5

I have a Jamis Beatnik (love) and ride on the single-speed side of my hub. I'm wondering - derailleurs seem to me like they might 'stress' the chain (even if only slightly) more than single-speed in the process of changing gears. Are geared bikes' chains harder to maintain / shorter lived than single-speeds'?

(Background: I noticed I hardly have to clean my chain on my single speed, and it always looks great and feels tight.)

Improve this question
2
  • 1
    Sounds like you're not riding very hard. Single speed chains stretch like crazy; I need to replace mine at least annually.
    – Evan Davis
    Sep 10, 2014 at 18:40
  • Not sure about that. I do about 20 miles a week of mostly inner-city and suburban commuting, am 225 lbs, and have had the same chain for two years. By bike mechanic usually jokes how hard I seem to ride the frame (replaced my crankset, heavy duty tubes, big, flat bmx pedals). I've wiped the chain down once, but never "cleaned" or oiled it, and with a few very small exceptions it looks almost new.
    – d8aninja
    Sep 11, 2014 at 13:16

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
5

Single speed last longer and cost less. More metal and less (no) flex.

SS comes in 1/8 and 3/32. I would contend a SS 3/32 of the same basic construction is stronger than a 3/32 7 speed because it does not need to be built to flex and it is not flexed.

I am not finding any pictures of 3/32 SS chains and the chain on my SS bike is 1/8.
So I guess it is not really a straight comparison.
But a SS will take a 1/8 and geared will not so it is a fair comparison.

Also SS is built to take the abuse of a fixie. In a fixie the chain has to take the braking force and gets hammered. Note the question is SS not fixie.

Improve this answer
3
  • 2
    Are you sure the result here is true? Obviously this is anecdotal, but I've gone through many more chains on my fixie. I always assumed that you put tension on the chain because you have to keep peddling with the same gear when if you had a gear, you would have changed long ago.
    – Niall
    Sep 10, 2014 at 18:32
  • 2
    @Niall But the question is SS not fixie. Way different.
    – paparazzo
    Sep 10, 2014 at 20:03
  • 3
    In my experience as bicycle mechanic, SS chains will last at least twice as long, but mostly even much longer. It is because they are less flexible (= stronger) and because they don't move from gear to gear during use. And mostly, SS chains are thicker to.
    – Foxhill
    Sep 11, 2014 at 12:47

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.