Rotor America is the U.S. outpost and distributor for Rotor Bicycle Components, a Spanish company in operation since 1919.
One of Rotor’s signature products is the Q-Ring, an oval chainring that has been widely adopted by the Euro pro peloton, and which comes in both 130 and 110 BCD and in aluminum and “Qarbon” iterations.
Rotor America’s website gives an evidence-based argument for the efficacy of oval chainrings as agents of increased power and efficiency, but also hints that the “Q” moniker may have an alternate meaning.
To paraphrase the website, Rotor knows that increased profits can be realized by switching to Asian production, but by keeping both production and R&D at their state-of-the-art facility outside Madrid, a complete commitment to quality is maintained.
That focus on quality is seen in not only the Q-Rings and InPower meters (direct force power meters integrated into crankarms), but also in the new 1×13 “Adventure Group” that offers a wide range of gearing options with the simplicity of a single front chainring.
“We’ve made the first 13-speed drivetrain on the market, with a derailleur that operates with a clutch system to swap back and forth from twelve to thirteen speed cassettes, and it can be used on mountain, road, and CX bikes alike,” says Martina Platte, Rotor America’s Market Support Specialist.
It’s not only quality in Rotor’s wheelhouse. Another focus on technological innovation led Rotor to offer the new 1×13 Ultimate Performance group that includes hydraulic-activated shifting and disc braking.
All of this innovation comes without a weight penalty, with a total groupset weight of just 1,785 grams for a group that includes a crankarm-integrated InPower meter. Standard setup is a 38-54t single front chainring with a choice of four rear 13-speed cogsets that range from 10-36 to 10-52.
2019 will mark Rotor America’s third visit to the Philly Bike Expo. Their six U.S.-based employees, all active cyclists, work from an office in Salt Lake City.
For more information about the full-range of high-quality, innovative, Spanish-made Rotor components, visit Rotor America’s website at www.rotoramerica.com.
