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Oval chainring on a Brompton

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Oval chainring on a Brompton

Old 09-13-23, 08:49 PM
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Oval chainring on a Brompton

I tested a C-line 6 bear brompton with oval chainring and standard brompton pedals. It climbed slopes easier and accelerated faster on flat roads too. However during the test ride, the slope was wet after hours of drizzling, so I didn't pedal when going down the slope. I was comparing 44 teeth round ring with 44 teeth oval ring.

I believe that the oval chainring will actually reduce the paddling power if you have mastered the circular pedalling technique with clipless paddles. What was your experience with an oval chainring on a Brompton?
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Old 09-13-23, 09:07 PM
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Originally Posted by ping123
I tested a C-line 6 bear brompton with oval chainring and standard brompton pedals. It climbed slopes easier and accelerated faster on flat roads too. However during the test ride, the slope was wet after hours of drizzling, so I didn't pedal when going down the slope. I was comparing 44 teeth round ring with 44 teeth oval ring.

I believe that the oval chainring will actually reduce the paddling power if you have mastered the circular pedalling technique with clipless paddles. What was your experience with an oval chainring on a Brompton?
Depending on the eccentricity of the oval, a 44T oval chainring will act like a 46-48T in the power portion of the stroke.
Although not a brommie, I have ovals on a few of my bikes and they really shine on climbs.
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Old 09-14-23, 04:04 PM
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I have an O.Symetric oval chainring on my Brompton, it works great.
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Old 09-14-23, 06:44 PM
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Old 09-15-23, 02:23 AM
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I ride/race XC and CX using either a 32T or a 36T sram eagle chainring. the 32 is circular while the 36 is oval and go the oval one because it was cheap at the time of purchase. I cannot notice any difference between the 2 in term on pedal feel or efficiency. The numbers show the same; I run Garmin powermeter pedals with "cycling dynamic" analysis and on the same CX course, I get the same number in 32 or 36T (with more speed on the 36T obviously).
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Old 09-15-23, 06:30 AM
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Used to have them for triathlon.
Felt a bit different, but never got better timings nor less tired legs.
I'm also not a 'princess and the pea' type of person, so maybe I was just too boorish to appreciate the refined aspects of the whole thing...
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