Originally Posted by
myth001
That's interesting, I bought mine online, and my LBS was still praising the Miche BB (well, compared to the FSA one that with the bike anyways). Oh, well! Already installed it now. perhaps something to keep in mind next time...
It's kinda like the difference between cooking with
I Can't Believe It's Not Butter and cooking with Butter. If that's all you've had, you won't notice any problem...till you taste Butter
Originally Posted by
myth001
Never thought the 'roundness' could be such a noticeable factor! Shouldn't they all be pretty well computer designed and cut, and hence pretty 'round'?
Which ones in your opinion are 'rounder' that others?
It's a quality control thing.
A chainring that is slightly off center or warped will cause the chain to pulsate up and down as it gains and loses tension. Most do it ever-so-slightly. The more expensive ones don't. Why don't they?
- They use higher quality machining tools that have better precision.
- The tools are probably maintained more often
- Quality assurance throws out those that don't past tests
All of which means that manufacturing costs are slightly higher. Hence the higher price.
Lower-end companies will sell chainrings that Campy or Sugino will destroy.
Being that track bikes don't have a derailleur, there is nothing to take up the slack. So you have to set it with the rear wheel placement. If your chainring is perfectly round, the chain will not pulsate. If it is, then you'll have to set the wheel in a spot that doesn't make the chain too tight or too slack.
So, your chain is like pants belt:
- A derailleur would be an elastic belt that maintains the same tension even if your belly expands and contacts.
- A slack track chain would allow your pants to slide down
- A tight track chain would be constricting
- If your waist pulsated you'd pulsate between slack and a tight belt.