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Q-Rings

What do you think of the Q-Ring? (don't worry answers are private, haha)

  • Where do I pay?

    Votes: 3 75.0%
  • Donuts are round and so are my rings (re: you're crazy)

    Votes: 1 25.0%

  • Total voters
    4

Lawrence

Speeding Up
Jul 23, 2011
124
2
What do you think of these?
Saw them at Cycle Mode today.
They are made in Spain and a few pro riders/teams use 'em.

Japanese:
http://diatechproducts.com/rotor/q-rings-for_road.html
Spanish, English, Dutch and German:
http://www.rotorbike.com/

The way I understood it was that Q-Rings are different than (Shimano) Biopace in that Biopace gave more torque in the 'power zone' and less in the 'dead zone' while Q-Rings try to give you less torque in the 'power zone' and more in the dead zone.

Talked to the guy for a little while and they seem interesting.
I was thinkin of gettin 'em.

Watched the rear derailer when someone rode and it doesn't have to move much (cause the ring ain't round).

I couldn't get on a bike cause of my hernia so didn't get to see how it felt myself.

They said the Q-Ring help the bike match you where on a bike w/round rings you have to conform to your bike.

Biopace (for those too young to remember):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biopace
 
It's old technology and dropped by Shimano and another company for one BIG reason.... they screw your knees up. They also play havoc with your pedaling technique.
 
They said they are different than Biopace (of course) and that once you get adjusted you are OK.

Juan Jose Cobo won the 2011 Vuelta on 'em and Carlos Sastre won the 2008 TDF.
Quite a big list of road and MTB wins:
http://www.rotorbike.com/palmares/palmares_rotor_eng.pdf

The guy said some pros don't change cause there is an adjustment period and their stats may get worse until they are fully adjusted (re: their stats are their livelihood).

I think they have an uphill battle (esp as they go against what has been the norm for a long time).
 
I think they have an uphill battle (esp as they go against what has been the norm for a long time).

I know some SS MTBers swear by them. As the results accumulate I think you'll see more individuals(privateers) using them. Teams sponsored by S and S won't be using them, that's what sponsorship is for I guess. I looked at them but they are certainly not cheap. Nice to know they have a distributorship in Japan. I have seen them on Yahoo auctions and thought they were being imported by another party.
 
The guy told me that most bike shops can order them for you.

I thought the price was for a set, ya, kinda expensive for 'just' one ring.
 
There are some cheaper prices at AmazonJP.
 
You can sometimes snag these cheap on eBay. Mostly sold by thriathletes who were looking for a secret performance tool and didn't get used to them (because they don't ride enough?)

That's how I got one, still waiting to be mounted to a time-trial specific setup. I've met a bunch of Japanese riders with them, most of them with expensive gear/bike. Most said, there was some improvement, but none were enthusiastic about it.

I think there's some credibility to the system, which other than biopace allows you to dial in the effect matching your pedaling. But the only way to if they work for you is to try them.

One thing, that's clear, is that they will never shift great, even under the best condition. Q-rings are notorious for throwing the chain outside the large chainring. If you're doing lots of shifting in the front, eg climbing, maybe better save the money and try to perfect your pedaling style.
 
Rotor rings are mild compared to O-Symmetrics!
osymetric_black3850.jpg
 
My normal Dura Ace chainset started looking like that when that weird gel Tim gave me kicked in.
 
Rotor rings are mild compared to O-Symmetrics!
osymetric_black3850.jpg

That's why I read O-Symmetrics have too much of a curve/are too drastic.
 
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