Hidden Bolt vs Non-Hidden Bolt

[JScycle]

Hi WW,
I need your help and expert advice!
I'm looking to buy a quarq power meter.
I understand the difference between hidden bolt and non-hidden bolt but what are the benefits and disadvantages.
Why should I choose one over the other?

Regards,
Josh

[2lo8]

Hidden bolt looks cooler. Hidden bolt is slightly more propietary because it needs the chain drop pin at a chainring bolt hole.

That's it.

[JScycle]

Hidden bolt looks cooler. Hidden bolt is slightly more propietary because it needs the chain drop pin at a chainring bolt hole.

That's it.

So if I decided to use another brand of chainrings in the future eg praxis or similar would they work on a hidden bolt crankset or would I need a non-hidden bolt crankset

[glepore]

praxis have a removable drop pin, as do the latest sram chainrings, that allow you to set the ring up for either configuration. The only difference is where on the ring the pin that keeps the chain from dropping and wedging in the arm is located.

[2lo8]

Or if you don't buy a chainring with a pin in the correct position, or mounting provisions for the pin the the proper position, be willing to have your crank arms chewed up and have your chain wedged and stuck if you ever drop a chain over the outisde of the big ring.

[JScycle]

praxis have a removable drop pin, as do the latest sram chainrings, that allow you to set the ring up for either configuration. The only difference is where on the ring the pin that keeps the chain from dropping and wedging in the arm is located.

So that basically means it doesn't matter what crankset you buy?

I will be going with the quarq carbon version not the sram red version (to match future groupsets etc) and found it is available in 110HB and 110NHB so just wanting to know what to pick.

[TobinHatesYou]

In all honesty you should pick the NHB version of the Quarq PM...The benefit of HB is completely lost with the removable spider.

[JScycle]

In all honesty you should pick the NHB version of the Quarq PM...The benefit of HB is completely lost with the removable spider.

What do you mean by the benefit is lost?

[TobinHatesYou]

What do you mean by the benefit is lost?

On a regular Red HB crank, there is weight savings and perhaps an increase in stiffness because the 5th arm is integrated into the crankarm. In the HB Quarq/Red DZero crankset there is no such integration. You have a separate crankarm that bolts into a 5-arm spider. The only difference is the orientation of the bolt pattern.