Bicycle chain length: how to determine and choose the best?

Bicycle chain - one after another pins connected by pins. It is intended for transmitting torque. Efficiency is able to reach 98%. When mounting a new chain on a bicycle, as a rule, it is necessary to correctly calculate its length or the number of links. A short chain can lead to problems if switching speeds to large stars. Too long chain - will sag and jump off the sprockets on their own.

There are two key techniques that allow you to define a parameter such as chain length.

• The most important thing is to install it on a large asterisk in the transmission system, at the same time, it is necessary to put it on the smallest asterisk in the system of rear stars (another name is the rear cassette). Then you need to pass it through the rear derailer (the so-called speed switch). After carrying out these works, tighten it so that the axis that passes through the central parts of the rollers of the rear derailleur is in a vertical position. If the chain was stretched correctly and it turned out to be longer, a certain amount of extra links will form in the connection area of ​​the 2 ends. They can be easily removed by adjusting at the same time the chain length for the dimensions of your own bike.

• The following method actually mirrors the sequence of steps of the previous method. That is, mount the chain on the smallest star of the transmission system and the same asterisk in the system of rear stars.At the same time, a slight chain tension should be formed, that is, the bike chain should not be loosened. It follows that in the area of ​​the junction there may also remain unnecessary links that must be removed.

It should be further noted that When determining the optimal length of the bicycle chain, the first and second methods can be practiced simultaneously. If in both cases the same number of unnecessary links came out, then it means that you can safely remove them.

When the number is different, it is worth checking again, because it may be that an error was made in some of the options. If you remove the wrong number of links, there is a risk of getting too long or too short chain. In such situations, traveling on two-wheeled vehicles is risky, and the degree of reliability of the bike chain will significantly decrease.

There are three main calculation methods, if we talk about mountain bicycles and bicycle hybrids.

1. Put the chain on the biggest sprockets in the back and front of the bike, pull the paw of the rear derailer to the maximum, it is necessary that at the same time it moves forward - this will be the ideal size of the bike chain. It should go like this: the case of the deiler will be practically in line with the paw (this is the maximum, then failure). Please note that it is recommended to install the paw with a slight slope.
2. As in the previous version, the chain throws itself onto the largest sprockets without involving the rear derailer. We write down or remember the required chain size, then add a couple more links to this parameter, and an acceptable length comes out. In principle, approximately the same as in the first method should come out.
3. Attach the chain in front of the large star, and the smallest one at the back and adjust the size so that the paw of the deiler is at right angles to the ground, that is, the axis of the rollers of the deiler are located one under the other.

For the roadway, as a rule, the 3rd method of calculating the size of the bike chain is used. This is a technique when the chain is installed on a small sprocket in the back and a large one in front.

To choose the length of the chain for a single speed or a bicycle equipped with a planetary hub, you must install the latter in the hanging bracket of the frame (dropout) so that in the future, as the chain is stretched, it is possible to move it back.

Attention! When replacing the factory chain with a new one, it is imperative to count the links in the factory sample. In the new chain, if necessary, it is necessary to leave the same number as the original had.

There are two methods to count the number of links.

1. Count all the external links together with the lock, and then multiply by 2. Of course, it is possible to count the internal links, but this is not very logical.
2. Count all pins (their number must match the number of links).

The correct chain selection directly depends on how many stars in your bike. If it is equipped with 5, then with this option, a typical option with a width of 2.4 millimeters will become suitable. When talking about a bicycle with 6-7 stars, you should choose more expensive and high-quality products, since typical ones simply can not bear such loads, not to mention the degree to which this process should be taken seriously when purchasing a chain for cycling with 8 stars, because only the most flexible and expensive samples can suit him.

Of course if desired, the use of cheaper analogues is also possible, but then you will have to replace them quite often, besides doing this, most likely, will be required together with cassettes, which makes saving very unlikely.

Moreover, the parameters of your old and new chains should coincide one hundred percent, and especially with regard to their width.

It should be noted that individual samples are applied additional marking according to the quality of their manufacture, and, as a rule, it happens in the form of numbers. In accordance with this, the higher the marking number, the better the product. Additionally, it should be said that the chains often differ in their color, and the best samples are painted exclusively in gold color.

You can find out how to determine the length of the bike chain from the video below.