gmacleland
NRS06
Hybrid EggRing and 8 speed hub-gears drive chain.
The hub-gears allow for very quick gear changes even when the system is under load.
The elliptical rings make it easier to pedal through the dead-spots where the pedaling forces are not being transfered to the rear wheel. This means that this bike can be pedaled slowly on steep hills without stalling. It also works as a traction control system reducing the likelihood of the rear wheel slipping or the front wheel lifting from the torque reaction.
By comparing the relative efficiencies of walking and running you can get a reasonable understanding of how an EggRing can be more efficient than the equivalent round chain ring. When you run you waste energy, because the walking motion is more energy efficient than running.
Riding a round ring on the flat is energy efficient but becomes less so as resistance forces (hills, mud , headwinds etc.) increase. This is because the rider decelerates as the pedals pass through the dead-spots, and then has to regain its speed in the power-stroke. An elliptical chain-ring, on the other hand, spends less time going through the dead-spot with the result that the rider will have less time in the deceleration phase. So, like walking, EggRings can reduce the energy needed to get from A to B. Instead of having to spin a round chainring in order to make sure you have enough momentum to get you through the next dead-spot, an EggRing can be turned slowly, with much less danger of not getting to the next power-stroke.
Does this have a use?
Well not to win races. Unless the course is so extreme that the riders repeatedly exhaust themselves and have to take rests.
However, the elliptical granny ring on my daughters bike does mean that she has now stopped whinging about how steep the hills are, and perseveres, riding slowly and steadily right to the top. Not the stuff of racing legend, but it does have a real potential for encouraging more people to ride bikes.
The Rollerbrakes are very smooth as they are filled with grease and self-servo to reduce finger strain. They give suburb control via their excellent modulation characteristics and are nearest equivalent of anti-lock brakes to be found on a bicycle.
~ Text and photograph by Graham Wallace
NRS06
Hybrid EggRing and 8 speed hub-gears drive chain.
The hub-gears allow for very quick gear changes even when the system is under load.
The elliptical rings make it easier to pedal through the dead-spots where the pedaling forces are not being transfered to the rear wheel. This means that this bike can be pedaled slowly on steep hills without stalling. It also works as a traction control system reducing the likelihood of the rear wheel slipping or the front wheel lifting from the torque reaction.
By comparing the relative efficiencies of walking and running you can get a reasonable understanding of how an EggRing can be more efficient than the equivalent round chain ring. When you run you waste energy, because the walking motion is more energy efficient than running.
Riding a round ring on the flat is energy efficient but becomes less so as resistance forces (hills, mud , headwinds etc.) increase. This is because the rider decelerates as the pedals pass through the dead-spots, and then has to regain its speed in the power-stroke. An elliptical chain-ring, on the other hand, spends less time going through the dead-spot with the result that the rider will have less time in the deceleration phase. So, like walking, EggRings can reduce the energy needed to get from A to B. Instead of having to spin a round chainring in order to make sure you have enough momentum to get you through the next dead-spot, an EggRing can be turned slowly, with much less danger of not getting to the next power-stroke.
Does this have a use?
Well not to win races. Unless the course is so extreme that the riders repeatedly exhaust themselves and have to take rests.
However, the elliptical granny ring on my daughters bike does mean that she has now stopped whinging about how steep the hills are, and perseveres, riding slowly and steadily right to the top. Not the stuff of racing legend, but it does have a real potential for encouraging more people to ride bikes.
The Rollerbrakes are very smooth as they are filled with grease and self-servo to reduce finger strain. They give suburb control via their excellent modulation characteristics and are nearest equivalent of anti-lock brakes to be found on a bicycle.
~ Text and photograph by Graham Wallace