The short answer: Probably not.
The long answer: Most articles on elliptical chainrings will tell you they鈥檙e nothing new. That they date back to the 1890s. That Shimano manufactured an elliptical chainring in the 1980s called the Biopace and, aside from a few , the component was generally panned for causing undue stress on the knees.聽
The idea behind the ellipse, as explains, is to eliminate the 鈥渄ead spot鈥 when your feet are at 12 and 6 and can鈥檛 produce much power. The non-round shape should allow you to apply more power through the entire pedal stroke.
Should being the operative word. Researchers the physiological and performance differences between elliptical and round cranks time and again. And , they鈥檝e concluded that, when it comes to power output, heart rate, perceived exertion, and blood lactate during efforts longer than one kilometer, there鈥檚 not much difference between round and elliptical chainrings.
However, some researchers that, while the eccentric design does not affect performance, lactate, and heart rate, it could improve 1K times of people with really muscular legs. Like track cycling stars.
Rather than proven science, the current elliptical revival is built on smart marketing and high-profile endorsements. Bradley Wiggins rode the brand chain ring during his winning 2012 Tour de France Campaign and Olympic time trial, only to ditch them recently, , 鈥淚鈥檝e come off those silly things now.鈥 Head of operations of Wiggins鈥 Team Sky told later, 鈥淸There isn鈥檛] any evidence that this gives you this [advantage], so it鈥檚 up to the rider鈥檚 feel.鈥
And that鈥檚 exactly where we鈥檙e at now. It鈥檚 all about how you feel. Modern elliptical chain rings make some bold and unverifiable claims about the product鈥檚 advantages (Osymetric, whose chainring is not an ellipse, but asymmetrical, says their design will give you 鈥7-10% more wattage without doing any more work,鈥 and a 鈥12% reduction in lactic acid buildup鈥).
But ultimately, it鈥檚 about personal preference. If the Osymetric or feel more natural to you than a circular chainring, use them. Just don鈥檛 expect any amazing insta-transformations from thinking outside the circle.