Rotor cranks

User avatar
Kalgrm
Super Mod
Super Mod
Posts: 9653
Joined: Fri May 25, 2007 5:21 pm
Location: Success, WA
Contact:

Postby Kalgrm » Thu Feb 14, 2008 5:05 pm

It's not "a lot" faster, but you do get the sensation that something feels different.

The lever arm is shorter, and in my drawings, that is X1 and X2. It's easiest to see it on the recumbent drawing: Imagine the extreme case where the chain ring is the same radius as the crank arm's length. To drag the chain along (say) 30 links, you'd have to do nearly half a rotation of the crank.

Now if the chain ring were only 1/5 the radius, you would need to do three rotations to get those same 30 links dragged through.

If the chain speed was constant, it would mean you'd need to be spinning much faster to keep the same chain speed. (This is exactly the case when you change gears wit hthe front derailleur.)

The Q-rings act like you've got a small chain ring in place at the dead spot and a big chain ring in place at the "power position". However, there is only about 15% difference between the chain rings they are simulating, so you don't get all jerked about in your stroke.

Cheers,
Graeme

(PS - Thanks for that offer to make them for me Harry. I'll keep it in mind if I can't get what I'm after myself.)
Think outside the double triangle.
---------------------
Music was better when ugly people were allowed to make it ....

User avatar
Uba Tracker
Posts: 265
Joined: Sun Jan 13, 2008 9:50 pm
Location: Toowoomba, Qld

Postby Uba Tracker » Thu Feb 14, 2008 8:54 pm

No worries at all Graeme, I'm happy to lend a hand (assuming I can). It's been quite a learning 'oval' reading all the contributions to this thread and the one undeniable fact that in a standard crank configuration there is a 'dead' spot, and by dead we're all agreed that this is the lull between opposing power strokes. So.......the mental hurdle that I just can't get my head around is that we can somehow convert this void of mechanical advantage into mechanical advantage. I mean if there is no or diminished input then there is nothing to draw advantage from. Am I making sense? I understand the Rotor Crank principal because of the variable crank timing but the 'Q' rings are posing a challenge.
A bad day's riding beats a good day's work everytime

User avatar
Kalgrm
Super Mod
Super Mod
Posts: 9653
Joined: Fri May 25, 2007 5:21 pm
Location: Success, WA
Contact:

Postby Kalgrm » Fri Feb 15, 2008 5:10 pm

G'day Harry,

I'll give it one last go at explaining how I see an advantage in oval rings, since, up until now, I haven't explained it too well (based on the fact that there is still confusion out there ....)

An elliptical ring has the effect of having two chain rings on at the same time (see here for details of the various effective gearing ratios). For example, my 44t q-ring has the equivalent of a 42t ring at the dead spot and a 46.5t ring at the power position. Riding it has the effect of using both chain rings at once, so my feet scoot through the dead spot more quickly and stay in the power position for longer.

In effect, it's like having a graduated way of swapping between chain rings four times per crank revolution, going from 42t->46t->42t->46t, with the 42t taking effect at the dead spot.

The idea is that you spend more time in the power positions and less time in the dead spots per crank revolution.

Okay, that was my last attempt to explain how they work and why I have one (and getting more) on my bike. If that hasn't helped, it's beyond my meagre language skills.

Cheers,
Graeme
Think outside the double triangle.
---------------------
Music was better when ugly people were allowed to make it ....

User avatar
Uba Tracker
Posts: 265
Joined: Sun Jan 13, 2008 9:50 pm
Location: Toowoomba, Qld

Postby Uba Tracker » Fri Feb 15, 2008 9:06 pm

Oh..................I see, well if you grow tired of extraordinary photography then I am sure a vacancy within education is available. I now consider myself informed, thanks Graeme your patience is appreciated.
best regards
Harry
A bad day's riding beats a good day's work everytime

User avatar
Birdman
Posts: 1704
Joined: Mon Aug 27, 2007 10:25 am
Location: Rutherford, Maitland, NSW....god's country

Postby Birdman » Mon Feb 18, 2008 12:23 pm

That picture in the link you provided really helped.

Thanks again.

Mitch.
SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKYS. NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS.

Until next time...

johntolhurst
Posts: 6
Joined: Sun Jun 01, 2008 11:25 pm

Re:

Postby johntolhurst » Wed Apr 21, 2010 12:05 pm

Uba Tracker wrote:If you need help with a drilling template Graeme, let me know the number of teeth you want and the mean major and minor elliptical axis dimensions and I'll see what I can whip up for you.
cheers
Harry
As I understand it, this would require calculating the circumference of an ellipse, and so choosing from a number of approximations because there is no exact formula?

John Lewis
Posts: 1391
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 7:12 pm
Location: Albany. 400km South of Perth

Re: Rotor cranks

Postby John Lewis » Wed Apr 21, 2010 10:11 pm

Here is Giles pucket's nifty program to do all the work for you.

Well not quite. You have to drill and file. :D

http://www.fleettrikes.com/giles%20puck ... ulator.htm

John Lewis

User avatar
toolonglegs
Posts: 15463
Joined: Fri Jun 29, 2007 7:49 pm
Location: Somewhere with padded walls and really big hills!

Re: Rotor cranks

Postby toolonglegs » Wed Apr 21, 2010 10:26 pm

Meh...my rotor cranks have long since been removed...too heavy...way too much upkeep...and too hard do go from rotors to normal cranks...illegal to race and well...they are broken :roll: ...anyone want some titanium equipped 180mm rotor cranks that need a service :roll: .

johntolhurst
Posts: 6
Joined: Sun Jun 01, 2008 11:25 pm

Re: Rotor cranks

Postby johntolhurst » Fri Apr 23, 2010 12:04 pm

John Lewis wrote:Here is Giles pucket's nifty program to do all the work for you.

Well not quite. You have to drill and file. :D

http://www.fleettrikes.com/giles%20puck ... ulator.htm

John Lewis
http://www.ozhpv.org.au/shed/sprocket.htm
This is the original posting.

http://www.cruzbike.com/Fitting_Ellipti ... heels.html
This is my original article on fitting elliptical chainrings.

Joeblake
Posts: 15519
Joined: Fri Oct 17, 2008 10:04 pm
Location: Lesmurdie WA

Re: Rotor cranks

Postby Joeblake » Sun Apr 25, 2010 11:47 pm

toolonglegs wrote:Meh...my rotor cranks have long since been removed...too heavy...way too much upkeep...and too hard do go from rotors to normal cranks...illegal to race and well...they are broken :roll: ...anyone want some titanium equipped 180mm rotor cranks that need a service :roll: .
What's the freight to Perth?

Joe
To acquire immunity to eloquence is of the utmost importance to the citizens of a democracy
Bertrand Russell

User avatar
toolonglegs
Posts: 15463
Joined: Fri Jun 29, 2007 7:49 pm
Location: Somewhere with padded walls and really big hills!

Re: Rotor cranks

Postby toolonglegs » Mon Apr 26, 2010 3:16 am

Joeblake wrote:
toolonglegs wrote:Meh...my rotor cranks have long since been removed...too heavy...way too much upkeep...and too hard do go from rotors to normal cranks...illegal to race and well...they are broken :roll: ...anyone want some titanium equipped 180mm rotor cranks that need a service :roll: .
What's the freight to Perth?

Joe
I will find out.

Becker_11
Posts: 351
Joined: Fri Dec 12, 2008 1:46 am
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Contact:

Re: Rotor cranks

Postby Becker_11 » Wed Jun 23, 2010 4:41 pm

I had my doubts regarding the seriously short crank arms on my Greenspeed X5 it comes standard with 165mm cranks. Well the guy in the shop explained all about the riding position and spinning lower gears etc and after doing some reading online I understand what he was talking about. Another point and this doesn't relate to performance but if I'm being lazy when riding the X5 my heel can scrape the ground at the bottom of the pedal stroke. I'm a size 10 shoe and using the 165mm arms. Obviously shorter cranks and or smaller feet and this wouldn't be a problem.

I should add it might happen once now and then it's not an every revolution thing, if it was that would get very annoying
Regards
Nathaniel

A great adventure starts with a single step

User avatar
bradwoodbr
Posts: 414
Joined: Mon Jun 16, 2008 1:12 pm
Location: Perth Western Australia
Contact:

Re: Rotor cranks

Postby bradwoodbr » Wed Jun 23, 2010 6:34 pm

Becker_11 wrote:I had my doubts regarding the seriously short crank arms on my Greenspeed X5 it comes standard with 165mm cranks. Well the guy in the shop explained all about the riding position and spinning lower gears etc and after doing some reading online I understand what he was talking about. Another point and this doesn't relate to performance but if I'm being lazy when riding the X5 my heel can scrape the ground at the bottom of the pedal stroke. I'm a size 10 shoe and using the 165mm arms. Obviously shorter cranks and or smaller feet and this wouldn't be a problem.

I should add it might happen once now and then it's not an every revolution thing, if it was that would get very annoying
Some ideas:
:idea: 1. You may be inadvertantly ankling. That means your heel is leading the pedal on the part of the stroke between 12 and 6 o'clock. 12 being the top position of the crank causing an occasional heel strike.
:idea: 2. In the past I have used 145 and 150mm cranks and there was no down time for me to get used to them, even with my size 10 feet. Speed and power were the same as for 170mm cranks. The advantages, however, are to be believed.
:idea: 3. You can get shorter cranks from Trisled and Greenspeed will make them from existing cranks for you.
:idea: 4. Another trick is to position your shoe cleat as close to the heel of the shoe as possible. This may well stop the occasional heel strike.
Optima Baron Raptor
Low Racer - Recumbent
http://lowracerrider.blogspot.com/
Rotovelo velomobile

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users