Q-Rings, input please
- Thread starter Suz
- Start date
LarryOz
Cruzeum Curator & Sigma Wrangler
I use them a could definitely tell a difference after I installed them. I did not have any power meter at the time to take scientific readings.
I do have a set of the newer XQL Q-rings and will hopefully be getting around to testing them against the "regular" version on different slopes. At that time, it would make sense to put my old rings back on so I have 3 distinct data points to compare.
Stay tuned, but don't hold your breath (sorry) - it will most likely be in May or June when I can get a round to it.
I do have a set of the newer XQL Q-rings and will hopefully be getting around to testing them against the "regular" version on different slopes. At that time, it would make sense to put my old rings back on so I have 3 distinct data points to compare.
Stay tuned, but don't hold your breath (sorry) - it will most likely be in May or June when I can get a round to it.
Rick Youngblood
CarbonCraft Master
Suz, I think they are worth the money. I won't ride without them. I find that I can usually ride the next gear up using the same amount of energy. The folks with watt meters may have some numbers. I put them on all of my bikes. Once you get used to them, riding a round ring feels like it's egged shaped.
ratz
Wielder of the Rubber Mallet
The best part of the Q-rings is that going up hill the ring feels smaller and going down hill it feel bigger. It just works so you get more range on your gearing. If you ask Mark Stonich of BikeSmithDesign he'll always tell you to get Q-ring to go with your custom shorter cranks.
I'm running 52/36 in front on both bikes paired with 12-28 on the back of the V and 11-32 on the Silvio. For Rick's/Robert's hills I'd probably want a 11-40 on the back. I usually like to have 1 more gear than I normally us. On the wife's bike she runs a 52/34 q-ring like Rick. Below 34T there some question as to the benefit because they are nearly round. This is sort of true of the 34T Q-Ring as well, but there is still enough ovoid on the ring that it makes cross chaining work better if both rings are Q's.
The least expensive way try it is to get just a big ring only, probably used from ebay. As far as new the best place that always seems to have inventory is http://www.twohubs.com they sell the weird combos we need on recumbents ie: 110BCD 52/34 as a set; so they are a good place to start to see what combinations are valid.
I'm running 52/36 in front on both bikes paired with 12-28 on the back of the V and 11-32 on the Silvio. For Rick's/Robert's hills I'd probably want a 11-40 on the back. I usually like to have 1 more gear than I normally us. On the wife's bike she runs a 52/34 q-ring like Rick. Below 34T there some question as to the benefit because they are nearly round. This is sort of true of the 34T Q-Ring as well, but there is still enough ovoid on the ring that it makes cross chaining work better if both rings are Q's.
The least expensive way try it is to get just a big ring only, probably used from ebay. As far as new the best place that always seems to have inventory is http://www.twohubs.com they sell the weird combos we need on recumbents ie: 110BCD 52/34 as a set; so they are a good place to start to see what combinations are valid.
Key is proper setup. Once they are dialed in it is great and I use them any any bike I have set up for longer rides and/or performance.
It has been my experience that people who gave up on them right away just simply did not put in the miles to dial them in properly.
Robert
It has been my experience that people who gave up on them right away just simply did not put in the miles to dial them in properly.
Robert
Suz
Well-Known Member
Thank you for the feedback. Sadly I bent the 48T chainring on my sofrider in a very very slow motion sideways tipover. First day with my clipless and a MBB. So, I thought since I need a new chainring anyway, I'd look into Q rings. However should I be changing from the 48/34 to a 52/34? I saw a 46/34 combo, but wasn't sure if there would be a big enough difference between 46 and 34 with the recumbent.
I live in Idaho, flat in the valley but I can definitely find hills.
I live in Idaho, flat in the valley but I can definitely find hills.
ratz
Wielder of the Rubber Mallet
I have round ring 50/34's on a 20" quest and it goes like a bat out of...... So that should work on a soft rider; but to do that it requires a road capacity front dreailuer like a SRAM Force22 or a Rival. You also can't make the boom shorter than 2 or 3 with that big ring or you will get chain interference on the front derailluer due to the angle of attack to the wheel.
A 46T Q-ring has a big diameter that is like at 49 or 50 and a small that is 43 ish (sorry I don't have the chart handy but you get the idea). So so a Qring 46/34 would be great replacement for a 48/34 round ring if you like your current gearing.
A 46T Q-ring has a big diameter that is like at 49 or 50 and a small that is 43 ish (sorry I don't have the chart handy but you get the idea). So so a Qring 46/34 would be great replacement for a 48/34 round ring if you like your current gearing.
Jeremy S
Dude
Hi Suz, whether they're worth the money is of course subjective and depends on the person. But I do like mine (50/34 compact on my Silvio 2.0). The pedaling stroke just feels smoother, and after I put them on my Strava measured times on all the hill climbing segments of my rides improved (far from a scientific observation, but there it is).
Jeremy S
Dude
Let us know Larry, I'm not interested in upgrading/switching any time soon but I sure am curious about the difference.
Rick Youngblood
CarbonCraft Master
Likewise! I've heard they are like going from round to Q-ring, Q-ring to XQL.
I cannot emphasize enough the importance if you are going to try the Q's that they be set up properly. Otherwise they will never work as designed.
Charles.Plager
Recumbent Quant
Or, be significantly worse than round rings (if, for example, set 90 degrees out of phase).
ratz
Wielder of the Rubber Mallet
Rick Youngblood
CarbonCraft Master
Yep, I got a set hanging up in the garage! They seem to be more square with rounded corners!
Rick Youngblood
CarbonCraft Master
Actually believe it or not. They are on my wife's Tour Easy. Perry Butler (a well know recumbent personality from BentRider Online and also live in the same neck of the woods as Bob) set them up for his wife Terry when they toured Austria some years back. I purchased the TE and asked my wife Tc, if she wanted me to change them to round. She said no, "don't touch my bike". So there they stay forever. I'm allowed to fix her flats and tune her RD & FD, but can't do upgrades.
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Rick Youngblood
CarbonCraft Master
That won't work either. Because "don't touch my bike".
