I am seeing the popularity of aero chainrings increase, on cranks such as zipp’s and fsa’s. I am wondering if there is actually any benefit to running an aero chainring. What about weight…how would it differ from my normal 53 tooth fsa chainring on my SLK-light crankset? I mean, I already run a set of deep wheels, and an aero helmet, good fitting…should I spend the money on an aero ring too!!! I was actually thinking of going with a set of Q-rings instead as my pedal stroke is improving, but not where I want to quite to be and I thought they might be a better investment. Any advice?
aero chainrings simply look big/bad (as good)/fast. period.
You don’t really think an aero chainring will make you any faster, do you?
as goes for the q-rings, we’re still waiting for evidence that it really makes you ride faster at identical wattage
Just bling as far as I’m concerned.
The FSA ones are afordable bling 
jaretj
In a prior thread on this topic (found here: http://forum.slowtwitch.com/gforum.cgi?post=1919331;search_string=aero%20chainring;#1919331 ) Dr. Coggan pointed to some work done by a Dr. Chester Kyle in the 1990s that would suggest there actually IS some meaningful benefit from aero chainrings. Of course, I’m sure not all “aero” chainrings are created equal.
I was too lazy to follow through and track down the research.
.
sure. an aero chainring makes you ride an hour in 55 min. it’s the chuck norris of bike components 
I mean, its GOTTA save at least 3-4 minutes on a 40k
.
here’s kyle’s data: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/rinard/aero/aerodynamics.htm
removing the small chainring gives you an aero advantage of shocking 0,3% woah a complete aero crankset 0,6%.
gotta. get. myself. a. zipp. crankset.
I’ll take a free 3 to 10 seconds off my 40k TT any day of the week. Note that I said FREE. I do own and race with a Fiberlyte aero chainring, but I also often just use packing tape and tape over the holes in my DA chrankset. That’s very cheap and light.
5 seconds over a 40km
not bad =)
here’s kyle’s data: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/rinard/aero/aerodynamics.htm
removing the small chainring gives you an aero advantage of shocking 0,3% woah a complete aero crankset 0,6%.
gotta. get. myself. a. zipp. crankset.
I’m sorry to say this, but the packing tape over the regular rings was my idea and has been patented by me. Don’t worry, I take paypal and am willing to negotiate the royalty/penalty due to tough economic times.
just imagine riding with a zipp aero crankset and a 1080 wheel with negative drag (i love that marketing BS…) - we’d be time travelling instead of time trialing!!!
The negative drag from a disc thing isn’t BS.
In fact there is a guy demonstrating it with a fan on youtube =)
just imagine riding with a zipp aero crankset and a 1080 wheel with negative drag (i love that marketing BS…) - we’d be time travelling instead of time trialing!!!
The negative drag from a disc thing isn’t BS.
In fact there is a guy demonstrating it with a fan on youtube =)
you mean this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m24V4VlADaw&feature=channel ?
the wheel doesn’t start spinning by itself. hmmmm…
Form Follows Function
.
The wheel doesn’t need to spin to push you forward.
and no that isn’t the one I saw but that one is neat too.
Don’t be too cynical, engineers do occasionally actually do something useful.
Sailboats do work, planes do work, a P3 really is quicker than a round tube steel bike
=)
The negative drag from a disc thing isn’t BS.
In fact there is a guy demonstrating it with a fan on youtube =)
you mean this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m24V4VlADaw&feature=channel ?
the wheel doesn’t start spinning by itself. hmmmm…
I would prefer an aero chainring that is not on crank, especially if there is drug testing involved.
I was given a free Fibre-Lyte areo ring and currently have them making me a few custom parts for the cranks that I am using. Should be nice and I agree if you can save a few second here and there, it is nice. Now I think the issue is more that some people are willing to pay for those savings and other are not.
i think a strong rider will benefit more from the added stiffness (less flex under power) of a solid ring than from any aerodynamic effects.
i think a strong rider will benefit more from the added stiffness (less flex under power) of a solid ring than from any aerodynamic effects.
how much does even fabian flex a decent crankset?
and given that the energy put into it, 99% of it springs right back
I can’t imagine it matters.
…not the crank, but the ring, itself, will flex under power. i see this with even my own aging skinny legs.