Egg chainrings, who remembers them?

GeoffApps":3eg7serw said:
Chris Bell nevertheless uses the term 'ovality' to describe the difference between the major and minor axis. (or should that be axese?).
As he said to me, "ellipticality is a bit of a mouthful".
...and "eccentricity" would be a serious marketing liability.
 
At the risk of being written-off as a total up-yor-ass pedant:

I get what you mean regarding the use of 'eccentricity', but I don't think it would apply anyway; the chainwheel mounting is dead-centre of the ellipse, whereas eccentricity would imply that the mounting is off-centre.



Hmmm, now there's something to think about...
 
GeoffApps wrote:

At the risk of being written-off as a total up-yor-ass pedant:
Well...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eccentricity_(mathematics)#Ellipses

(I can't make that link clickable - you'll have to cut and paste. Or click here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eccentricity

and read the second article on the list)

The executive summary: eccentricity is a mathematical term that describes the departure of an ellipse (or other conic section) from the circular. I think Highpath probably use a simpler definition based on the ratio of major and minor axes, but the concept is similar.

Hmmm, now there's something to think about...
I think Mavic tried that on some early models of their 637 mtb crank: the granny ring had several sets of holes to allow non-concentric mounting. I can't think why they thought that was a good idea...
 
cyfa2809":3bdh7lo6 said:
what is a deadspot on an eggring? is that where the power comes from the curve and steadys where it isnt curved? like a cam?
what is wrong with biopace?
what is the difference between biopace and eggrings?
what are the advantages and disadvantages of eggrings over standard round rings?
The answers to most of those question are here:

http://www.highpath.net/cycles/ovals.html
 
ok thanks. i understand more now than what i did yeterday but i keep finding things, reading them 5 or 6 times and thinking what?! nothing sinking in :LOL:
 
Ah, wonderful Wikipedia!

I was thinking more on the lines of Eccentricity (Mechanical), rather than (Mathematical). However, we are both right, though you'd win on points.

Yes, Chris uses the ratio between the major and minor axis, and presents it as a percentage. As an example, I had Chris make me a 100% EggRing. I can't remember the exact number of teeth, but I seem to recall that the minor axis gave a rough equivalent of 18 teeth, and the major about 29, it was fitted to a trials machine and worked extremely well at very slow speed. Anyway, the point is that 100% ovality (as Chris refers to it) gives a major axis twice the length if the minor.

I seem to recall discussions on eccentric (mechanical) fitting of chainrings, but it quickly became obvious that the idea was hopeless.

Large and successful manufacturers are perfectly capable of taking a cock-up from conception through to design, prototype, manufacture, marketing, supply, press and publicity, before eventual product withdrawal after selling lots of said items to the gullible, leaving some of us wondering how it all happened...
 
cyfa2809":2dt9wlpn said:
ok thanks. i understand more now than what i did yeterday but i keep finding things, reading them 5 or 6 times and thinking what?! nothing sinking in :LOL:

Well done! Stick at it Cyfa
It took me ages to figure out how and why these things work.
It will eventually fall into place inside your head, and then you'll be an 'expert'!
 
im getting there. that website helped! with biopace, you said it was 90 degrees wrong. if thats the case would it mean it was probably more of a challenge to use biopace cranks? as it would be 'assisting' you at the wrong part of pedal stroke?
 
Yep... exactly.

I like your phrase "assisting you at the wrong part of the pedal stroke"

How's that for a useless bit of kit?

You've got that bit.

You're well on the way to becoming an expert! You now understand more about the subject than the majority of other cyclists.
 
Elliptical Chainrings

I have mentioned before that elliptical EggRings feel strange for about two minutes before your legs and brain get used to them. This feels like the rear wheel is slipping, as if on ice, but only as the pedals pass through the deadspots.

If I rotated my 4 bolt EggRings 90 degrees (Biopace orientation). Now the slipping sensation would now be during the power stroke, just like you would experience if you were cycling on ice. The reality is that Biopace rings are not oval enough, and actualy feel little different from round rings.
 
Back
Top