[Closed] Oval ring for mtb

I have one. Perhaps feels slightly better but not life changing "I ride one gear higher/faster" etc that will no doubt be said shortly.

But I am skeptical and didn't pay for mine, and I wouldn't pay for one.

Had a few. I wouldn't rush to replace a normal ring, but when I do replace it I would go oval every time. Feels different and definitely not worse. Brilliant for singlespeed in my opinion.

I was convinced when I got one for the fatbike- it definitely does <something>, because pedalling up the same hills, the bike used to be bouncier, which means some of my effort is going up and down not forward. And that has to be happening on other bikes too, it's just not as obvious on them.

It's not a big deal though, certainly not like i get on my round ringed bike and think oh man, I feel so weak.

I’ve very recently switched to one. The weirdest thing I found was that it just felt normal! (Sorry if that is underwhelming - it’s actually a good thing). I think the power delivery is a bit smoother - I went from 20 years of SPD’s to flats a couple of years ago and yet with the oval it was reminiscent of feeling clipped in. Might all be placebo - but main thing is it didn’t feel wrong, I needed a new chainring anyway and it was only about £25.

No idea of it really helps when climbing (placebo tells me it does...) but it has almost entirely stoped the knee pain I used to get.

For that reason alone I have them on both of my bikes now.👍

I've just bought a bike and taken the oval straight off. I couldn't feel it making any difference and wanted to go down a size.

It's a 32T 104pcd that's going to sit in the drawer until somebody wants it.

Same as everyone else (mostly), oval feels just a little bit nicer to pedal and seems to make climbing a bit easier. 32t, which feels like a 30t for climbing.

I run oval rings, as said above they're a little bit nicer. I notice the difference more on techy climbs where they seem to put the power down smoother and in those oh sh1t moments where you're in the wrong gear, it seems to prevent the cranks stalling when at top and bottom of the stroke. All the talk of being able to climb with a bigger ring, being x% faster etc are BS in my opinion and need to be taken with a pinch of salt.

I run one - I can notice the difference on climbs, where it feels like you are applying power for more of the pedal stroke. Otherwise I can't feel it really. It's possible that your pedalling technique, or lack of it, may govern how much of a difference you feel.

You can normally get one for less than 40 if you just wanted to try it out for a bit.

I'm not going to claim to have a beautiful pedal stroke, but an oval ring felt bloody weird to start with as it actually felt as though it made my pedalling more lumpy.  Am pretty much used to it now and don't particularly notice the difference on long climbs (but completely changed the gear ratios at the same time so didn't have a direct comparison).

One thing I definitely did notice was that it felt easier to put the power down for those half-pedal-stroke bursts to get over a root or step.  I'm not wholly convinced but will likely get another when this one dies.

I have had them, and there wasn't that much difference. I maybe thought was gaining a bit on the climbs, but that could have been a placebo effect. Anyway, eventually I got some knee pain that went away when I reverted to round rings.

I reckon they make more difference than people realise.  Stuck one on my regular bike and didn't really notice much difference then stuck a pair on my gearbox bike and whilst in sync they obviously make no difference at all (other than visual).  Then I dropped the chain on a night ride and needed to stick it back on quick before I was left behind.  With the front and rear ovals now out of sync I had the weirdest of pedaling sensations and not in an ooh that's nice kind of way

I run one, as everyone else states, they just feel a bit nicer.

Workscomponents ones at £25 have also been good for me.

I’m a fan. AB for me. The cheap ‘black’ ones CRC has are as good if you can get one.

No free power, better ability to use existing power in low grip climbing is my finding.

As above I probably wouldn’t toss a perfectly good round ring, but I wouldn’t buy anything but an oval unless there was a fit problem.

I’ve got them on all my bikes now. For me it helps with technical / v steep climbing. I also find my knees get slightly less sore.

Yes, I wanted a direct mount on my Cinch chainset, so bought an oval and its good. As others have said, not life changing but just a bit nicer to pedal. So.. when my road chainrings needed changing I bought Absolute Black oval for that (was very slightly cheaper than Dura Ace rings), and you really can feel the difference with a 53 ring. Worth it I'd say.

Brilliant for singlespeed in my opinion.

...and just to confirm, does it work OK singlespeed? I understand in theory it should be fine, even with horizontal drops, but just don't trust the idea!

It makes difference when going uphill. The steeper the hill, the bigger the difference. I think it has something to do with continuous power transfer or something. If you do a lot of mountain biking (I mean like in real mountains) then go for it. For flat-ish terrain I wouldn't bother.

I changed to oval (Absolute Black) when the chain ring needed replacing anyway and thought I would give it a go.
No discernible difference that I can tell. I have convinced myself that it helps on technical climbs but nothing scientific to back that up.
I don't really notice it and I don't hate it.

As Doug says, for me it helps with technical / v steep climbing. Traction is far more consistent whereas before it could easily spin as you started to apply the power, with the oval ring, it smoothes the application out so you maintain grip and it makes it easier. Elsewhere I do not notice any difference, but in my opinion it is wortit for the reason given.

Oval on everything now. When you first try it, it doesn't feel that different.

But after a while, when you go back to round, it feels terrible.

I find they help with my knees too, don't have to think about not chopping at the pedals as much.

Do you use same size chain ring or is it size up/ down? So if you run 40/16 SS, what you use oval at the front?

Size up by a couple of teeth seems to be the rule.

I found it easier to climb and run 1 size bigger than I did on a round one

I got given one for Christmas last year, and put it on my 1x9 hardtail. I replaced a 30T round NW chainring with a 30T oval NW.

I find it's good for climbing, as others have said: it seems to encourage smoother power delivery which stops the rear wheel breaking traction as easily. Also it feels easier to turn when grinding up hills.

Outside of climbing, I've not noticed any real difference. It felt mildly weird to pedal when I first put it on, but now it just feels normal. Since switching I feel as though I've dropped the chain slightly more with the oval ring than with the round, but either way it's an occasional thing and doesn't overly bother me.

Do you use same size chain ring or is it size up/ down

If you're happy with your spin-out speed but want to make climbing easier, stay with 40. If you're happy with climbing but want a higher top speed, go 42.

Don't know about finding oval rings that big for mtb crank patterns, though?

Or were you just using 40 as a number at of the hat for higher/lower workings?

my 1992 Marin has the original steel Shimano oval ring on it.

1992 Marin

Biopace then? With the ovalisation the wrong way 🙂

https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/oval-chain-rings-do-they-work-give-an-advantage/

I've used oval and round, and found they both have their pros and cons.

I certainly get a better power delivery with round, and feel that I accelerate better.
With oval climbing is easier, and I don't tire out so quickly on longer rides. Cramp sets in after a few hours in the saddle with round, which needs managing. With oval it's not so bad and comes on much later, maybe I'm imagining it?

If you have sram cranks i can sell you a lightly used absolut black one for a tenner. I can't get a photo to upload from my phone otherwise it would be in the classifieds....

Thanks for the offer but running xt cranks.

my 1992 Marin has the original steel Shimano oval ring on it.

Fail! 😂

There’s always someone that insists on confusing BioPace with modern oval rings...

whats the point of bio pace then. I've always wondered why the strange shape?

Similar idea, they just got it wrong by about 90 degrees!

thanks.

I am surprised that oval chain rings are in fashion again. I had one on a 1996 diamond back sorrento. I don’t know if it was better but defo faster as I was 23 years younger 😀