push bike chains

[BrokenBiker]

are they one size fits all or do they need to be measured before buying?

just picked up a Raleigh mountain bike that needs a good clean and possibly a new chain, not tried freeing it up yet, its not rusty just siezed and stiff in places

 

[Wozzaaah]

No need to measure before buying, they normally come long so you just shorten them accordingly.

 

[rtbcomp]

Is the pitch and width the same on them all though?

 

[hotrodder]

While the pitch is one size fits all the width isn't... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_chain#Width That said it's more common for 8 speed chains to be sold as 6/7/8 speed than it is to find specific 6 or 7 speed flavours
As said they all typically need shortening by several links to suit the bike. General rule of thumb is with the bike in top gear the chain length should be set so that a line drawn through the centres of the rear mechs jockey wheels is perpendicular to the ground

Might get away with it if the chain has seized up from being left in a damp shed and has no miles on it but a bunch of the time putting a new chain on used sprockets results in the bike trying to neuter the rider on the stem as the chain skips over worn sprokets the first time you get out of the saddle to climb a hill etc

 

[CRB]

RTBComp and HotRodder beat me to it.



?Does the width not vary depending upon the number of sprockets on the rear cassette?

7/8/9/10sp cassettes ?If they are they all the same width then the sprocket and chain must change?

 

[BrokenBiker]

cheers for the info guys. I have just thrown a full can of wd40 on it and worked all the stiff links and they are now moving quite smoothly and freely, then I put a healthy dose of chain wax on, I cleaned up all the sprockets a bit and the teeth all look good, no bent or badly worn ones. need to air up the tyres, adjust the brakes and see what it will do.

will probably buy a new chain anyway though, it needs new brakes what ever happens, these are on their last legs.

I assume the new chains come with a split link?

 

[chunkolini]

If you need a new chain you had best budget for new cassette, and chain rings.
Once they are worn it all works as a set, new chain will skip like hell.
if it is an old nail just keep it lubricated. it is amazing how knackered they can be and still work fine.
On my commuter hack the jockey wheels on the mech have tiny lumps instead of teeth.
This is the chain and sprockets off it last time I changed them. The cassette had seperated and the chain should not bend sideways more than a few degrees.
This is a disgusting way to treat a classic bike.
Kona Kileauea, one of the best mass produced bikes of all time.
but my commute is hell.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Sorry, I should have been more specific but BB was only asking about the length.
As said earlier, the chains do vary in width depending on the number of rear sprockets.

@brokenbiker , I've got lots of old 8 speed MTB bits here if you need anything for it.
I've probably got enough to build another bike!

 

[BrokenBiker]

think ill just stick with the current chain and keep it well oiled then lol. the bike was picked up off freecycle, so I don't want to spend any more on it than absolutely needed, like brakes. I only want it so I can drop a few stone lol, fed up of being 18 stone and the diet isn't doing anything, been eating healthy and sticking to the diet plan for 6 months and have lost 3 kilos...lol

 

[BrokenBiker]

Sorry, I should have been more specific but BB was only asking about the length.
As said earlier, the chains do vary in width depending on the number of rear sprockets.

@brokenbiker , I've got lots of old 8 speed MTB bits here if you need anything for it.
I've probably got enough to build another bike!

cheers woz, will keep that in mind

 

[chunkolini]

If you get the bug buy a decent new bike.
A new bike can set of a serious fitness kick.

 

[BrokenBiker]

im actually worried about that lol. when I was a teenager I was heavily into kick boxing, that ended when I crashed my first motorbike, but when I started kick boxing I bought a brand new Apollo mountain bike, then bought another, and another. haven't really cycled since passing my bike test, then my car test.

I cant jog or train in martial arts anymore because of the fragile knee I still have from the crash but the plan is to now get out every day and get my weight down to around 13 stone (as that's what the doc reckons I should be) and then start on the weights again and get a fairly decent shape to me, although ive never really been one for packing myself out with muscle.

my commute to work is 11.4miles on the motorway, or the route to cycle works out at 12.2 miles each way. not sure how long that would take though and I don't like the idea of being knackard and sweaty then having to do an 8 hour shift of lifting and moving things then cycle home again lol

 

[Wozzaaah]

Realistically that should take way less than an hour each way, ride in nice and steady and push it a little harder going home.
Don't mess about with a puncture repair kit, take a couple of spare tubes, some tyre levers and a decent pump, if you do get a puncture you can be back riding in a few mins.

 

[BrokenBiker]

I think I will doa few timed runs first just to make sure I can get into work on time. ive never liked repair kits, they are crap, I always used to carry at least 1 tube and a small pump that fit under the seat post. never had any tyre levers though, just some spoons lol

 

[CRB]

A new bike can set of a serious fitness kick.

I was using Number One Sons' MTB, certainly a lot more than he ever has, but the last time was about a year ago, he moved out.

Second hand, but this is mine and Chunko you are so right. Endorphins rule.

 

[BrokenBiker]

I was using Number One Sons' MTB, certainly a lot more than he ever has, but the last time was about a year ago, he moved out.

Second hand, but this is mine and Chunko you are so right. Endorphins rule.

I don't think I could cope on one of those lol

 

[chunkolini]

Go for it commute when you feel good and try and up up the number of days a week slowly.
my trip is nine miles but they are big miles really uppy downy stuff, but very beautiful miles.
It is a great way to put your head in a nice place for the day, get all your legal built in highs flying around your system.
Buy the right gear and cycling in the rain is even enjoyable.
CRB recumbents? that looks like a speed demon,
I prefer the more gentlemanly version. More Daimler than XR3

 

[clift_d]

12 miles should take you about an hour nice and steady once you've done a couple of weeks and got into the rhythm of it. If you don't go flat out for it then you'll find you arrive awake and alert and ready to go. The trip on the way home gives you a chance to get work out of your system.

I would suggest you do get a new chain, they're only about £12 - £15 for a Sachs or similar. If you must leave the old one on then keep an eye on your front and rear sprockets. The chain link bushes only need to wear enough to lengthen the chain by about 0.75% before it starts chewing up the front and rear sprockets and then you have a more expensive set of parts to replace rather than just a chain. All chains are a standard link spacing of 1/2", but the width varies - BMX, single speed or hub gear bikes are 1/8" chain, derailleur chains tend to be 3/32" for 5/6/7/8 speed chains. You might need a specific chain for a 9/10 speed - again you should be able to get something without too much expense.

Punctures are the bane of every cyclists life so:
- keep your fully inflated - get a foot pump from Argos or a later a proper stirrup pump with a gauge and blow them to near the maximum pressure shown on the tyres - you'll reduce your rolling resistance i.e. you'll go faster for less effort, and it'll really keep down the number of punctures you get.
- check your tyres regularly for damage
- replace your tyres regularly - the rubber on tyres that are more than a couple of years old starts to perish and go soft, meaning regular punctures

In case you need to fix a puncture on the road carry a spare inner tube as well as the usual tyre levers, pump, etc. That way you just need to check the tyre to make sure you remove what actually caused the puncture,swap over the inner tube, pump it up and away you go. Then you can find the puncture in the old tube at lunch time or in the evening rather than at the side of the road.

Good luck with it.

 

[chunkolini]

Punctures? I have loads of these.
I bung my ti=ubes after about 12 patches.
This is the best pump I have ever used on the road.http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/topeak-morph-mountain-pump/rp-prod2908
Managed to get our tandem wheels up to 120psi.
Brilliant things, pricey but the only one for me.

 

[Wozzaaah]

I've got a Topeak Joe Blow Sprint track pump, it's fantastic!
Don't think I'd ever buy any other brand now.