KneesUp
Guru
I mean, forget Europe and all that - that doesn't really matter because however the vote goes, it will turn out ok for those that already have lots of money, and no so well for those that don't.
The big question is about long-abandoned 90s chain ring technology, isn't it?
I like the theory of Bipoace - Sheldon has a great article on them here - in summary they are different from most oval rings like Osymetric and so on in that the part of the ring that is effectively a higher gear is when the cranks are at top and bottom. This reduces the speed at which your leg is travelling at that point, so reduces loads on knees and ankles. Because of the momentum in your legs it smoothes out the effect of the gear being slightly higher. Most oval rings are the other way around, so you get a higher gear with the cranks horizontal when you have most power, but this tends to be bad for knees because then you are in a lower gear as you go over the top, which accelerates the joints. That's the theory anyway. Obviously the buying public didn't like it.
After lots of swapping bits about, my bike currently has a 48-38-28 on. The 48 and 28 are Bipoace, and the 38 is round. I can't really tell the difference, albeit I've only commuted through traffic on pot-holed roads with this set up so far. Maybe I'd feel the difference holding a constant speed for a longer time on a better made road?
Are / were you a Biopace fan? And why?
The big question is about long-abandoned 90s chain ring technology, isn't it?
I like the theory of Bipoace - Sheldon has a great article on them here - in summary they are different from most oval rings like Osymetric and so on in that the part of the ring that is effectively a higher gear is when the cranks are at top and bottom. This reduces the speed at which your leg is travelling at that point, so reduces loads on knees and ankles. Because of the momentum in your legs it smoothes out the effect of the gear being slightly higher. Most oval rings are the other way around, so you get a higher gear with the cranks horizontal when you have most power, but this tends to be bad for knees because then you are in a lower gear as you go over the top, which accelerates the joints. That's the theory anyway. Obviously the buying public didn't like it.
After lots of swapping bits about, my bike currently has a 48-38-28 on. The 48 and 28 are Bipoace, and the 38 is round. I can't really tell the difference, albeit I've only commuted through traffic on pot-holed roads with this set up so far. Maybe I'd feel the difference holding a constant speed for a longer time on a better made road?
Are / were you a Biopace fan? And why?
