All Questions
1,028 questions
7
votes
2
answers
639
views
Chain falls behind rear sprockets - safeguards?
From time to time, my chain falls off the rear sprockets, and then gets stuck between sprockets and spokes.
Apparently this is because my gears are losing their adjustment. When I re-adjust them every ...
- 171
4
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Chain skipping when pedaling hard
I need some help understanding how to solve the issue of chain skipping in my bike. The bike is a KTM ultra Flite from 2010 with 9-speed cassette Shimano HG50, rear derailleur Shimano Deore XT Shadow ...
- 83
9
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Simultaneous clang, hesitation and drop when I pedal with any weight
Background: New chain, new bottom bracket, new front derailleur, new shifters, new brakes.
This is a cheap Walmart Mongoose that I'm trying to keep riding and upgraded some of the components recently, ...
- 91
1
vote
0
answers
48
views
Recently replaced fixed gear drive train and the chain has stretched 1/8th inch over 24 links in under 200 miles
I have a wabi classic. Over the last few months it became apparent that the drive train needed to be replaced. I would replace a chain and it would be badly stretched after a week or two (~100 miles). ...
- 21
2
votes
2
answers
54
views
Can you try to help diagnose why my chain is falling off of the large chainring?
My bike is a trek 1000, 2005 model Im pretty sure, not sure what is original or replaced on it.
The chain is falling out onto the cranks when on the outer chainring, can work for a bit but eventually ...
- 305
5
votes
2
answers
942
views
Is this amount of chain slack normal?
We've been in the market for a mountain bike for my wife, and we've been looking at a BMC Twostroke AL 5 that's on clearance for a very good price at our LBS. We're almost ready to pull the trigger, ...
- 153
13
votes
7
answers
3k
views
Can you wear the chain/cassette by always riding in the same gear?
My mate bought an eBike 6 months ago. He's done 600 miles and the chain has started slipping. The bike shop says he's worn the chain and cassette by not using his gears 'properly" and sitting in ...
- 133
1
vote
1
answer
89
views
Identifying a KMC chain
I am replacing a chain on a bike with a 7 gears Nexus hub gear. In my ignorance, I thought I should have a single speed chain, i.e. 1/8" width. I bought a Shimano CN-NX10, which is marketed to ...
- 111
7
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Why does my shifter say the wrong gear?
I had a slow puncture in my rear tyre. I fixed it by flipping the bike upside down, removing the rear wheel, patching the inner tube and replacing the wheel. However, I seem to have caused a strange ...
- 233
5
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What is the salient compromise that waxing a chain offers compared to lubing a chain? (Was: what's the sales pitch for waxing chains?)
I'm almost sold on tubeless setups (even for road tires), but it took me a while until I heard the "sales pitch" (what someone committed to tubeless tires would say to convince a tube user ...
- 10.4k
4
votes
2
answers
672
views
What makes a new chain jump other than a worn cassette?
My bike recently passed 5,000 miles. A chain gauge says the original chain isn't worn out and when I measure 24 links I get exactly 12-1/16", so the gauge isn't wrong.
However, I used wax on that ...
- 1,297
0
votes
0
answers
20
views
Rear derailleur won't shift into easiest gears
I recently bought a used bike with a SRAM Force 1x drivetrain. The bike came with a medium-cage Force 11 speed rear derailleur and a fairly small cassette (SRAM PG-1130, 11-36t). I wanted easier gears ...
- 1
5
votes
1
answer
171
views
Excessive chain wear
Few months ago (March 2024) I bought a 1x10 Triban GRVL 120 from Decathlon. AFAIU, it's an entry-level gravel bicycle with matching components.
Few weeks ago (after riding ~900 km) I checked the chain ...
- 53
4
votes
4
answers
1k
views
What to do about chain rubbing on unusually placed chainstay?
On my Nishiki Colorado Comp MTB, the chainstay crosses above the chain instead of going directly to the center of the crank. I didn't think much about it until I recently put a larger chainring on, ...
- 149
6
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Is a stiff chain after hot wax application a sign of a correct wax application?
In many hot wax application tutorials, it is advised that, after removing the chain from the wax bath and having allowed it to cool, the chain should become stiff, requiring manual movement of the ...
- 24.7k
8
votes
3
answers
945
views
How artificial is the lack of 450%+/50t+ gearing on lesser 1x groups?
ESSA, CUES, Advent, Advent X, Acolyte, Sword, and other sub-12-speed low-end groups are all range-impaired compared to what you can get by spending more. Extend it out to 12-speed and there's Eagle SX,...
- 88.2k
1
vote
1
answer
92
views
clink-clink as I pedal
Only happens with any pressure on the pedals.
In normal use it clinks twice per pedaling cycle.
More specifically, it does it any time there is any pressure on the pedals and I suddenly release that ...
- 111
6
votes
5
answers
1k
views
Cleaning chain a few links at a time
Looking at videos of cleaning bicycle chains online, it seems like an inevitably tedious process. Getting the muck out of the links especially. For example, as described in this video. I'm thinking, ...
- 401
1
vote
0
answers
31
views
Grinding noise from freewheel after changing the chain
I have Elops 100 city bike:
I changed the chain on it because it had not been changed in years. I used 1/2 x 1/8 inch chain:
I can pedal, but when I pedal there is a terrible noise when I apply ...
4
votes
1
answer
696
views
Chain slipping when under pressure
My chain slips when under pressure especially when I try to stand up or suddenly speed up. New chain a rear cogs and new cycle derailleur.
Cheers.
- 41
7
votes
4
answers
973
views
Chain slipping in 8th gear only
I couldn't find a similar thread that had my issue. I've recently replaced the cassette and chain within a week of each other (chain then cassette) I have a 2x9 setup. The chain slips on the cassette ...
0
votes
1
answer
79
views
How to properly adjust rear derailleur for Wahoo Kickr?
I have a Merida Escultura 100 connected to a Wahoo Kickr (with the rear wheel removed, of course). I've ridden this combination for over a year and had the derailleur adjusted more or less so there ...
- 1,081
6
votes
3
answers
1k
views
New bike-vibration in pedals
I just bought brand new Scott Sub Cross 10 mens city/crossbike. It has 30 gears and the same day after I bought it I went driving on an asphalt road and started to feel grinding/vibration in pedals at ...
- 63
2
votes
1
answer
105
views
Is it economically advisable to replace cassette and chain to protect the crankset?
My chain and cassette are both pretty worn after 2000 and 5700km respectively. My drivetrain is all steel, and the relative price of my parts chain-cassette-crankset are about 0.7-1-7 and front ...
- 3,301
1
vote
1
answer
44
views
SRAM PC-1 quick link?
What quick link would work on this chain for my fixie? Are the SRAM 10 or 11 speed links compatible?
- 11
2
votes
1
answer
67
views
Chain rubbing the lowest point of the front deraillieur
Problem: when the smaller chain ring is selected, the chain is well centered in the front derailleur's bracket but is rubbing against its lowest part. See the shredded rubber remains there? It happens ...
- 327
3
votes
1
answer
213
views
What's wrong with my campy derailleur?
I'm trying to tune my campy chroma 10 speed but it wont shift to either the 2 highest gears or 2 lowest gears. Could it be that the drivetrain is bent? Is this due to a bad hanger?
- 31
1
vote
1
answer
90
views
chain is skipping on cog. What's wrong?
Here are two video which is shoot by my high speed camera.
Video 1
Video 2
My chain is brand new now.
What's wrong here? Is it rear derailleur or cog?
- 191
8
votes
3
answers
2k
views
When I am pedaling harder on a slope, the chain sometimes skips or get detached
When I am pedaling harder on a slope, the chain sometimes skips or gets detached from the front chainring.
I have several videos shot with high speed camera in order to record what was wrong here:
...
- 191
2
votes
1
answer
228
views
I think my MTB chain is modified ( shortened )
I have a 2x9 crank and cassette system. And I can't get it to go on the last cog because my rear derailer is maxed out. I bought a used and altered MTB and I can see the chain is short.
So typically ...
- 21
6
votes
2
answers
460
views
How do I attach this master link on the chain?
This is a master link with PYC brand. I couldn't figure out how to attach it on my chain as both pins are on the same side. Can you help me out? Also can you tell me for which speed this master link ...
- 2,168
4
votes
3
answers
421
views
Front derailleur at limit, but still heavy chain rub on cage
Back story: I bought a Giant Defy Advanced Pro 2 second-hand, with Shimano Ultegra components. The previous owner had used it with different components and had the original ones re-assembled before ...
1
vote
2
answers
83
views
My bicycle's front derailleur rubs with my bicycle chain
My bicycle's gears are 3x7 when i keep it on 2x1,2x2,2x3,2x4,3x1,3x2 or 3x3 my bicycle's chain rubs with my front derailleur on the left side. Is it normal ? if not then how can i fix that?
- 11
5
votes
1
answer
166
views
Strategy for waxing (reinstaling) 12 speed chains
I'm curious about chain waxing and prolonging my drivetrain life, plus efficiencies, but have recently installed a 12 speed road groupset (Shimano).
I assumed I would use reusable links to re-install ...
- 13k
0
votes
0
answers
45
views
Weird noise when pedalling
I noticed a weird noise when pedalling. I had my road bike with me when traveling (airplane), and I just came back from a trip. I only had to take the wheels off when packing it. Once I assembled the ...
- 121
4
votes
1
answer
376
views
Will a 10 speed chain perform adequately on a Shimano CUES 1x chairing?
Situation:
10 speed Shimano hybrid/mountain straight bar shifter, 10 speed Shimano mountain/hybrid derailleur and 10 speed Shimano chain.
The person is looking for a 1x crank.
Shimano CUES crank seem ...
- 509
3
votes
2
answers
261
views
Old chain and crankset, I can't replace the crankset yet, should I replace just the chain?
I have a racing bike that is riding very smoothly without problems. Recently I bought a few SRAM chains on sale with the idea of rotating them a few times under the same crankset before they get too ...
- 141
2
votes
1
answer
96
views
New chain periodically rides the gear teeth
I have a Dahon eezz D3 which I recently changed the chain. When I did the test riding, I felt that the pedal some how skipped or jump, more frequently on the lower gears (I believe that it happened ...
- 143
3
votes
0
answers
67
views
How to connect quick link for 6/7/8 gears Shimano chain?
I recently ordered a new chain and I am having trouble connecting the quick link, which I also ordered (first time doing it). It seems the pin of the quick link won't stick out far enough to be able ...
- 41
3
votes
2
answers
278
views
Chain lubes: Spray vs. Quick Applicators
Is a spray faster and easier to use than a felt roller (generic Lubri-disc) or a pad type applicator (No-Drip from Finish Line or No-Mess from White Lightning)?
Refillable multipurpose aerosol can ...
- 1,297
0
votes
2
answers
162
views
I took my back wheel off and chain will NOT go back on
I took my back wheel off of my back to change the tube, when I put it back on i realized the chain wasn’t going back on the pedal, it’s very hard to explain it but it looks like a part of the chain is ...
- 1
7
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Is there any reason why my 21-speed bike has 118 chain links?
I got a second-hand bike some time ago. It's a Zündapp Silver 2.0 with a 7-gear freewheel (Shimano MF-TZ21). Recently, the chain (probably KMC 1/2 x 3/32) has worn down enough to warrant changing. So ...
- 193
1
vote
1
answer
176
views
Chain / Chain wheel: D type vs sealed type
I have spent a good 30 minutes on this site but couldn't find anything pointing a clear idea.
I bought a 26 inch, Dual suspension bike. It has a chainwheel of "sealed type." I asked the ...
- 23
2
votes
1
answer
486
views
Will a Shimano Deore 11 speed chain work on a SRAM NX 11 speed drivetrain?
I went to a bike shop today and got a complete service and new chain. When I looked at the tax invoice, it said it was a Shimano Deore 11 speed chain, however I have SRAM NX 11 speed drive train. I ...
- 21
1
vote
3
answers
192
views
Chain type and chain alignment for a fixie single speed
I've got a 10-year old bike I'm trying to revive. It was a single speed that I converted to a fixie. I'm anticipating just casual riding on flat ground.
It has an old-school looking Shimano SGX 46t ...
- 147
5
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Chain drops when shifting up a gear at the front?
I've just gotten a new bike and run into a problem. When shifting from a smaller cog to a bigger one in the front gears, the chain consistently drops.
The problem happens regardless of whether I'm on ...
- 51
4
votes
2
answers
783
views
Does a magic link or Powerlink require removal a regular chain link first?
Pulled a Shimano Ultegra chain off my bike for cleaning and noticed the mechanic had installed it with a pin and not a magic link. Because I have a magic link handy (and, if I'm honest, because I ...
- 241
0
votes
1
answer
85
views
I put my bike on the bus and now the chain can't stay on
I've never had an issue with my chain falling off until today. I put my bike in the bike holder in front of the drivers window. Perhaps something got knocked or moved?
I could have a dirty cassette or ...
- 1
6
votes
3
answers
2k
views
SRAM quick link reuse
Sram says that their quick links should only be used once. I've installed new chains, had to shorten them and have broken the link more than once doing so. I've also continued to reuse them when ...
- 5,528
2
votes
1
answer
214
views
Chain rubs on a bigger cog on the cassette. Wrong spacing?
my kids mtb on the smallest cassette cog the chain rubs on the next bigger cog creating a harshness while using this smallest cog. I was looking at it and the spacing between the two smallest gears ...
- 21