Tests

Tests crankset "Ultime Ti *"

Sports instructor at Armée de Terre - Professional cyclist "Team Nice Côte d'Azur Procycling".

- It is with great curiosity and above all a certain apprehension that I had the opportunity to test this famous crankset "Ultime". Indeed these are a bit like certain unaffordable or rare products, "we hear about it but we never see the color ...". Already this crankset had made noise during the 24 hours of Le Mans where it allowed its user to win the race in the "solo" category (as its name suggests, the greatest possible number of laps of the circuit in 24 hours and this alone!). It has also been seen on some major triathlons or international cycling events across the Atlantic.

- Of course, the lack of testimony or opinion places it as a "vulgar" system which makes it possible to attenuate dead points during a pedaling cycle. What many egg tray manufacturers offer. In addition, having already tested a few (the most famous on the market), I noticed that these are only compatible with a certain way of pedaling. Indeed, with a “peak” pedaling, and a higher than average pedaling frequency, these chainrings have never given me more. I would even say on the contrary, due to the fact that the neutral point is found shifted compared to the round plates. However, I climb very high with my right heel at this famous TDC in order to have a pulling action on the pedal in its ascent phase; at the same time, the left heel is positioned low so that the pushing action is also as long as possible. This is how (and measured with sensors) that I approach a pedaling quality close to 100% with round chainrings and this percentage decreases with ovoid chainrings because of not harmonizing my passage of TDC and PMB with the top of the oval.

- Sure the crankset "Ultime", we have two round chainrings which are not in direct contact with the crank. An internal pinion system (similar to a gearbox) allows these chainrings to be overdriven. The overdrive factor is 1.44. Concretely, this means that there is a planetary pinion integral with the case which is located on the frame, 4 small satellites and a toothed crown which acts as a support for the plates. As a result, as you can see in the video, the chainrings turn faster than the crank. This ratio allows to benefit from a 37/25 which corresponds to a 53.28 / 36 crankset (37 × 1.44 / 25 × 1.44). But above all and this is the strong point, thanks to the greater rotational speed of the chainrings compared to the cranks, the angular angle is different. It is reduced and this is felt from the first turns of the wheels or rather of the cranks!

- Indeed on a resumption of pedaling after a change in freewheeling, the crankset "Ultime"acts as a booster! No sooner do you apply pressure on the crank that it is transmitted to the rear wheel. Or to schematize it is as if you end up with cranks in 200 or more! This induces an increase in the "circular force" which is used to turn the crankset. This force is called the torque (C). Expressed in Newton-meters, it is the product of the force F (in Newtons) exerted on the pedal and the distance d (length of the cranks in meters) that is C = F × d. You understand why the fact of having a larger lever arm allows a gain in Torque and therefore in power if you keep your usual pedaling frequency. P (Watts) = C (Nm) × Cad (rad / s).

- But what is even stronger and which further increases this gain of Watts is the fact of having a higher pedaling rate than usual. It is this point that impressed me the most: being able to "knit" on a small gear even more easily than I usually do! This is how I found a higher pedaling rate, whatever the terrain! A big plus at a time when everyone is looking to increase their speed to preserve their muscle fiber from cramps or excessive lactate surges.

- In summary, of course the crankset is a little heavier than a top of the range (count about 1 kg). But this "overweight" which is therefore located closest to the center of gravity does not in any way penalize the final performance. Apart from this detail, there are only advantages, initially with an improvement in performance. Then an optimization of the pedaling which will generate less muscle fatigue over the hours! In any case, for my part, I am totally convinced and won over, all the more so that with the measurement tools used, the figures displayed were completely in relation to these feelings.

- You too try the experience, relearn to pedal "round" with a better output and a greater torque for the same effort!

Integrated planning expert-Elite Cycling Coach: road / against the watch / track (endurance) / para-cycling - Cycling Performance Engineer - Paralympic Training - etc. ........

Protocol

These tests were carried out in the Basque country (France), with the Cycleops Powertap Pro (precision +/- 1.5%). A full week with a classic crankset and the following week with the crankset "Ultime" made it possible to compare performances by taking the same daily routes and respecting each type of outing in order. It was also important to reproduce the different types of efforts of a runner during his season.

Foreword

All the tests were carried out by Lionel Reynaud.

For information, in order to better understand the figures presented in the test.

Profile of the test runner

- Amateur runner = 1.80 m for 69 Kg. - VO2 max: 70ml of O2 / Kg / min

- Power at the threshold during the pedal test "Ultime" : 250-260 watts

- FC transition zone when testing the crankset "Ultime" : [175-185] bpm according to the pedaling cadence.

Equipment used

- Orbea Carbon frame with a hub to measure the power developed as well as the torque (outgoing) Powertap brand Cycleops (power accuracy ± 1.5%).

- Heart rate was measured using the heart rate monitor (uncoded) on the Powertap since the tests were conducted on a circuit without interference.

- Data analysis was performed using software Cardlog ® by Patrick Dupuis specially modified for our tests.

Test campaign ; 1st week

1 ° - 2 ° - 3 ° outputs: Blind without power sensor

- First impressions: Very easy when starting, the increase in power is very fast and easier than with a normal crankset: change from 150 watts to 890 watts in 10 sec . with a lesser impression of muscle pain.

- For low power: if we take care to have a correct pedaling rate> 75rpm, passing through dead points is much easier (subjective impression of being on a track bike in terms of pedaling fluidity ).

4th output: Resistance effort below anaerobic threshold 4 x (5 '(250 - 270) watts @ 75rpm R = 3')

- General impressions : We notice that the muscular contractions are less, since the graduation of the pain as the efforts are made is less important than with a normal crankset. Since the traction force of the chain is different, we notice that we must concentrate to be in the right power range: tend to be very quickly 280 watts and if you release the pressure on the pedals a little, you quickly fall back to 230 watts (This partly explains why the average power of the pedaling cadence during the sets is a little higher (3 - 4rpm) than the sets performed with a normal crankset (reference output).

- Test output data: The series were performed in exactly the same place as those in the test output. We deliberately preferred not to take into account the speed given that the external conditions were a little different (hydrometry, etc ...) by focusing on the power which is less subject to external disturbances. The heart rate for each ride is less than 4 to 5 bpm (on average) for each series in favor of the crankset "Ultime" . We also notice that the rise in Fc is done faster at the start of the series than with a normal crankset (due to the higher speed at the start of the series). Unlike the normal crankset: you do not need to throw the 53 teeth. Then the CF stabilizes at an Fc between 5 and 7 bpm lower than the test value. As in the series, we notice a drift in the heart rate at the end of the series, but this is less important and allows us to stay below the anaerobic threshold in Fc while we are in power (interesting).

5th exit: Hill Intervals type exit: long climbs to the threshold or below, interspersed with acceleration over 50 -100 m @ 100 -120 rpm.

- During the first series, we notice a notable difference due to the ease of accelerating; we can also see that during these accelerations, we win 5% power compared to values tests. These 5% powercan be explained (for detractors of the pedal "Ultime" by a better state of form of the subject. However, the difference is felt when we come to the tenth repetition where normally the peaks of power are only 'weak surges'. Certainly, the power drops a little because of the many solicitations of the body, but the muscle burns are less important and the efforts are easier to repeat, the loss of power is also less important as the sets.

6 ° - 7 ° and 8 ° exits: Exits in bumps - Tests with passage of bumps in Force (Force - Velocity and Power).

- For very low speeds (40 rpm): the impression is very strange since at such a speed on the percentages practiced, it is difficult to have a continuous movement, we constantly havepower surges due to the acceleration of the plateau.

- For low speeds (50 - 60 rpm): bumps go very well, including on the equivalent of 53 x 15 (1) even if the thighs heat up a little, they heat up much less than with anormal crankset. In addition, thanks to the passage of dead points facilitated by the pedal "Ultime", pedaling is smoother and we do not observe the mini power losses observed with a normal crankset. It is easier to press the pedal (the effort seems less and the muscle less contracted), but also easier to pull the pedal up ( this risks causing damage in the passes in July with runners who already have a very swift and fluid style .... ) .

- The series of test bumps were passed to an average of 312 watts , while with a normal crankset, the average for the previous week was 280 watts .

For bumps in velocity, easier effort with a lower FC.

History of pushing the test until the simulation, the bumps in velocity were ended by series of accelerations which were possible in places where with a normal crankset, we were rather planted .....

- For the calculations: we tried to estimate the cardiac cost per watt produced by the cyclist, hence the bpm / watts.

Note that for each type of effort this ratio is always lower with the use of the crankset "Ultime" .

- Another key would have been to do a lactatemic dosage since we noticed that the muscular effort seemed less with the crankset "Ultime" , just as the recovery was better with the crankset "Ultime" than with a normal crankset; no contractures and no big thighs the day after maximum effort.