KnobbySide Down had a great opportunity this season to be ambassadors for Absolute BLACK Oval chainrings. Many on the team tried the oval rings out ..because why not, if we didn't like them they'd replace them with a round ring. If you read a lot of reviews there are a lot of common themes so we decided to ride on them all season (if we liked them, spoiler alert....we did) and give a compilation of short reviews based on our experiences this season, and here they are!
Kenny Kocarek Review:
I started off pretty skeptical about the Absolute Black oval, but decided to give it a try on my single speed, it definitely started off feeling goofy and it seemed to feel the oval but after about five minutes it all went away. Just like they said my pedal stroke felt smoother and I notice the advantage of the oval most on gradual to steep climbs and technical areas of the trail. Slower cadence it is awesome and if I get hung up in a technical area and find myself track standing or fighting the trail I just have to concentrate on pushing down and it is a lot easier to get the momentum going again. I never notice the ovality feel unless my cadence goes really high like 110+ but that could be some of my own personal form issues spinning that fast. Overall I recommend it and will continue to use it!
I started off pretty skeptical about the Absolute Black oval, but decided to give it a try on my single speed, it definitely started off feeling goofy and it seemed to feel the oval but after about five minutes it all went away. Just like they said my pedal stroke felt smoother and I notice the advantage of the oval most on gradual to steep climbs and technical areas of the trail. Slower cadence it is awesome and if I get hung up in a technical area and find myself track standing or fighting the trail I just have to concentrate on pushing down and it is a lot easier to get the momentum going again. I never notice the ovality feel unless my cadence goes really high like 110+ but that could be some of my own personal form issues spinning that fast. Overall I recommend it and will continue to use it!
Josh Kunz Review:
I love my oval ring. I run it on my singlespeed air9. I've ridden it on long 100 mile rides xc races and gravel roads. The biggest help I find from it are on the long gradual climbs.
I love my oval ring. I run it on my singlespeed air9. I've ridden it on long 100 mile rides xc races and gravel roads. The biggest help I find from it are on the long gradual climbs.
Rich Doubledee Review:
Application
Bike: Trek Procaliber 9.9
Pros: None noticed yet. May be a good ring for "mashers".
Cons: Noticed bobbing in bike at high cadence.
Note: Giving some time to this ring to before switching back to the regular 32 tooth ring in order to give fair comparison.
Application
Bike: Trek Procaliber 9.9
Pros: None noticed yet. May be a good ring for "mashers".
Cons: Noticed bobbing in bike at high cadence.
Note: Giving some time to this ring to before switching back to the regular 32 tooth ring in order to give fair comparison.
Todd Davis Review:
I have noticed that my climbing has improved since installing the 32T Absolute Black Oval chainring on my Trek Procaliber soon after I received it in March. I was concerned about switching from the 3x9 setup on my old bike to this new 1x11 Sram GX drive. I immediately felt stronger climbing and very early in the season I proved it by clearing every climb for the first time in a race at Mohican State Park. I am looking forward to conquering the climbs of Mohican again in the final race of the season in October. The ring appears to be wearing well and I have not had any drivetrain issues so far this season.
I have noticed that my climbing has improved since installing the 32T Absolute Black Oval chainring on my Trek Procaliber soon after I received it in March. I was concerned about switching from the 3x9 setup on my old bike to this new 1x11 Sram GX drive. I immediately felt stronger climbing and very early in the season I proved it by clearing every climb for the first time in a race at Mohican State Park. I am looking forward to conquering the climbs of Mohican again in the final race of the season in October. The ring appears to be wearing well and I have not had any drivetrain issues so far this season.
Andrew Crow Review:
Had it on the Jet9
Mainly running on the Air9 SS
Been running them since late April
Notice less fatigue, especially on the SS with the low climbing cadence. Not really noticeable rest of the time.
Wanted an 88mm bcd ring for the xtr race crank, but they don't make it.
I have another gripe also... They need to make non-Narrow Wide Single speed cog so they can have a full size run.
Had it on the Jet9
Mainly running on the Air9 SS
Been running them since late April
Notice less fatigue, especially on the SS with the low climbing cadence. Not really noticeable rest of the time.
Wanted an 88mm bcd ring for the xtr race crank, but they don't make it.
I have another gripe also... They need to make non-Narrow Wide Single speed cog so they can have a full size run.
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Rodney Lucketti Review:
I don't have much time on the Oval but the one thing I did notice on a rocky climb at a point when my pedals were at the hardest part of the stroke the bike stalled and as I was thinking "oh crap this is going to take a monumental effort to get over this rock" with some mental focus and minimal effort the top of the pedal stroke magically continued forward so I could them mash down and keep moving forward. I almost jumped off the bike in disbelief. That right there is a good enough reason for me to keep using one.
I don't have much time on the Oval but the one thing I did notice on a rocky climb at a point when my pedals were at the hardest part of the stroke the bike stalled and as I was thinking "oh crap this is going to take a monumental effort to get over this rock" with some mental focus and minimal effort the top of the pedal stroke magically continued forward so I could them mash down and keep moving forward. I almost jumped off the bike in disbelief. That right there is a good enough reason for me to keep using one.
Jim Costello Review:
I’ve been using the Spiderless Cinch Oval Ring on my Santa Cruz 5010 since June and can’t complain. I feel it makes a significant difference when I’m climbing short, punchy climbs. With the stock ring, it seemed like I would have to stand and mash more whereas the Oval lets me put down more consistent power throughout my pedal stroke.
Another positive is chain retention. During an enduro riding the stock ring, I dropped the chain twice within 20 yards on a not so rough section throwing off all of my timing. Since changing over, not one problem. Even on severe terrain.
I can’t wait to put one on my XC bike.
I’ve been using the Spiderless Cinch Oval Ring on my Santa Cruz 5010 since June and can’t complain. I feel it makes a significant difference when I’m climbing short, punchy climbs. With the stock ring, it seemed like I would have to stand and mash more whereas the Oval lets me put down more consistent power throughout my pedal stroke.
Another positive is chain retention. During an enduro riding the stock ring, I dropped the chain twice within 20 yards on a not so rough section throwing off all of my timing. Since changing over, not one problem. Even on severe terrain.
I can’t wait to put one on my XC bike.
Scott Palmer:
Awesome weekend of riding! Mounted my Absolute Black oval ring on Friday and man what a difference. Really smooths out the pedal stroke, especially on the climbs.
Awesome weekend of riding! Mounted my Absolute Black oval ring on Friday and man what a difference. Really smooths out the pedal stroke, especially on the climbs.
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