Discrepancy between old chain length and largest chainring largest cog method - Project Sports
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Discrepancy between old chain length and largest chainring largest cog method

6 min read

Asked by: Yazid Mulrooney

What happens if bicycle chain too long?

A chain that’s too long (loose) may cause dropped chains and/or inconsistent shifting — front and back shifting. A chain that’s too short (tight) can cause even bigger problems.

Does chain length affect shifting?

In short, the wrong length derailleur cage will make determining proper chain length nearly impossible. Too much chain length and you’ll have shifting issues and suffer from dropped chains, but too little could rip your bike’s derailleur right off.

How do you work out the length of a chain?


Quote from video: It can be on and the same. Goes for the front chain ring. Then. Pull it tight. And find the closest matching link so for us that is just here.

How do you size a 1x chain?

Quote from video: The first thing to do is to carefully wrap the chain around the largest rear sprocket in this case it's the 40.

How do I know if the chain is too long?

Quote from video: And determine whether your rear derailleur overlaps. Itself if it overlaps itself it will not be able to maintain proper chain tension. So that means that your chain is still too long and you will

How do I know if my chain is too short?

You should also see two slight bends at each jockey wheel of the rear derailleur. If the chain is too short, this shift is difficult to make and the derailleur cage is stretched out and almost parallel to the chainstay. If the chain is really short, then you might not even be able to shift into the largest cog.

Does the length of a chain matter?

Quote from video: And if your chain is shorter than it needs to be you do run the risk of not only damaging the rear derailleur. But also potentially breaking it free from the bike snapping a chain and causing.

How do I know if my bike chain is too loose?

If it is too loose, the chain could skip or drop, and you can see it sag.



  1. while holding one end against the teeth of the chainring, pull the other end of the chain and wrap it around the cog;
  2. line up the end of the chain against an opposite link (inner and outer links), and then.
  3. add two rivets of chain length.

How tight should a chain be on a bike?

It should be tight enough that it only allows you to move it up and down about one inch. If it is sagging or much looser than that, you need to tighten that chain up.

Do I need a longer chain for a bigger cassette?

You need a bit longer chain for a larger cassette. All things remaining the same, if your chain was the correct length before, adding the 34t gear increases the diameter of the low gear. That increases the total gear length, so you would have to have more chain to keep the adjustment correct.

How do you find the center distance between sprockets?

Two or more stages of reduction can be used to achieve higher ratios. 3. The center distance between the sprocket axes should be approximately 30 to 50 pitches (30 to 50 times the pitch of the chain).

How do I know what size chain I need for my bike?

Add the multiplied chainstay length, the divided number of teeth for the chainring and rear sprocket, and add 1 (or 2.5 cm). The result is the ideal chain length for your bike. For example, you’d add 32.5, 13, 7 and 1 to get 53.5. The length of the chain should be 53.5 inches or 135.89 cm.

What is a good chain length for a man?

around 20 inches

The Right Fit For Him



Most chain lengths chosen for men typically fall at the collar bone, which is usually around 20 inches in length. If the necklace includes a medallion, cross, or dog tag, a slightly longer length is suggested. Multiple chains of varying lengths may be worn for a layered look.

Why does my chain slip under pressure?

These include worn out or misaligned derailleur pulleys, old or malfunctioning shifters throwing off the indexing in some gears, or broken/bent teeth on one or more cassette cogs. Build up of dirt and grime on drivetrain components will also cause shifting issues, including skipping chains.

Why does my chain keep skipping?

Most of the time, a skipping chain is caused by cable stretch. In the first half dozen rides on a new bike, your shift cables stretch the most. They can also stretch over time as you ride. Hippley explains, “It takes cable tension to open a derailleur, which shifts your chain between gears.

How long should a bike chain be?

Using a ruler, a new chain should measure exactly 12 inches across 12 links, from middle of pin to middle of pin. The number most commonly agreed on for a worn chain is one percent elongation between links. In reality though, you want to replace the chain before this point.

How do I know if my bike chain is too loose?

If it is too loose, the chain could skip or drop, and you can see it sag.



  1. while holding one end against the teeth of the chainring, pull the other end of the chain and wrap it around the cog;
  2. line up the end of the chain against an opposite link (inner and outer links), and then.
  3. add two rivets of chain length.

How do you shorten a bicycle chain?

Quote from video: And drive those pins out allowing us to break our chain or reduce it by a number of set links now the reason you might want to do that is if you're fitting a new chain to your bike for example.

Why does my chain keep skipping?

Gear indexing issues



One of the most common reasons for a skipping chain is simply a drivetrain that needs a simple indexing adjustment. This is so common that even many brand new bikes can exhibit these symptoms. The good news is that this is probably the simplest to diagnose and fix of all potential issues.

How do I stop my chain from jumping?

Quote from video: Now one of the most common causes is simple derailleur adjustment on modern derailers with index shifting. The pulleys in the cage. Here should line up with the cog that the chain is on.

Why does my chain slip when I change gear?

Most of the time, the slipping of a new bike chain is caused by loose cables. The new shifting cables stretch a lot during the first few rides. The cables stretch way too far with time, and that’s when the problem arises, and your chain starts to slip between gears.