SpokEasy

Rings Aren\’t Always Circular

\"ringsRings aren\’t always circular? Really?

This ring here certainly looks circular, but oval chain rings are out there! Yes, that\’s right; rings aren\’t always circular!

It\’s interesting that an oval ring lets you get \”more bang for your buck\”, that is, to get more out of the energy you\’re putting into pedaling.

Non-round rings seem to buck tradition. There\’s nothing wrong with tradition per se, but sometimes sticking to it can hinder progress.

I wonder how it would feel to use an oval chain ring. They\’re saying that you get used to it quickly. Maybe it\’s the same kind of thing as the first few rides after a bike re-fit. At first you\’ll notice that things feel different, but after a few rides the new fit is second nature.

Of course the possible disadvantages must be considered. Few things are either all good, or all bad, so weigh the pros and cons.