I’ve been very happy with an Absolute Black ring on my mountain bike. I was pretty sure I felt an improvement but I’m not one to Strava or time my rides in any way. If I feel like going hard I do ( which is most often ) but if I don’t feel good I take it easy and don’t need a readout of my ride later to make me feel bad about it.

Anyhow, I had a bottom bracket issue so I had to return to a round ring and that’s when I really noticed it. I missed the oval ring a lot, felt slower climbing and more tired after. After this post I’m now thinking why didn’t it occur to me to put them on my road bike? I guess this will be added to my things to do list......