Round vs Oval Chainring - Back to Back Test
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- čas přidán 4. 07. 2024
- The question of which is faster, round vs oval chainring, has puzzled me for a long time. So when Absolute Black offered to send me some oval chain rings to test, I decided to do a back to back test to find out which one was faster on the climbs.
#absoluteblack #mtb #mountainbike #mountainbiking #mtbswitzerland - Sport
Nice test, thanks!
Glad you liked it! Thanks for watching and commenting.
Getting free stuff. Absolutely brilliant. Fantastic content Darren.
Your good lady wife would be proud of me 😋
I've been riding the absolute black chainring on my Jeffsy for about a year now. I share your impression that they help to put down the power more evenly in steep terrain, so when I ride with very low cadence and high power. So especially in technical parts of climbs I feel they help to keep a steady pedal stroke and keep the momentum over roots and rocks more easily. I have to say I noticed a slight "pedal wobble" on my first few meters in the flat on my first ride, but that feeling went a way in a few minutes of riding. I used a rotor oval chainring for a while on my XC bike but went back to the original round ring because the rotos chainring was quite noisy and didn't engage the chain smoothly. The absolute black in comparison is just as smooth and quiet as the original chainring.
Thanks for the input. I actually lent my bike to a friend for a couple of weeks while his was being repaired and he never noticed it had an oval ring until I told him afterwards.
Really interesting video and congrats for the swag! I have been wondering about those oval rings, maybe time that I give it a go
Thanks man. It’s actually a pretty cheap upgrade, so worth giving a go.
Trail Tracker Absolute Black should pay you commissions! Following on your video I have now ordered at 32T model to try out. Wondering whether I should install it on the Enduro full suspension or on my Hardtail? Thinking of if probably the enduro the added efficiency could be really helpful.
Right on - join the club!
Nah, you’re fine. Keep doing what you’re doing.
Well done sir. Congrats on the freebie.
Thank you. Here’s hoping for more 🤞
wowwww this vloggers are great thanks brother♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
Thank you so much! Keep riding and stay safe 👍
Good comparison and I liked your choice of music when changing the rings!!! ;-) I've been wondering about an oval chain ring for sometime. May well give it a go.
Thank you! More thought goes in to these videos than many people realise 😉 I know a few of people who use them now and they all say they notice the difference.
I want one so sick of my legs being tired from climbing
Good comparison! I recently installed one on my bike. They make the climbs less exhausting.
Yes they do
Beautiful trail bro. Nice ride
Thanks man
@@TrailTrackerSwitzerland thanks bro
Amazing
Thanks. I was really surprised by the result.
I can agree with you first few days you could notice the difference but now wouldn't go back started on a 36t was ok till winter came then put a 32t on and now got easy into hardish gears makes going up hill a lot easier
Going up hill where I live is always hard work. I just keep telling myself that the oval chain ring is helping me!!
Good Vid 😎 Thanks i just got a 30RF Oval For My CF Warden . Just waiting for it to Show up 😁
Thanks 🙏🏻 I hope it works for you. They feel a bit weird initially, but I still think they help, especially when riding rough uphill enduro trails.
@@TrailTrackerSwitzerland It Will Be Awesome I Live in Vancouver I Live 6 km from Knolly And Work 2 Blocks From Them lol . I Ride My Warden To Work 10 months of the Year . Pavement To ST Home 😎 Its Awesome 😃
@@darrinkulyk9560 Very cool. If all goes to plan, I’ll be in BC in July 😎
I run round on my road bike and oval on my MTB's. It seems to me that the rounds are better on the road even with some climbs, whereas the oval is better in climbs on uneven terrain and going over roots and rock gardens.
I’m not a road biker, but I can fully imagine that the effect on a road bike is far less. Thanks for commenting 👍
I have an AB oval on my Norco. I ride punchy climbs with lots of rocks/slabs lots of power moves. I have no idea if ovals would help with speed but it definitely helps give you an extra crank through at the end/top of the climb (usually at the point of fail). I noticed this on my very first tech climb after installing it. I had that same experience a few more times during that ride and subsequent but it's a subtle change but in the positive direction. A year later I still fail on climbs that my riding buddies are clearing without oval chainrings but I'll take whatever bonus I can get.
I’m with you all the way dude!
Three thumbs up!
Glad you liked it. This video got very close to being an unfinished project, but has ultimately turned into one of my most successful.
Idk if its placebo effect but honestly you just get better in climbing the more you do it. I would train on steep long road climbs between trail riding.
There is certainly no better way to improve your climbing than by doing more of it. There's only one way you'll get me on a road climb though - if there's a trail at the end of it!
@@TrailTrackerSwitzerland of course. But I can't always drive to the trails. Lol
This is my biggest issue l am having. On our hardest climbs I pretty much now only go down to 1st gear (1by12 (30,10/50) for the worst part of the hardest climb. I want to try and run the shifter in say 4th,5th,6th rather than 1st,2nd,3rd so was going to go to 28t oval. Most saying say same or go bigger (32t). What advice would the majority give?
The size depends heavily on a combination of the terrain you ride and you as a rider. In areas with fewer long steep climbs, and more cross country style trails, people might want the gearing to be harder because they never use the lowest gears. Absolute Black recommend using the same number of teeth as before, which is what I did (28T - there are only 2 directions where I live - up or down!!). However, if you want to make the gearing noticeably easier than it is at the moment, I would go for a chain ring with fewer teeth.
Well you won't have much of a choice if you are using the most common 104 bcd a 32 is the smallest you can go. I was running a 30 round on my 1x11 went to 32 oval works great for me I am 270lbs in live in the northeast where its uphill both ways lol.
would you say you are less tired with the oval?
I am always tired after climbing hills! But the evidence would seem to suggest that for the same effort you get up the hill quicker. Where I really noticed a difference though was my ability to put down more power in steeper technical terrain.
interesting thank you! can you please clarify what size was the round ring and what size was the oval? ta
Thanks 🙏. As recommended by Absolute Black, I stuck with the same size when swapping over. Both were 28t rings.
I changed to an oval chain ring about a year and didn't notice when riding but I then found I was getting strava pr's on climbs so I've stuck with it .... in fact recently bought a new won & a bash guard so I don't break a tooth 🤦
Nice to have my findings confirmed. Good move on the bash guard - I'd be regularly buying new chainrings if i didn't have one!
My other xc bike has an oval ring for 4 years now. Ovals for me feels weird on paved uphills. But it definitely helped me on technical climbs or uneven terrain. Who spends so much time in flats and paved roads on a MTB anyway?
I agree. I don’t see any reason to go back to a round ring. I need all the help I can get at my age 😉
Did you make sure the chainrings were similar sized and that you switched gears identically on both tests? Otherwise too many variables are in play to make it a decisive conclusion
Same number of teeth on the chain rings and it’s a one gear climb all the way - the easiest one! Irrespective of that, there’s still a ton of variables at play. It does give a bit of an idea though.
@@TrailTrackerSwitzerland fair game brother. Good job
Iv been using a oval ring for about 6 months I prefer it
I think I’ve got so used to them now that changing back would probably feel a bit weird.
Was there a difference in the number of teeth on the two chainrings?
No, they were both the same number of teeth.
i will join in race for mountain trail sir . 28T is good for me ?
It really depends on the terrain you will be riding and how strong your legs are. The smaller the chain ring, the easier your lowest gear will be. A smaller chain ring will also reduce your max speed in your highest hear though, so you need to find the right balance.
I think ovals work on power delivery better than round. Try accelerating on some single track and see what its like.
I agree entirely. I really notice that extra power when you need it to get over technical obstacles.
Exactly. No lag to the next down stroke. No matter how tired you are, it’s there.
I see in the background he built Blake’s (from gmbn) bike rack and shelves
It seemed like a great way to use wood I had lying around at home instead of paying for bike hooks. And it has turned out to be a great solution.
@@TrailTrackerSwitzerland Nice one. I saw his video recently and might do the same. My garage is also a bit chaotic
Would something like an Oval Chainring matter for an eBike?
I honestly don't think it would make the slightest difference on an eBike. The motor should give you all the help you need.
I wonder why the winning xc racers don’t run them, if they work so well?
Probably because they have much more power than us mere mortals, which results in a much more even pedal stroke. I think the oval really helps when the going gets tough and I'm struggling to maintain an even cadence, eg. tech climbs
Quite a difference in times there, may not be in depth scientific but it was a real world test and that is what counts 🤙🏼
Check you out getting freebies now 😃
Thanks fella. Freebies rule!!
Hi. Very informative vid. What size of oval chainring should I use for my 27.5 mtb, 11x46 cogs. Currently using 34t chainring.
Thank you. If you’re happy with a 34t round ring, I would take the same size oval ring.
Agree with trail tracker you could even get away going to 36 and it will feel very similar to you're 34 round
wow this helps me a lot decided ill get one for my e-bike my mechanic friend said they won’t make any difference on any bike but seeing this video made me see they do make a difference think he just hates oval chain rings lol
I'm not sure how much difference they'd make on an e-bike. I think you might have given me an idea for a video!
Biggest issue with them is they wear out the clutch on derailleur much faster as the chain length is constantly changing....
@@TrailTrackerSwitzerland please do it I'm interested in seeing if ya find any advantages
How many teeth were on both chain rings?
As recommended by Absolute Black, I swapped like for like (28T)
@@TrailTrackerSwitzerland thank you very much for the response have a great day
@@dereksmith7965 No problem at all, you too!
you didn't say how may teeth each chainring had, if they were both the same count of teeth the oval would have a big advantage, the oval is taller, a test of a 32 oval vs a 34 round is a much fairer test..
They were both 28T. I’m not getting up any hills round my way with a 34T ring.
@@TrailTrackerSwitzerland the oval was the same as using a 30t is the point..put one on top of the other and you'll see the oval is equal to a 30t thats what makes the difference..
I'm getting an oval!
👍 I don’t intend to go back to a round chainring.
Hi its me 🤪🤪
Long time, no see 🥰
@@TrailTrackerSwitzerland miss you
As soon as the travel restrictions have been lifted, I promise to come and visit.
Haven’t watched yet but if the winner is “round” I’m calling BS.
Don’t worry, the triangle wins!
Sounds inconclusive on the hills.
We must also factor in the bias of receiving something for free & wanting more free stuff in the future 🫐🍆
If you’re offering free blueberries and aubergines, I’ll say anything you want for the blueberries, you can keep the aubergines though - not really my thing!