Chain Widths

From UrbanVelo Read the entire article in the magazine.  Well, I was having issues with a chain and trying to readup on current info.

Nominally there are two widths of bicycle chain on the market—1/8” and 3/32”. This number refers to the interior width of the chain, with the wider 1/8” chain used on single speed and internally geared bikes, and 3/32” width chain on multi-speed deraileur bicycles. But when it comes to 3/32” chains there are a number of different external widths available, usually referred to in marketing terms by the number of rear cogs or speeds that the chain is compatible with. The narrower 3/32” chain is necessary for deraileur bicycles as the cogs are thinner to provide space for multiple gears, and as manufacturers have continued to add more speeds to drivetrains cogs and chains have continued to lose some from around the middle, even if only by tenths of a millimeter at a time. This has all brought up some compatibility concerns worth having a working knowledge of to prevent shifting problems and incompatible component purchases.

 

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How to Check for Chain Wear

Off to the shop this weekend to check my bike chain for wear.  It seems slightly odd that given my mechanical aptitude and background with so many things, that I haven’t actually learned much about bike maintenance beyond the obvious.

Karma from this summer delivered a short review of BicycleTutor.com which had this video and information on “How to Check for Chain Wear“.  Give them a look and buy them a cup of coffee if you use the video and it makes a difference.  As soon as I finish, I will.