Has anyone switched to an oval chainring? Worth the upgrade? Any downside to them?
Oval chainrings
Just swapped from a 30T round to 30T oval. Haven't had a chance to try it out but am looking forward to the comparison. Will report back when I have some time on it.
Been on a 30t oval for a few weeks, after years on 28t round.
Climb just as easily as 28, the oval-ness was only noticed in my very first half-ride. After that it felt natural.
Not a night/day kind of change, but the climbing/grinding/beasting-up type riding is a bit smoother.
I've switched from a 30t round to 32t - overall seems a bit quicker (says that app which rhymes with lava), and I have been able to climb some sections where I have struggled in the past...not sure if its placebo, but seems like a good fit for me.
29er Full suspension.
Been running them for the past 4 years... I feel it's helped me with climbing... yeah I think they are worth trying.
Mass-debating throwing one on as my next chainring.
The titanium ones work best.
Posted by: tungsten
The titanium ones work best.
i almost pulled the trigger on this.. but it needs to last at least 3 times longer than an alu ring to be worth it. Do you have experience with ti rings?
https://www.kaeng.pro/product-page/cinch-boost-titanium-spiderless-oval-chainring
Last edited by: dutch on April 13, 2017, 10:29 p.m., edited 1 time in total.
That's messed up! The WTC stainless steel rings sound like an okay idea.
I just installed a Blackspire Oval...only a 20min loop on it so far...but Nice! The slower the cadence, the more you're able to feel the ovalness, but not bothersome one bit. Feels easier yet not slower. Feels amazing standing up and pedaling...which I was a little surprised by as I had never even heard this mentioned before.
Definitely smooths out the torque application.....looking especially forward to this when the trail/road climbs get dry and crusty, ie: slippery......I've alway hated that slip, slip, slip, slip feel when grinding up climbs
I've worn out my Oneup after a season so I put on my lightly worn round Chromag on. Interestingly the lack of oval did not feel any different. I do think there is a subtle traction enhancement from the oval but I wasn't slipping anything yesterday on the Zappa trails with the round.
Last edited by: andy-eunson on May 3, 2017, 8:37 a.m., edited 1 time in total.
I bought a OneUp oval 30t this year and I do feel like my pedal stroke feels more even, but I have no real idea...lol. It's pretty...that much I can tell you.
It is my understanding that many Oval ring makers use varying degrees of ovality and also the orientation of said oval.
So they won't all perform the same I'd guess.
yes - however each manufacturer claims that their % ovality is the correct one. Realistically they are all within 1-2%.
The only player going more aggressive is Rotor. They have 3+ mount options so that you can customize where the power point is in your stroke. Whereas their competitors (OneUp, Wolftooth, AB, Blackspire, etc,) all offer a single mount.
I'm still loving mine. I am quicker uphill, and the ovality allowed me to increase the ring by 2t vs round.
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