Ok, so I’m going to change out my 53 for 50. Going compact.
Should I at the same time invest in a Q-ring? Will I benefit from it?
Hi Quark
Yes, you will benefit
Q-Rings reduce dead-spot negative effects due to its effective variable gear oval concept. The effective gear is lower at the dead-spot zone, so it is easier, faster and more comfortable (smoother) to pass through it. Once the pedal is over the dead-spot and enters the down stroke, the Q-Rings progressively increase the effective tooth size as more muscle strength is available.
A 53T Q-Ring at the dead-spots is equivalent to a 51T, so it is easier to move through the dead-spot. But as the pedal goes down and more strength is available you can see how the gear (effective tooth size) gets bigger: reaching the equivalent chainring tooth size of 56T during the power phase.
Quark,
A search of q rings on the site will show you many happy users of q-rings. I have a 53/40 q-ring setup on my tri bike and a 50/36 q-ring setup on my road bike. I think they’re great, and do feel that they work. I find I fatigue less, have a lower heart rate for the same cadence / gear on the trainer, and find climbing (Utah canyons and peaks) easier with the q-rings. Granted, n=1.
One thought though, if you go to compact, with the 50/36 q-rings, do not get a Shimano R700, as it is not compatible with the q-rings. It’s a great crank, just not compatible.
the 50/36 Qrings are great but remember you’ll need to get a crankset with 110cm bolt circle. you can get round rings for regular shimano 130 cranks in 50/38 if you look hard enough but the Qrings are really nice. i’m using the 50/36 combo on my tribike w/ an 11-26 sram cassette and have enough gears for anything. my street is a 12% grade and i can climb it seated even though my cadence does drop at that steep a climb.
Ok, so I can’t just buy a 50T chainring and slap it on my Ultegra crankset. I would have to buy the entire thing, or could I just make my own holes?
Yes, you can buy a 50T 130BCD Q-Ring for your Ultegra crankset, but the inner cannot take the 36T 110BCD Q-Ring, if your goal is to go compact for inner/outer. To make this happen you will need a compact 110BCD crankset from FSA or Truvativ, or the Rotor Agilis.
Gary, I am having to replace the BB on my FSA Pro compact chainset and with a lack of confidence in ISIS BB was thinking maybe of going external BB and regular 39/53. Since being sidelined with a broken collarbone I have read a LOT of articles and reviews on chainsets and have it in my head that the Agilis has a interchangeable spider which ould mean it could be swapped from a 130BCD to 110 BCD for compact use.
Unfortunately I now can’t find anything to back this up, have I imagined it? Also, what size Q rings would I need to replace my 53/39 and my 50/34?