Specialites TA Ovalution 4 arm chainrings

For TT riders the Specialites TA Ovalution 4-Arm chainrings will make a very good performance upgrade. I found the oval shape caused quite a dramatic feel around the pedal stroke, and it also caused a few issues when setting up, with an extra part needed for braze-on mechs. With the additional bolt covers, this becomes quite an expensive setup.

Inventive ways to make pedalling easier aren't new. In fact, we love breaking out the article about the Shimano L-shaped cranks that you all seem to enjoy. Oval chainrings have also been around for quite some time and there are a few athletes and brands that swear by them. I've dabbled in the past, but this set from Specialites TA is the most extreme shape that I've ridden.

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Specialites TA says that the Ovalution rings "will allow you to eliminate dead spot when pedalling to maintain a fluid and supple movement in order to reduce muscle fatigue and improve recovery after exercise". There are no graphs to quote, so we'll have to go on feel.

Setting up

Before you mount the rings, you've got a choice to make. The Ovalution rings come with three position options. The first is for classic road use where you'll be in and out of the saddle. The second is intermediate, and the third is for time trials.

Essentially, they're three options for where you want to position the hardest part of the pedal stroke. Specialites TA says that which you choose depends on your riding style, build, and your bike's geometry. Personally, I'd suggest going in with an open mind, trying each position for a few rides and seeing which one works for you. I tried each setting and found number one best for me.

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So, you've picked a position to try – on with the setting up.

Installing these chainrings comes with a few little issues. First, those with braze-on front mechs will need the adapter (£24.99) to mount the mech far enough backwards so that the chain doesn't rub on the lower bridge of the mech cage.

The movement of the chain vertically means that you'll need to play around with the front mech positioning to prevent any rubbing while maintaining accurate shifting. Once sorted, I found the shifting to be okay. It's not as good as the round Shimano rings that they replaced, but I didn't suffer any dropped chains.

Pedal feel

Switching from round rings to an elliptical shape has always felt weird to me, and the Ovalution are the weirdest yet. The pedals seem to disappear in the dead spot. As with all oval chainrings, you should eventually get used to it.

Sprinting

Sprinting was also a bit weird. The feeling of the pedals disappearing at the bottom of the stroke made it slightly difficult to generate peak power at sprinting cadences up around 120-140rpm. I never really got used to the motion and felt my sprinting suffered for it.

Climbing

Hitting the climbs, the rings provided some mixed results. While sat in the saddle, the elliptical shape felt good for keeping cadence up. If you like spinning up climbs, these could work well for you.

I have a more sporadic climbing style, with accelerations out of the saddle, and I found the rings to feel a little choppy. Like when sprinting, I wasn't able to find the rhythm that I'm used to, though I can definitely see the benefit when in the saddle.

Flat riding

This is where the Ovalution rings worked best, in my opinion. With my head down, squeezing the power out, the elliptical shape helped me to keep my cadence up and stop me getting bogged down in a heavy gear. This was especially noticeable when used in my TT setup.

Options and prices

The aluminium rings that I have here are designed for four-bolt cranks with a 110mm bolt circle diameter (bcd). I have the 52-tooth outer and 36T inner. The outer comes in 48, 50, 52 and 54T sizes, while the inner comes in 34, 36, 38, 40 and 42T. The outer costs £84.99 while the inner is £51.99. If you need the braze-on mech adapter it's £24.99. Add in the bolt covers (£11.99-£33.99) and you've got a setup costing from £173.96. That's still a bit cheaper than an Absolute Black equivalent at £198.97.

You don't necessarily need both rings. Time triallists spend most of their time in the big ring so why change the inner; and if you want to help your cadence on the climbs then you could pair the Ovalution inner ring with your standard outer.

So, a mixed experience for me. Though I'd seriously consider them for a TT build, I still prefer round rings for my normal mix of hilly road races and group rides. I think this is down to my more sporadic riding style. If you mostly ride smoothly, I'd recommend them.

Verdict

Fiddly to set up but shifting is good and they do bring benefits, especially if you're a smooth rider