I don’t know many people that don’t want to ride faster. Obviously getting fitter is the biggest thing you can do. Training is speed you earn, but there are a few places where you can buy more speed. Faster wheels and tires, optimized bike fittings and now Rotor Q-rings. University testing has shown a power increase of 3-4%, along with a decrease in muscular fatigue and faster recovery.
The Rotor rings are chainrings that aren’t round. This has been tried before but these folks have finally figured out how to actually make it work. By optimizing the shape so it is harder on the down stroke and easier through the dead spot, it is easier to stay on top of the gear without getting bogged down. This allows for better use of muscles and puts less load on the knees.
I use the Q-rings myself and have found their claims to bear out in the real world. Instead of feeling stuck in the dead spot at the bottom of stroke, it feels as if my feet float right through it. If you find yourself getting dropped just before the top of the hill, this will be the edge that keeps you connected.
Rotor rings have made a huge difference is a short period of time for me. My usual riding partners have wondered what I’ve done to go from being a slow fat guy to a moderately fast, fat guy. The fat guy part I’m working on but I’ll take any edge I can get. They take a few rides to get used to but after that they feel like any other ring.
Due to the elliptical shape a 50 tooth ring feels like a 48 in the dead spot and a 52 at the peak of the down stroke. This variation make it feel even all the way around rather than hard at the bottom, minimizing intensity of muscular contraction per stroke. Any of you who have talked to me about training will understand how this will reduce fatigue. Repeated hard efforts are what make you tired so you want to have the most consistent power output and minimal above threshold efforts to record you best times and speed. Q-rings do this within each pedal stroke.
Q-rings have multiples angles so you can set them to vary the angle of the harder part of the stroke. They are available for Shimano, Sram and Campy in standard and compact sizes as well as the popular mountain bike sizes. I’ve even set them up on a single speed. Q-rings cost around $300 per pair for a road set, which is more than standard round rings but it’s a bargain for the performance improvement you get for the money.
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11 Responses to "Rotor Q-Rings Elliptical Chainrings – Do They Make You Faster?"
Can I add The Q/Rings to a Shimano 105?
Marco
You need the correct set but yes, Rotor makes Q rings to fit your crank.
Winston
Marco, is your Shimano 105 a compact crank (110 BCD)? If yes, you can put any compact Q-Ring combination on it as long as it is the 2011 model Shimano 105. I have this setup on my TT bike. Very nice.
friend,
I bought a 53 x 40 rotor for campy, I’m using the n th position 3 and already felt an improvement in large part to maintain a cadence for longer, and working well below the rotation of the pedal.
As I am not a good climber, this position of non 3 hope this will help me improve my handicap.
In the part that I do best which is the sprint I felt that I improved a lot.
Now he wanted more information about the other settings non 2,4,5, what are the strengths and weaknesses of these positions.
Thanks if you can help me in this my doubt.
VIRSÃO.
I’ve decided to give the Q Ring(s) a try.
But for now just the inner ring.
I’m currently running a campy compact crankset 34 inner, and changing that to a 36 Q Ring. The cassette is a 12-26t.
I feel i will benefit more with this set-up on the hills.
Any thoughts?
If all goes well with the inner Q ring i will like to switch the outer chainring to a Q-Ring too… but i’ve read of ‘issues’ with shifting1?
Any suggestions?
Pete
I’ve found they work whether going fast or going uphill. As far as the shifting goes, if you ease off slightly when shifting it isn’t problem. They don’t shift as well under load as Shimano Rings but still shift well.
Are Q-Rings compatible with Shimano Di2?
Dan
Rotor rings and DI2 work just fine. You will need the OCP3 version of the rings if you have a shimano crank.
I found them to be a bit of a farce to be honest – if your pedal stroke is already quite smooth there’s really no benefit.
They certainly don’t make you faster – that’s more placebo effect than anything!
The biggest thing I have found is less fatigue later in a ride. I don’t pedal squares when I’m tired with the Rotor Rings.
The only Shimano Cranks you have to OCP 3 rings to are the compact versions….. I’ve installed non OCP rings onto 7900 & 6700 cranks.
I’ve trained and raced on Rotor Q’s (aero 53/39′s) this year and have found them to be great. My knees have suffered less than they used to with round rings, this was the reason for trying them despite my pedalling being pretty smooth.
They are not cheap, but for me the investment has been well worthwhile.