Rotor QX1 Narrow Wide Oval MTB Chain Ring

For ultimate in single ring performance, throw the new Rotor QX1 oval mountain ring on your REX 1 cranks. You’ll be using the same chainring set up that led Christoph Sauser to victory at the Cross Country Marathon World Championships.

Read the interview with Cedric Gracia on Oval Chainrings here.

Ovalized chainrings for maximum performance

Introducing the new QX1 chainring, already XCM world champion under Christoph Sauser. The QX1 has an alternating wide/narrow tooth profile which prevents the chain from dropping in the worst conditions even without a chain guide. Installation does not require disassembling the crankset from the bike, making ideal gear selection easier.

Why Q-Rings?

Q-Rings boost your performance by varying drivetrain resistance during pedaling in line with your legs natural strengths and weakness. They make better use of the strongest muscle groups (increasing positive work) and compensate for the weaker zones in the pedaling stroke (reducing negative work).

PERFECT SPIN

Q-Rings make better use of your strongest muscles

The muscles recruited during pedalling, their relative strength during pedalling and the torque produced as a crankset rotates are shown in the figures below. From these graphs, it is clear that a round chainrings’ constant level of resistance interferes with optimal pedalling dynamics. A Q-Ring gives a silky-smooth “perfect spin” by smoothening out torque variations and making better use of your strongest muscles.

RIDE FASTER

Peer reviewed scientific studies

Peer-reviewed scientific research has shown that Q-Rings offer a clear increase in performance compared to round chainrings. Elite level cyclists saw a 1.6 sec advantage in a 1KM TT study, generating 27W more power. For comparison, 60mm aero wheels often claim 1.5-1.8 sec/km and 16W savings. What does this mean when you’re riding? You will discover increased endurance, realize explosive sprints and see a newfound tenacity in climbs. You will find that you can stick with the hardcore group that usually drops you. You will become an improved version of yourself, ready to set new PR’s and discover a new depth of performance. Triathletes will notice reduced strain in the bike split and better run split performance.

RESEARCH OUTCOME

Increased speed, reduced consumption

Q-Ring sprints were faster (-1.6 sec & 0.7 kph-1.8%) and generated more power (+26.7W-6.2%)

Reduced oxygen consumption and heart rate.

Q-RINGS INCREASE PERFORMANCE

Your effort has its payoff

Immediate performance increase on switching from round rings to Q-Rings. And vice-versa.

It also appears that the more effort a cyclist exerts, the greater the benefit of Q’s.

PEDALLING SMOOTHNESS

Q-Ring-Round Ring Comparison

Far from feeling unusual, a Q-Ring feels much rounder than a round ring. A SpinScan analysis visualize a cyclists power delivery, with a bar graph indicating the variation from maximum to minimum output and a polar graph showing the rotating shape of the power profile. By comparing the left hand Round chainring SpinScan and the right hand Q-Ring SpinScan below, one can see that Q-Ring graphs are clearly smoother (less variation in torque in the bar graph) and fuller (less of a peanut shape at the weakest point).

OPTIMIZED PEDALLING

SpinScan

When one projects a polar plot of a typical SpinScan over the varying drivetrain resistance of a 53t Q-Ring during its rotation, the value of a Q-Ring is clearly visible: Maximum power is met with a “56.5t” Time trial sized chainring diameter and minimum power is met with a “50.4” compact size chainring diameter. This variation creates the “perfect spin” we all aspire to, that simply isn’t possible with round chainrings. This is because Q-Rings compensate for the weakest zone of the pedalling stroke and maximize use of the most powerful zone.

OCP

Optimum Chainring Position

You can micro adjust the position of your Q rings to suit your riding style. Q-Rings use your leg muscles at a different rate than round rings, thereby changing your intramuscular coordination of motor units. Thanks to the OCP (Optimum Chainring Position) of the Q-Ring, you will find your best position seeking both comfort and efficiency. A standard crank in combination with the OCP of the Q-Rings, allows approximately 5 degrees of adjustment.

Pedal comfortably in all cycling positions

The OCP (Optimum Chainring Position) of the Q-Ring allows you to pedal comfortably in all cycling positions:

Sitting
Standing
Climbing
Sprinting

ELITE ATHLETES CHOSE TO RIDE Q-RINGS

As a personal choice

Professionally, athletes who have chosen to ride Q-Rings have put to rest any doubts about their performance by winning two grand tours, more than 25 Ironman races and over 20 UCI elite Road, MTB and CX world champion titles.

Features:

The QX1 has an ovality of 12.5% to help the you accelerate better, feel less muscle fatigue and experience smoother torque and better grip off road.
The alternating thick/thin tooth profile keeps your chain from dropping in even the worst conditions, eliminating the need for a chain guide.
It is compatible with Rotor Rex 1.1 and Rex 2.1, SRAM XX1 and Specialized cranks thanks to crank specific spiders from Rotor.
BCD: 76mm
Please note: QX1 rings have a unique BCD and will need adaptor spiders (not included) to fit Specialized or SRAM single cranks

Rotor chainrings & road cranks compatibility chart (.PDF) – Here you will find the specific Rotor chainring designed to work with your crank.

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