Q Rings

stueys

So I like Q-rings a lot, but I've only got them fitted to my nice bike. My turbo and winter bike both are running standard round rings. I can leap between the bikes with no problem (though I prefer the q-rings when I'm on them) but am I missing some secret deep level of adaption and increased benefit by not riding solely on q-rings? Or should I just stop thinking about it ;-)

philbar72

Other people reckon for best benefits with Q rings, you are better off training on normal rings then racing and pre racing (i.e. 1-2 days beforehand) on Q rings. My previous experience was climbing was slightly easier on Q rings, it felt like you could get more power out up the climbs definitely, but sprinting was not as natural. I also felt less tired after a day on the road using Q rings.

PTestTeam

Stueys wrote:

So I like Q-rings a lot, but I've only got them fitted to my nice bike. My turbo and winter bike both are running standard round rings. I can leap between the bikes with no problem (though I prefer the q-rings when I'm on them) but am I missing some secret deep level of adaption and increased benefit by not riding solely on q-rings? Or should I just stop thinking about it ;-)

One of the benefits I've found with Q rings is less tired legs after training. So I have them on all my bikes, because if I have more muscular endurance then I can train harder and for longer

stueys

philbar72 wrote:

Other people reckon for best benefits with Q rings, you are better off training on normal rings then racing and pre racing (i.e. 1-2 days beforehand) on Q rings. My previous experience was climbing was slightly easier on Q rings, it felt like you could get more power out up the climbs definitely, but sprinting was not as natural. I also felt less tired after a day on the road using Q rings.

Thanks for that, I think I had seen one of the RST coaches make the same observation but I need to hunt it out. Agree re climbing.

stueys

PTestTeam wrote:

Stueys wrote:

So I like Q-rings a lot, but I've only got them fitted to my nice bike. My turbo and winter bike both are running standard round rings. I can leap between the bikes with no problem (though I prefer the q-rings when I'm on them) but am I missing some secret deep level of adaption and increased benefit by not riding solely on q-rings? Or should I just stop thinking about it ;-)

One of the benefits I've found with Q rings is less tired legs after training. So I have them on all my bikes, because if I have more muscular endurance then I can train harder and for longer

Which is a good point, I spin more on Q rings which also helps the legs.

StillGoing

I have them on both bikes. I use a highish cadence (averaging 94/96 but often in the 105/110 range) and find Q rings easier, especially if climbing. They also help on the winter trainer/turbo bike as the crank arms are longer than I like and the Q rings help with keeping a similar cadence.

EBEB

If you read the promotional material and follow their link to the original material you will find the benefits they claim are limited to short duration efforts. In-particular the main part of the study is based on an approx 90s effort....

I would stop thinking about the adaption. I bet the reason you aren't setting the benefits they promised is because you are looking for them in longer intervals than they used in the study. I've not seen a single study comparing always Q vs. alternating Q/round, so people are just guessing.

I'm personally trying a pair, as there isn't good evidence either way. Plenty of people firmly claim one way or other, but if you actually look at the evidence they are basing their claims on it tends to be rubbish. Often they haven't even read the research, but rather a journalist who has only read an abstract & hadn't a clue as regards science. I haven't noticed much difference, apart from sprinting. They do feel nice though. My guess is that the biggest benefit would be to people with bad knees, but I'm not aware of any research looking into that.

RobinB2

I have been using standard Q rings for nearly 2 years on my road bike (but not my commuting bike). If they make a difference to speed, it is probably marginal. However since using Q rings, the niggling knee pain that I sometimes suffered from has disappeared.

To me, this justifies the poorer shifting quality and expense of Q rings

Alex_Simmons/RST

Stueys wrote:

philbar72 wrote:

Other people reckon for best benefits with Q rings, you are better off training on normal rings then racing and pre racing (i.e. 1-2 days beforehand) on Q rings. My previous experience was climbing was slightly easier on Q rings, it felt like you could get more power out up the climbs definitely, but sprinting was not as natural. I also felt less tired after a day on the road using Q rings.

Thanks for that, I think I had seen one of the RST coaches make the same observation but I need to hunt it out. Agree re climbing.

I doubt Ric or I have said anything like that. I wouldn't have. Xav is the biomechanics specialist so he may have had some thoughts on it although I don't recall reading he said such a thing.

Ride what you feel good with.

My personal anecdotal experience was my power output was no different, either climbing or on flat terrain.

stueys

Thanks Alex, I had a hunt to see if I could find the thread I thought I had seen, think it was this one http://www.timetriallingforum.co.uk/?showtopic=83004.

Xav seemed to be saying not to train on q rings, which would mean I should keep them really as I have now, just on my nice comp bike.

Alex_Simmons/RST

Stueys wrote:

Thanks Alex, I had a hunt to see if I could find the thread I thought I had seen, think it was this one http://www.timetriallingforum.co.uk/?showtopic=83004.

Xav seemed to be saying not to train on q rings, which would mean I should keep them really as I have now, just on my nice comp bike.

Ah, thanks for the link. I probably did see it at the time but don't recall everything!

stueys

Alex_Simmons/RST wrote:

Stueys wrote:

Thanks Alex, I had a hunt to see if I could find the thread I thought I had seen, think it was this one http://www.timetriallingforum.co.uk/?showtopic=83004.

Xav seemed to be saying not to train on q rings, which would mean I should keep them really as I have now, just on my nice comp bike.

Ah, thanks for the link. I probably did see it at the time but don't recall everything!

You mean you're not on top of every post from three years ago?? Come on.....

Alex_Simmons/RST

Stueys wrote:

You mean you're not on top of every post from three years ago?? Come on.....

Shocking, I know.