Ovals are NOT Equally Ovals - Best Chainring Oval for MTB
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- čas přidán 20. 01. 2024
- To have at least some sort of legit comparison, at least 3 contenders has to be taken into account. So I did.
Three different 32T oval chainrings been taken into account and... Well, at least I have a clear preference. Partially subjective, but based on actual comparison and reasoning.
Check which oval I use. Certainly not looking back to rounds anytime soon.
@IG: / tom10crafted
@Strava: / strava
2023 Season MTB Races Analysis with EN Commentary:
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Information about the gear used:
Footage captured: GoPro Hero 11 + Max Lens
Tracking device: Garmin Edge 1040
Power meters: Stages Cycling XT/XTR
Bike: Scott Spark RC Pro 2022 - Zábava
The first time I tried an Absolute Black oval chainring was on my rigid fatboy and I noticed the difference almost immediately. It was night and day. Cranking up a technical climb all of a sudden felt “natural”. Now I have one on each of my bikes.
Bingo! Thats what I say for all🤠
Thank you for the video! 🤘
Which chainring we are going to see on your new Spark?! :D
@@tom10crafted i'm really considering to try sram's oval... 🤔
@@VelniaiLT am I was not clear enough which are the best?!! Haha! Just check what ovality they have - if it's close/matches to Grbk, I wouldn't suggest considering it:)
@@tom10crafted so I'll open the cards.
First I was considering absolute black 32t. But when I started to search to fit sram dm 3mm price got up ~100€. (Thats for color gold chainring) 🤔
On the other hand found some sales for original sram oval chainrings 🤨
@@VelniaiLT where are such prices? 🙈
Hey! What tires do you use on hardcore mud like in the video and what widht?
Hey, at that time I was having exactly the same thoughts - what to use in such hell, haha! Now I would say more spread knobs (Schwalbe Rocket Ron, Maxxis Forecaster, Bontrager XR2, Wolfpack Speed, and similar). In regards to widths - I don't know. Some say thinner tire would "slice mud" deeper and skid less. I haven't noticed such effect on mtb's:))
I was considering trying ovals last season, but did not get into buying one.. I guess now I will try them on the up coming season and see what's the hype all about :)
On other topic, in recent times I have noticed that people are also started making lots of videos on crank length, especially that shorter is better.. Have you noticed this trend and are you planning to experiment with different crank lengths?
Once you have a chance, let us know what it feels like!:)
I haven't tested any different length cranks, because I ride power meter cranks and have only 175mm ones. From what I observed, decreasing crank length increases cadence. As someone who does not prefer high cadence pedalling, it is unlikely I am going to consider shorter ones - even if it reduces ground clearance on Spark.
@@tom10crafted With new oval chainring I am also considering new bike (my first full suspension), then not sure which will benefit me more :D
@@dyingbreedMTB haha, when too much changes in single go - its hard to find what benefit what! :D
Have you ever measured the average power and time on technical climbs with oval and round chainrings? that would be super interesting
In an open environment, this might be hardly possible to effectively compare. What results do you suspect to get? Curious! More power required to go the same distance with one over the other?
@@tom10crafted I was thinking about a short technical climb, where you always choose the same path and only change the chain ring. I wonder how smooth the power transfer would be. I assume that an oval chain ring would transmit power more smoothly and required less Watts.
Have you also tried wolftooth? I am choseing between AB and wolftooth, which to order..
Unfortunately not. Nonetheless, Wolftooth's ovality is 10% - which means it has less "egg" shape shall we say. Which results into less neglible feeling, most likely
@@tom10crafted then AB it is, I would like full feeling :)
Are power meter readings correct when going with oval?
I have no idea how to testify that objectively 👀 But even if they were incorrect - I wouldn’t mind that deviation 😅🙉
Power is power
I tried the AB on my gravel bike and Wolftooth on my xc hardtail from last summer up to last December I can't say I felt more powerful or smoother revolutions I'd even say it messes up my cadence... It's probably one of these things; 1% practical and 99% in the head.
Can't trust the science because no studies was done properly with a sufficient sample and time, if there's one company marketing's I wouldn't trust it's absolutely AB 🤷
Cheers 🤘
Thanks for sharing your experience! As I have no strings attached to AB, this video is purely based on my experience and nothing else. One additional benefit you get from oval is bigger range, thus for someone who does not necessarily like to go high cadence that is also pro.
With that in mind, none of my observations, or at least I believe so, are based on AB marketing:) I find some videos of theirs hilarious (especially with Pogacar and chainlube or Vitalmtb).
The difference in the feeling between constant ovality is actual - whether it gives performance gains or not that is not a question which could be answered without isolated tests.
Ok, I will buy to try it on my accoustic bike. If you have two balls it definitely won't get worse if you will have one more :D :D :D
With three, you won’t shoot more - but you would shoot… Stronger!! 🤣🤣🤌🏻