Originally Posted by
01 CAt Man Do
It would be interesting to see if there are any independent ( non-sponsored) studies that would show ( pro or con ) whether or not there are any real "measurable advantages" to these "ovalized" chain rings. That's the problem with stuff like this. You can't trust what the manufacturers or sellers say about the products and the buyers will either love um' or hate um'.
I tend to look at it this way; if a lot of people like the product there's a good chance that you will too. There are no guarantees though and there are always going to be people that hate the new stuff.
There was a study by Christie O'Hara when she was at Cal State San Luis Obispo. I think it was her master's thesis. I tried to find it on the web recently but couldn't. But it was there. Then she was hired by Rotor and now works there. I don't think they sponsored that study. The subjects were triathletes from Cal State San Luis Obispo.
I spoke with a pro rider in Europe back in 2009 when Cervelo Test Team was using Rotor rings. That pro rider said the science is there, its just that Rotor to be accepted by the various pro teams needs to step up their product line and do a full group. I don't think this is going to happen soon.
Then there's O Symetric, the French version of ovalized rings that competes with Rotor from Spain. That's what Chris Froome used.
Even on the Cervelo Test Team back in 2009, not all riders used Rotor rings. And Garmin Sharp riders do have their preferences even though Rotor is a sponsor. But if it were Mavic or SRAM, its a different story. All team riders would be required to use their product.
Another interesting thing would be to speak with the retired pro riders who have no chance to make a come-back because they are somehow too old, banned from competing, not selling their own line of bike related goods. Somebody like Tyler Hamilton who spilled the beans on 60 minutes. I would like to hear what he says about the bikes that he rode as a pro. It would be from both perspectives: his own as a pro rider and his thinking about the non pro riders.