Biopace chainrings
02-18-09, 09:55 AM
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02-18-09, 11:27 AM
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To be honest, I don't have any knee problems but am thinking about upgrading to Biopace because the design seems to be more ergonomical. But then again, Shimano did come out with Biopace2 which looks more like a regular ring so I guess the orginal Biopace design had flaws.
02-18-09, 12:02 PM
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To be honest, I don't have any knee problems but am thinking about upgrading to Biopace because the design seems to be more ergonomical. But then again, Shimano did come out with Biopace2 which looks more like a regular ring so I guess the orginal Biopace design had flaws.
02-18-09, 12:49 PM
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I think the only "flaw" with BioPace was creating a fad technology (scientifically based, but still a fad) in a fad driven hobby at a time when there was rapid advancement in the sport. There have been plenty of other good technologies shuffled to the dark corners of cycling's basement because The Next Big Thing (tm) came along.
Thankfully, some companies realize the benefits of each phase of development throughout cycling's history and manage to keep alive (and even revive) some of these items:
- bar end shifters; replaced by integrated levers, but still seen on a few new bikes
- internally geared hubs; just went out of vogue for a while
- generators; same as IGH, niche item that's making a comeback
- porteur style racks; VO and CETMA still understand why they're good
- cotton bar tape; face it, shellaced cotton tape just looks awesome
And now non-round rings are making a comeback with Rotor Q-Rings.
Thankfully, some companies realize the benefits of each phase of development throughout cycling's history and manage to keep alive (and even revive) some of these items:
- bar end shifters; replaced by integrated levers, but still seen on a few new bikes
- internally geared hubs; just went out of vogue for a while
- generators; same as IGH, niche item that's making a comeback
- porteur style racks; VO and CETMA still understand why they're good
- cotton bar tape; face it, shellaced cotton tape just looks awesome
And now non-round rings are making a comeback with Rotor Q-Rings.
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02-18-09, 12:52 PM
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mmm... I may have been mistaken when I looked, but it appeared the Q-rings had the ability to mount in any orientation (due to 360 degrees of bolt holes)
02-18-09, 01:04 PM
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You can mount them any direction, but by design they're meant to be aligned with one of 5 marked holes at a specific position to create the appropriate gains.
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02-18-09, 01:13 PM
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Hence the term, "biopacing," which was a term of derision among the roadie elite and the death knell of said chain rings.
02-18-09, 01:56 PM
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That's what I get for not looking beyond the pictures (trying to see how 'out of round' they really were)
02-18-09, 02:48 PM
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I'm not sure if they did it intentionally or not but the 360 degree of holes got them a few sales with recumbent owners since the orientation varies from that of a road bike. Actually it varies between different recumbent models and potentially different riders due to other adjustments on the bike.
02-18-09, 02:55 PM
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I'm not sure if they did it intentionally or not but the 360 degree of holes got them a few sales with recumbent owners since the orientation varies from that of a road bike. Actually it varies between different recumbent models and potentially different riders due to other adjustments on the bike.
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02-19-09, 12:47 PM
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In the UK, Highpath Engineering have been making Egg rings for ages. These are all custom made to order and as good quality as Specialities-TA (ie not much is better).
Generally the eccentricity is opposite to Biopace but you can mount them anyway you like. You can chose the degree of eccentricity, tooth count and BCD.
Generally the eccentricity is opposite to Biopace but you can mount them anyway you like. You can chose the degree of eccentricity, tooth count and BCD.
