Rotor Aero ring

[Tony]

I know lots of folks will think I screwed up a nice ring, my wife does :)

Rotor sent me their Aero 52/39 130mm Q rings I was lucky to win at Sea Otter. I don't care for the looks of the Aero rings, the solid non perforated ring and the awful graphics is something I really don't want to put on my CIII. I requested the standard Q rings but didn't want to complain, grateful to get these rings!
I was able to compare the Standard Q ring to the Aero, measure the thickness. Looks like Rotor instead of machining out the aluminum between the arms they just leave it alone on the Aero rings. I guess that makes the ring more aerodynamic.
I drilled out the areas between the arms to open up the ring and hide the retro graphics. Anyways, I like the ring now, even better than the standard :)

Picture of the standard Q ring
http://www.competitivecyclist.com/rotor-road-outer-q-ring?ti=UExQIENhdDpSb2FkIENoYWlucmluZ3M6MToyOmNjQ2 F0MTAwNDcw

My modified Aero Q ring
https://plus.google.com/photos/107709068384636814318/albums/6007066605742736817

[thirdgenbird]

I think I like it. Post a pic of it mounted if you can.

[KidWok]

Neo-drillium!

Tai

[dpk501]

Fancy!

[firerescuefin]

I own the rings you speak of.

The Aero Big ring is stiffer (was stiffer before you drilled it out) and is why a lot of the pros choose them, because they shift better.

I wouldn't have done that. Not sure if the rings are going to suffer any loss in performance.

[thirdgenbird]

He left a lot of meat in there. Stiffness probably falls between the standard and aero ring. The unique appearance is a fair trade off for a non pro.

[kramnnim]

You should send a picture to Rotor... :hello:

Wonder how much weight you took off the ring?

[firerescuefin]

He left a lot of meat in there. Stiffness probably falls between the standard and aero ring. The unique appearance is a fair trade off for a non pro.

Not arguing, but stiffer rings shift better....for all of us. I am no engineer. It's possible the loss in performance is negligible. I just wouldn't have chanced it with a high dollar ring that was designed to perform a certain way.

It does look cool :beer:

[thirdgenbird]

Yes, for all of us. My point was only that it's probably still in the acceptable range. Plenty of people find sram and FSA rings acceptable and other say they are worthless.

[Tony]

Out of all the outer rings I have these are (with the drilling) still the beefiest by far! They will be stiffer than the standard Q ring which I tried at Sea Otter and was fine with stiff wise.

[Tony]

You should send a picture to Rotor... :hello:

Wonder how much weight you took off the ring?

Not sure how much weight I took off this ring. It feels a lot lighter :)

I'm still waiting for the cass and 10 speed chain I ordered to arrive that Rotor recommended I install with these rings. I'll weigh the ring when I pick up the parts.

[Tony]

I liked Kramnnim suggestion of sending Rotor pictures of my modified Aero Q ring.
I didn't feel comfortable posting that I didn't like the look of the solid ring or the "awful graphics", sounded ungrateful, so I changed things and sent it to them today. I like the way the rings now look on my bike, and I REALLY like the way the rings perform.

BTW, I removed 31 grams from the ring : )

https://plus.google.com/photos/107709068384636814318/albums/6007497709165114529

[hida yanra]

I guess everything does come back around at some point.
Just had a pantographed ring with post-production drillium come through the shop a couple days ago. Maybe the winds of fashion are changing again?
Perhaps we should expect to hear about new discoveries in "boundary layer trip tech?"

[thirdgenbird]

I've seriously debated having a little drillium done on my tommasini.