| I don't know many people that don't want to ride | | | | Rotor rings have made a huge difference is a short |
| faster. Obviously getting fitter is the biggest thing you | | | | period of time for me. My usual riding partners have |
| can do. This is speed you earn, but there are a few | | | | wondered what I've done to go from being a slow fat |
| places where you can buy more speed. Faster | | | | guy to a moderately fast, fat guy. The fat guy part I'm |
| wheels and tires, optimized bike fittings and now Rotor | | | | working on but I'll take any edge I can get. They take a |
| Q-rings. University testing has shown a power increase | | | | few rides to get used to but after that they feel like |
| of 3-4%, along with a decrease in muscular fatigue | | | | any other ring. |
| and faster recovery. | | | | Due to the elliptical shape a 50 tooth ring feels like a |
| The Rotor rings are replacement chainrings that aren't | | | | 48 in the dead spot and a 52 at the peak of the down |
| round. This has been tried before but these folks have | | | | stroke. This variation make it feel even all the way |
| finally figured out how to actually make it work. By | | | | around rather than hard at the bottom, minimizing |
| optimizing the shape so it is harder on the downstroke | | | | intensity of muscular contraction per stroke. Any of |
| and easier through the deadspot, it is easier to stay on | | | | you who have talked to me about training will |
| top of the gear without getting bogged down. This | | | | understand how this will reduce fatigue. Repeated hard |
| allows for better use of muscles and puts less load on | | | | efforts are what make you tired so you want to have |
| the knees. | | | | the most consistent power output and minimal above |
| I use the Q-rings myself and have found their claims to | | | | threshold efforts to record you best times and speed. |
| bear out in the real world. This summer has not been | | | | Q-rings do this within each pedal stroke. |
| one of my best for training as the shop has been | | | | Q-rings have multiples angles you can set them to |
| busy. I've been finding that any rides over 60 km leave | | | | vary the angle of the harder part of the stroke. They |
| me pedaling squares til the finish. Each hill climb feels | | | | are available for Shimano, Sram and Campy in |
| like I've thrown out an anchor. From my first ride on the | | | | standard and compact sizes as well as the popular |
| Q-rings my endurance later in the rides has improved | | | | mountain bike sizes. I've even set them up on a single |
| because my legs haven't become as fatigued. Instead | | | | speed. Q-rings are around $300 per pair for a road |
| of feeling stuck in the dead spot at the bottom of | | | | set, which is more than standard round rings but it's a |
| stroke, it feels as if my feet float right through it. If you | | | | bargain for the performance improvement you get for |
| find yourself getting dropped just before the top of the | | | | the money. |
| hill, this will be the edge that keeps you connected. | | | | |