I have an absolute black oval on my giant cross-country mountain bike actually had it direct drive mount took out the spider. I love it. I’ve gotten so used to it, but I haven’t pulled the trigger on installing over rings on my gravel bike or road bike yet. But I don’t know where there’s mountains I live in a flat South Florida area so I wonder if it would make a difference if I’m not doing hill climbs I just did it for the mountain bike because I do have some bike parks that have hard hill, climb efforts.
I have an absolute black oval on my giant cross-country mountain bike actually had it direct drive mount took out the spider. I love it. I’ve gotten so used to it, but I haven’t pulled the trigger on installing over rings on my gravel bike or road bike yet.
My experience with Shimano "Biopace" is very much the way you have described your experience with the oval you have. I found it to give me the feeling of a lower gear that normal. I was sometimes able to go up a gear on the rear cassette. If I was just spinning, trying to conserve strength, I believe it gave me a mechanical advantage over a round chainring. I had some problems however with the way the crank speed seemed to increase too rapidly at the bottom with alot of power and kinda jolted knees. I had to be a little careful to ride them smoothly. Still loved them as I was planning on adding Biopace to another bike when I strained my Achilles tendon one afternoon pushing hard on a seated climb. Had to reconsider after that. Maybe too unpredictable for this seasoned veteran. Sticking to round for now but regretting giving up that free mechanical advantage of the oval rings. I may try rotating the ring back or forward one bolt hole to see if I can come.up with something that works for me. Sheldon Brown has an article on the Biopace that's a good read if your interested. I'll be watching for more of you're experience with the oval.
@@noelbrown6771 I actually had a similar experience when I first rolled out but I cut it out for video length. I was finding if I was in a low gear on the street that I actually had the freehub coast at the bottom of the stroke and then drive again. But that was the only time I felt that. gg
Maybe it isn’t better, but all my bikes run ovals. Garbaruk, AB and Wolftooth. They feel “round” and round ones don’t. I am sold, and at the end of the day, that’s what matters.
The bike industry is a trip. Old things are new again, I personally hated biopace chain rings when they came out. Never felt like i could get smooth consistency from my pedal cadence & it felt like a lot of wasted energy. I could possibly see more advantages of it coming from an E-bike simply due to the motor assistance. Next thing you know, 26" wheels will be cutting edge again 😏
I've been running oval chainrings on my 1x MTB and 2x gravel since 2017 and am really happy with them. Mostly Pisgah miles. Only one small drawback is that the chain moves up and down while backpedaling to lube it...🤪
@oldguyandabike 165's are excellent. I think I have fewer issues with an IT band issue (knee pain) since I have been using them. Just converted my hardtail as well.
@@kyleellsworth6440 Curious on your numbers...height, inseam, etc? I really missed the boat when I bought a second set of cranks and did not try a 170mm version 'just to see'. But I moved Mrs. Grannygear to 165s years ago. So happy, she is. But she is 5'4" tall. I run 172.5mm cranks but I am 6'2" tall. I noticed the benefit for road bikes when I dropped from 175s to 172.5s. It made a difference. I have suggested shorter cranks to riders who are not smaller, but have physical limitations or knee issues. So far, the ones that swapped loved them and it helped with many structural issues. gg
@oldguyandabike 5 ft 8 and 29 inseam. Dialed in my new saddle position today with the hardtail. Feels even better than the gravel bike. I know a guy who does TT races. He is my height, and he switched to 165's, and I think now he has gone even shorter. He can put out some serious sustained power. When I heard it could tax your knees and hip flexors less, I decided to give it a try.
Ha Ha biopace lives again. I don't remember that it was any better or worse on my 90s mtb. Watching you pedal tho and the chain moving up and down it just seems wrong, mechanically I mean.
Modern oval chainrings are NOT BIOPACE!!!!!! Enough ranting, all my bikes have oval chainrings (mostly Garbaruk, one Absolute Black) and on flat terrain it still feels sometimes strange. But I live in hilly area, so uphill is much smoother and more consistent (even more so on slow technical climbing with a MTB). Love the feeling of even pedaling.
I tried oval chainrings in the 1980-1990's but they were black, not Biopace (friends' bikes, I can't remember the brand)... As you describe, it felt good on steep climbs, but less so on flat roads when spinning at a fast pace. My idea was that they should be slightly less oval i.e. closer to a circle without being a circle,then they'd be perfect for my use.
Very interesting stuff, I’ve wondered about the oval ring ever since they became a thing again. Looking forward to your final conclusions👍
I think this is quite an individual thing as far as who clicks with these. We shall see.
gg
I've been using ovals on MTB for years and never looked back... Also have 40T oval on my gravel bike - love it!
I could have typed the same reply
Same! I feel the Oval ring makes my pedalling more circular in feel
Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays Buddy-🤘🏼
@@stevekelly6544 back at ya. Blessings!
gg
I have an absolute black oval on my giant cross-country mountain bike actually had it direct drive mount took out the spider. I love it. I’ve gotten so used to it, but I haven’t pulled the trigger on installing over rings on my gravel bike or road bike yet. But I don’t know where there’s mountains I live in a flat South Florida area so I wonder if it would make a difference if I’m not doing hill climbs I just did it for the mountain bike because I do have some bike parks that have hard hill, climb efforts.
I have an absolute black oval on my giant cross-country mountain bike actually had it direct drive mount took out the spider. I love it. I’ve gotten so used to it, but I haven’t pulled the trigger on installing over rings on my gravel bike or road bike yet.
My experience with Shimano "Biopace" is very much the way you have described your experience with the oval you have. I found it to give me the feeling of a lower gear that normal. I was sometimes able to go up a gear on the rear cassette.
If I was just spinning, trying to conserve strength, I believe it gave me a mechanical advantage over a round chainring. I had some problems however with the way the crank speed seemed to increase too rapidly at the bottom with alot of power and kinda jolted knees.
I had to be a little careful to ride them smoothly.
Still loved them as I was planning on adding Biopace to another bike when I strained my Achilles tendon one afternoon pushing hard on a seated climb. Had to reconsider after that. Maybe too unpredictable for this seasoned veteran. Sticking to round for now but regretting giving up that free mechanical advantage of the oval rings.
I may try rotating the ring back or forward one bolt hole to see if I can come.up with something that works for me. Sheldon Brown has an article on the Biopace that's a good read if your interested. I'll be watching for more of you're experience with the oval.
@@noelbrown6771 I actually had a similar experience when I first rolled out but I cut it out for video length. I was finding if I was in a low gear on the street that I actually had the freehub coast at the bottom of the stroke and then drive again. But that was the only time I felt that.
gg
Great questions and insights. Been wondering about ovals too! Thanks!
You are most welcome.
gg
Maybe it isn’t better, but all my bikes run ovals. Garbaruk, AB and Wolftooth. They feel “round” and round ones don’t. I am sold, and at the end of the day, that’s what matters.
True 'dat.
gg
The bike industry is a trip. Old things are new again, I personally hated biopace chain rings when they came out. Never felt like i could get smooth consistency from my pedal cadence & it felt like a lot of wasted energy. I could possibly see more advantages of it coming from an E-bike simply due to the motor assistance.
Next thing you know, 26" wheels will be cutting edge again 😏
Loving my 42t wolftooth oval chainring.
Look for an update on my findings soon. A decision has been made.
gg
I've been running oval chainrings on my 1x MTB and 2x gravel since 2017 and am really happy with them. Mostly Pisgah miles. Only one small drawback is that the chain moves up and down while backpedaling to lube it...🤪
hah! I lube the bottom of the chain line a section at a time so I did not think of that!
gg
Merry Christmas 🎄 granny gear! 🍻
@@davidbolam71 thanks man! You too
Recently went with a 46 oval on my gravel bike. Also went from 170mm cranks to 165. Should have done it years ago.
Big changes. How have the 165s worked out?
gg
@oldguyandabike 165's are excellent. I think I have fewer issues with an IT band issue (knee pain) since I have been using them. Just converted my hardtail as well.
@@kyleellsworth6440 Curious on your numbers...height, inseam, etc? I really missed the boat when I bought a second set of cranks and did not try a 170mm version 'just to see'. But I moved Mrs. Grannygear to 165s years ago. So happy, she is. But she is 5'4" tall.
I run 172.5mm cranks but I am 6'2" tall. I noticed the benefit for road bikes when I dropped from 175s to 172.5s. It made a difference.
I have suggested shorter cranks to riders who are not smaller, but have physical limitations or knee issues. So far, the ones that swapped loved them and it helped with many structural issues.
gg
@oldguyandabike 5 ft 8 and 29 inseam. Dialed in my new saddle position today with the hardtail. Feels even better than the gravel bike. I know a guy who does TT races. He is my height, and he switched to 165's, and I think now he has gone even shorter. He can put out some serious sustained power. When I heard it could tax your knees and hip flexors less, I decided to give it a try.
@ makes a lot of sense for TT stuff. Not quite convinced for all other scenarios but I would like to try 170s.
gg
Oh, by the way, Merry Christmas
@@ktb5741 hey, thanks! I had that in the video but I realized the video will live way beyond the holidays!
Same to you and yours.
gg
I want to be like you when I grow up
@@rudysadventures763 I am trying to grow up very slowly!
gg
Can’t you check the data on your derailleur to see if you’re riding in a higher gear than normal? Wouldn’t that quantify its benefit, or lack?
I can, but I only have that data from one ride in particular (The Beast, etc). Just have not had time to do that.
gg
Ha Ha biopace lives again. I don't remember that it was any better or worse on my 90s mtb.
Watching you pedal tho and the chain moving up and down it just seems wrong, mechanically I mean.
Quite different than Biopace in the pedaling experience.
gg
Modern oval chainrings are NOT BIOPACE!!!!!!
Enough ranting, all my bikes have oval chainrings (mostly Garbaruk, one Absolute Black) and on flat terrain it still feels sometimes strange.
But I live in hilly area, so uphill is much smoother and more consistent (even more so on slow technical climbing with a MTB). Love the feeling of even pedaling.
Indeed they are not.
gg
I tried oval chainrings in the 1980-1990's but they were black, not Biopace (friends' bikes, I can't remember the brand)...
As you describe, it felt good on steep climbs, but less so on flat roads when spinning at a fast pace.
My idea was that they should be slightly less oval i.e. closer to a circle without being a circle,then they'd be perfect for my use.
@@DR_1_1 One has to wonder where the sweet spot is, but if we keep making them less oval, then at what point should they just be round?
gg