Is there really any advantage to the WAVE technology Chainring?

[kahn]

I think that I have had it with this finicky WAVE technology need to align a chain's outer plate with a certain tooth pattern. Once again on a steep hill my chain jumped off to the inside of the chainring on my Creo, wedging between that ring and the motor housing. And then it did it again. And after tackling the hill, it did it later in the ride, again and again and again and again and AGAIN! I presume that ripping the wedged chain out probably kinked it and it would no longer stay on the ring. Gave up the ride and called for help. Called AAA and I would probably still be out there and certainly after sunset. Finally reached a friend and was bailed and thoroughly frozen.

So, is there really any advantage to the "patent 89,669,899" WAVE tech? The bike shop opens at 10 and I will have them add that small chain protector thingie from Specialized and probably have to replace the chain and/or chainring. But I think I will opt out of PATENTED chainrings.

My INNER calm was totally shattered yesterday and there were no tranquil waves of any sort.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

kahn,

• First of all, I sympathize with you.
• Secondly, the WAVE technology is one of chainring solutions as good as the Shimano Narrow-Wide technology. Now fancy that you ride a traditional chainring with no features helping the chain stay on the ring. Would it be better?
• Thirdly, there must be something fundamentally wrong about either your e-bike or your style of riding. You have got the most modern technologies widely used in MTB: the Wave chainring, and the Shadow clutch on your GRX derailleur. And your chain still continues jumping off the chainring? It has never happened to any of my e-bikes, was it a cheap Shimano Alivio groupset or Deore XT/SLX and two of e-bikes are equipped with either WAVE or Narrow-Wide chainrings (the fourth e-bike had Narrow-Wide pattern chainring).

What gets?!

 

[tomjasz]

What gets GIVES?!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Bardzo się cieszę, że tak pięknie to wyjaśniłeś, Tomaszu

 

[tomjasz]

ardzo się cieszę, że tak pięknie to wyjaśniłeś, Tomaszu

You're welcome!

 

[kahn]

Bardzo się cieszę, że tak pięknie to wyjaśniłeś, Tomaszu

Da Nada!

(I now have a tab permanently stationed tab at Google Translate: I'm so glad you explained it so beautifully)

Oh, good ol' idioms.

@Stefan Mikes

Something fundamentally wrong in all quarters. I'm old and my riding style was developed over years of hiking and skiing!!!!!

But seriously. the derailleur hanger was bent which was causing the chain pop! Fortunately, the shop is not backed up the three weeks that they had been just a week or two ago. I guess the crowds have put away their bikes as the cold, gray WET season has enveloped us. So it will be ready by Thurs.

New brake pads and the front line needs to be bled. They will be putting the chain guard catcher on. Adding fenders since the schmutz from the wet roads and leaf litter and grit is awful.

We shall see. But at the moment the older e-bike is charging and I will have to add air to the tires.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Oh, good ol' idioms.

I used a simple and rich Polish sentence to thank Tom for his explanation. (It had to be some old book that taught me "what gets" but I take the correction from an American with humility!) Your Google translation was perfect!

the derailleur hanger was bent which was causing the chain pop!

Nothing wrong with WAVE, then

New brake pads and the front line needs to be bled.

I need to replace brake pads in the big Vado after each mountain vacation! My brother bleeds my TRP brakes on a yearly basis. He just likes doing technical services!

I will have to add air to the tires.

That's what I typically forget doing. When I can see my speed on Vado SL dropping, I check the tyre pressure. Had to inflate the tyres today again! Now, I should remember to maintain my SL's chain: it is the winter time!

 

[kahn]

I used a simple and rich Polish sentence to thank Tom for his explanation. (It had to be some old book that taught me "what gets" but I take the correction from an American with humility!) Your Google translation was perfect!


Nothing wrong with WAVE, then


I need to replace brake pads in the big Vado after each mountain vacation! My brother bleeds my TRP brakes on a yearly basis. He just likes doing technical services!


That's what I typically forget doing. When I can see my speed on Vado SL dropping, I check the tyre pressure. Had to inflate the tyres today again! Now, I should remember to maintain my SL's chain: it is the winter time!

There is still something fishy about having to align a chain's outside plate with an inside tooth or whatever!!! I mean, a chain, is a chain is a chain and a chainring is a ... You get the point. You are dealing with someone who had a three-speed bike 60 plus years ago. And the first shift lever I used was much like:

Ah, the good old days.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

There is still something fishy about having to align a chain's outside plate with an inside tooth or whatever!!!

This is not any different to a Narrow-Wide pattern. The manufacturers take care of you and you just bend a derailleur hanger...
"A little of technology and some people get confused"

 

[Marcela]

I think with the narrow/wide they recommend the rear derailleur use a clutch. The little knob thingy.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I think with the narrow/wide they recommend the rear derailleur use a clutch. The little knob thingy.

@kahn has already mastered using the Shadow clutch, @Marcela
The clutch is just to tension the chain, and the thing is used with both Narrow-Wide and WAVE chainrings.

 

[kahn]

@kahn has already mastered using the Shadow clutch, @Marcela
The clutch is just to tension the chain, and the thing is used with both Narrow-Wide and WAVE chainrings.

Actually, by the time I took it to the shop yesterday morning, I don't know which way I had flipped the clutch or left it. But the shop guy told me it was DISengaged. I think I now know which end is UP (another idiom). But tune in next week, kiddies, for the continuing saga of Fred and his chain!!!! If all goes well, I get the bike back on thur, just in time for potentially "low land snow." And, no, I don't ride in the snow anymore.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Hey Fred it is simple. If the clutch is engaged, you will not be able to move the derailleur cage by hand forward.

 

[kahn]

Hey Fred it is simple. If the clutch is engaged, you will not to be able to move the derailleur cage by hand forward.

Shop guy showed me that. We will see if I retain that bit of info somewhere in the graying gray matter.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Nowadays, I need to invert my Vado SL pretty often to clean and lube the chain. It gave me the chance to actually look at the Praxis chainring, and find the diagram. Perhaps it is just the matter of experience but I do not need the diagram to orientate the chain properly now. I just look at the chain and the ring from the top, voila, done properly I was even surprised to see the diagram matched my chain placing there!

 

[kahn]

Nowadays, I need to invert my Vado SL pretty often to clean and lube the chain. It gave me the chance to actually look at the Praxis chainring, and find the diagram. Perhaps it is just the matter of experience but I do not need the diagram to orientate the chain properly now. I just look at the chain and the ring from the top, voila, done properly I was even surprised to see the diagram matched my chain placing there!

I've found and seen it. But seriously, why did they emboss it on the frame side of the ring where it is well hidden. I would think it would be easier to see if it were on the crank side of the ring. Since I deal with the chain's orientation on the rare (hopefully, from now on) occasion it jumps off, I don't necessarily recall the correct alignment. But I now carry its cute baby photo on my phone.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

why did they emboss it on the frame side of the ring where it is well hidden. I would think it would be easier to see if it were on the crank side

It is on the crank side of my Vado SL but on the frame side of Vado 5.0 (EU)!

 

[kahn]

It is on the crank side of my Vado SL but on the frame side of Vado 5.0 (EU)!

Now that is interesting and weird.

 

[Marcela]

The 36t is too small to see print on the drivers side so it’s printed on the passenger side.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I was wrong!!! The diagram is on the frame side! Otherwise it would be obscured by the chainguard. And that's why I could spot it when I turned the bike upside-down.