Message text written by "Rick Miller"
>I have an early 80's touring bike equipped with Shimano Bio-Pace rings.
I've rarely seen them used and wonder what their purpose was? I suppose it
should be obvious but I prefer the round rings.<
Bio-Pace rings were just another one of Shimano's me-too deals. A couple years before it was SunTour with their OvalTech rings. SunTour found out just how unpopular they were and dumped them about the time Bio-Pace came out. Shimano stuck with them for several years. The idea is that the ring has a longer radius like a bigger ring where the most power is exerted on the pedals is the greatest and the shortest where you can apply the least power. I agree, they are a bad idea and like most everyone else, went to round rings as soon as possible.
Jim