Chains
Showing all 29 results
Showing all 29 results
Chains
Just like Tina Arena, we’re in(to) chains. Chains come in a few different sizes which you’ll need to know before you order. A common format you’ll see describing a chain might be 1/2″ x 3/32″ x 116L 9spd. These numbers represent the pitch, the internal width and the number of links in the chain and finally the cassette compatibility. Let’s look into each of those values:
Pitch. Every bike chain has a 1/2″ pitch, which is the common distance between the pins in a chain link. Chain wear checkers check this measurement. How worn your chain is depends on how much this value has changed.
Internal Width. The internal width is the internal distance between the two inner plates of the chain and only really matters in choosing a single speed (1/8″ or 3/32″) or multi-speed (3/32″ or 11/128″) chain. 1/8″ chains are only really used on single speed track bikes these days, so unless you know that’s what you’ve got you’re probably after a 3/32″ chain for a single speed bike. For multi-speed chains it’s dependant on how many speeds your cassette has, with 3/32″ working for 6-10 spd and 11/128″ for 11 & 12 spd.
Length. The length is the number of links this chain has. 116L is the most common, but longer chains are needed if you’re using large chainrings and wide range cassettes. Tandems might need 2 chains joined together.
Cassette compatibility. The cassette compatibility might be listed with a range of speeds (i.e 6/7/8 speed) or specifically for 9, 10, 11, 12spd compatibility. This value essentially represents the external width of the outer plates of the chain, which directly relates to the width of the spacing of the sprockets on a cassette. Cassettes with more speeds have sprockets that are spaced closer together and thus need narrower chains to stop them hitting adjacent sprockets.
Quick Links / Master Links / Connecting Links. These are often listed with just the speeds they’ll work on, or a mm measurement, just to make life spicy. That measurement is the external width of the outer plates which is the same as the cassette compatibility. Note that some quick links will state that they’re reusable and others won’t. We believe that all modern quick links can be reused with the same chain. You can disconnect and reconnect them as needed. However, when installing a new chain we recommend using a new quick link so they will wear out at the same rate.