It’s a good chainring

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Size Bought

32t

It’s light, durable, nice finish. I spent the spring training on a 34t round chainring and swapped to a 32t A.B. Oval ring right before a 250 mile XC race in Alaska. Over 23,000’ of climbing and I can’t say this gave me an edge or anything but the teeth look great after the ride and it complements my XX1 crankset nicely. I can’t say I’m totally sold on the ovalness which is the main selling point- so 4 stars for that but if you are just looking for a chainring that could have slightly marginal improvement it’ll do great.

Mark M.

It’s a good chainring

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Size Bought

32t

It’s light, durable, nice finish. I spent the spring training on a 34t round chainring and swapped to a 32t A.B. Oval ring right before a 250 mile XC race in Alaska. Over 23,000’ of climbing and I can’t say this gave me an edge or anything but the teeth look great after the ride and it complements my XX1 crankset nicely. I can’t say I’m totally sold on the ovalness which is the main selling point- so 4 stars for that but if you are just looking for a chainring that could have slightly marginal improvement it’ll do great.

Mark M.

It’s a good chainring

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Size Bought

32t

It’s light, durable, nice finish. I spent the spring training on a 34t round chainring and swapped to a 32t A.B. Oval ring right before a 250 mile XC race in Alaska. Over 23,000’ of climbing and I can’t say this gave me an edge or anything but the teeth look great after the ride and it complements my XX1 crankset nicely. I can’t say I’m totally sold on the ovalness which is the main selling point- so 4 stars for that but if you are just looking for a chainring that could have slightly marginal improvement it’ll do great.

Mark M.

It’s a good chainring

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Size Bought

32t

It’s light, durable, nice finish. I spent the spring training on a 34t round chainring and swapped to a 32t A.B. Oval ring right before a 250 mile XC race in Alaska. Over 23,000’ of climbing and I can’t say this gave me an edge or anything but the teeth look great after the ride and it complements my XX1 crankset nicely. I can’t say I’m totally sold on the ovalness which is the main selling point- so 4 stars for that but if you are just looking for a chainring that could have slightly marginal improvement it’ll do great.

Mark M.

Easy on the Knees

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Fit:

True to size

Size Bought

28 and 30 tooth

Height

6` 1"

Weight

170 lbs

This the third Absolute Black oval chainring I've owned (wore out the first two after many miles). I wouldn't say it makes climbing noticeably easier but I do know it makes the knees feel a lot better after a long ride. Living in Park City where every trail goes up and being a little older than the average MTB rider, my knees would complain after long rides. The absolute Black oval chainring solved the problem. I also replaced the smaller chainring on my road bike with an Absolute Black. My knees were thankful. I'll also note I do not notice much difference in cadence or "feel" when spinning with an oval vs. a standard round chain ring.

Cop2957279

You will not look back...

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Like most people, I had to try it out for myself before I would believe the hype. So glad I pulled the trigger and picked up one of these. Great quality, simple and easy to mount, and I did not even have to adjust the shifting once it was installed. With this installed it is very easy to ride one or two rings higher than before, but still put out less effort.

BigRed

It just works

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Fit:

True to size

Look at the science behind it and all the great reviews and you too will start running oval rings. It did not feel awkward on pedal rotations as you might think it would. Has definitely helped in the climbing department .

Randy T.

Does this chain ring work with the eewing titanium cranks??

Anthony M.

Recommend it!

Before you buy it, please check the dimensions for each chainring because it might end up rubbing your frame. Mine was a close call and glad I have 2 layers of vinyl wrap on my swork sj, btw I got the 34t one. It feels like a dream for sure, and no regrets !

JasperZhou

Does a great job

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

I've ridden these chainrings on my last two bikes. They just work, period.

Brett V.

Not a Gimmick

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

I’ve tried oval rings on my gravel bike and liked them so I already knew what I was getting into but I think they work even better on a mountain bike. I’m sold and it will honestly be hard to use a round ring again. They say oval rings make you more efficient and that could be true, but that’s not exactly what I look for. Where I find they shine is by smoothing out your pedaling rhythm when it starts to get sloppy (after being on a bike all day). However the way they improved my climbing really was noticeable on the mountain bike – on those steeps it really did make it feel like easier to spin up. I usually run a 32t ring and went with a 32t oval which was perfect. So in addition to working well, Absolute Black makes in my opinion the most beautiful chainrings out there. They definitely stand out and they do their job of not dropping chains just as we’ve all come to expect.

Daniel

So smooth!!

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

I was a skeptic, but now a believer and I have the PR times to prove it! Seriously, what a difference an oval chainring can do for you on climbs and descents. I will say it took a few runs to get used to my new cadence, which was weird because I felt like I was working a lot less but receiving a lot more in return. I definitely felt I was receiving most of my power where needed, at the 3 and 9 o'clock position. It made for a very smooth powerful pedal stroke and really felt I was getting the most efficiency out of my pedaling. I went with a 32T as my bike allowed for the room, I would say that having an oval shape made it feel like a 30T. Make sure to check your bike to see what size it's compatible with as most bikes can't fit a 32T feel free to shoot me an email if you have any questions!

Jesse Ramirez

Smooth Pedaling

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

I love this chainring. It's not super noticeable until you go back to a circular chainring. Your pedal strokes have a much smoother power transfer, and I feel less fatigued at the top of a climb. Also, at 51 grams for the 30T, there's no added weight.

Grant Johannes

"Wait your chainring isn't round??!!"

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Subtle but noticeable difference when climbing and descending. Definitely feels like you have more power during the most powerful part of your pedal stroke than a standard round ring of the same size yet it smooths out during the less efficient part of the stroke. Can't say it's a night and day difference but it sure is noticeable, plus you'll blow all the kooks minds when they realize your chainring isn't round. Woah!

Jeremy Collett

Subtle but better!

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Pedalling with this is noticeably smoother than with a standard ring, not by a huge amount but it's definitely a nice little boost. I notice it the most at the top of the stroke where human biomechanics makes us the weakest. I run a 32 tooth but at this point the oval shape makes it feel like a 30t so it's easier to push through the hardest part of the stroke. I find this feeling to be very nice and improves my pedal efficiency. All in all, I'm totally sold on ovals and will never be going back to a traditional ring!

Jesse Gus Allen

Great little extra punch

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

While an oval ring is not going to make a huge difference in pedaling, it will make a difference on technical and steep climbs. After 50 miles of riding I can say it helps a bit. I do not think I will go back after the oval ring.

Katie Williams

Bike Bling With A Purpose

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

After putting a decent amount of miles on my new chanring, I can say that I'm an oval fan for life! I have always tended to be a "masher" on my pedals and sometimes struggle to find a good rhythm during long climbs. The oval design has really helped me smooth out my pedal stroke and gain some efficiency while going uphill. I was skeptical of the oval making my pedal rotations feel strange but I don't notice any difference from my normal round chainring. As far as quality goes, I can tell that its a well-made product that will last me a long time. It also doesn't hurt that Absolute Black offers it in some awesome colors so you can bling out your bike! If you have any questions, shoot me an email at Pquigley@backcountry.com

Paul Quigley

Easier climb, higher top end

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Love mine. Switched from 32T round and won''t go back. You won't either!

Jordan Porter

Insta-fan. Oval for life!

Familiarity:

I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions

It feels like having uniform effort throughout the entire pedal stroke. The oval gives you a power boost at your strongest in the pedal stroke and extra torque when you're the most vulnerable. I used to get hung up on rocks in that vulnerable part of my pedal stroke and now I keep my momentum. It's less tiring to not get robbed of energy with ill-timed bumps. I also don't have to worry as much about ratcheting to get over certain things. I went from 32T round to 32T oval. The lackluster studies test oval chainrings on the road, while the biggest benefits are on the mountain.

Christian L.

No oval puns, just solid rings

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

Oval isn't for everyone, but everyone should at least give it a shot. If you clock it properly, you'll notice an increase in your pedaling smoothness. It's just that simple! A lot of folks will find that it messes up their rhythm when standing, but it's not particularly difficult to adjust to. The construction and quality of the rings are excellent, but do be aware that they have a very glossy metallic finish. Be sure to let me know if you have any questions!

Joe Draper