossyant]

Can you give us the date when everything worthwhile was invented ?

When the first safety bike was invented, and also when Winter cycling boots were invented. The rest is just fluff.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

When the first safety bike was invented, and also when Winter cycling boots were invented. The rest is just fluff.

But but but
surely different types of lube need to be checked out and improved????