Nederlands | English | Deutsch | Türkçe

Project Sports

Questions and answers about sports

Finding the right length of chain lock for my road bike

5 min read

Asked by: Shawna King

Get a soft tape measure or a long piece of string, thread, or yarn; anything you can use to measure the length with. Then get on your bike and go to the rack where you will lock it the most. Set up your bike and measure how long the lock needs to be to fit around a wheel, the frame, and the rack.

How do I know what length bike chain I need?

Quote from video: The front chain ring. Thread it all the way around tendency will be for it to drop off the big sprocket at the back we need to make sure this on every single tooth.

What length chain do I need road bike?

The easiest way to determine bike chain length is the largest cog to largest chainring method. Once the old chain has been removed, shift the front derailleur to the largest chainring, and the rear to the smallest.

How do you find the correct chain length?

Quote from video: The first method we're going to use is where you fit the chain over the large chain at the front and the largest sprocket at the back. And don't feed it through the rear derailleur. This is one of the

How do I know if my chain is too short?

Quote from video: And you want to observe. The angle of the derailleur. Right here we want to we want to make sure that derailleur is not in this extreme angle like really straining out here we want to make sure it's

How do I fit a new bike chain?

Quote from video: Install the chain tool drive the connecting rivet into the chain. There will be two points of resistance the first as the pin begins to go into the first cage plate.

How do you size a Shimano chain?

Quote from video: Make sure the chain is fully on the largest. Cog. Notice that we bypass the rear derailleur altogether. And extra length will be added to account for this later.

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.

Are 6 7 8 speed chains the same?

Chains for 6-, 7-, or 8-speed cassettes are generally universally compatible across brands and speeds. That means if a chain says “8-speed Shimano” you can use it in your old 6-speed, too.

How do you use a chain checker?

Quote from video: The rear stud between two outer plates. And the front stud between two inner plates push lightly on the levered take slack out of the chain.

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 many links does my bike chain have?

116 links

Bicycle drive chain length



A new bicycle chain usually comes with 116 links. This is long enough for the biggest chainrings and for most distances of rear wheel from front chainrings. So for optimal length a new chain is usually shortened from the 116 links that come in the box.

How often should a bike chain be replaced?

about every 2,000 to 3,000 miles

Most mechanics agree that you should replace your chain about every 2,000 to 3,000 miles, depending on your riding style. Many Tour De France riders wear out two or even three chains on their primary bike over the course of the three-week race.

Do all chains have a master link?

Do all bike chains have a master link? Nowadays, bicycle chains usually have a master link or quick-release link. It allows you to easily connect and disconnect your bike chain.

How do I keep my bike chain from falling off?

Quote from video: You just have to loosen them up you don't have to take them all the way off at first however if you feel like doing that go ahead. And the same thing on the other side you just loosen up lefty loosey.

Do I have a 1/8 or a 3 32 chain?

Quote from video: And it goes without saying that a 1/8 inch chain. Can be used with 1/8 inch chain rings and cogs. And yes you can safely use a 1/8 inch chain. With 3 over 32 components.

How long is a 116 link bike chain?

Size: The size of the chain is 1/2*1/8″, which is only suitable for single-speed bicycles. Length: The chain has 116 links, and the total length is about 147.32cm, which can meet the length required by most single-speed bicycles.

What happens if my bike chain is 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.

How many links does my bike chain need?

Bicycle drive chain length



A new bicycle chain usually comes with 116 links. This is long enough for the biggest chainrings and for most distances of rear wheel from front chainrings. So for optimal length a new chain is usually shortened from the 116 links that come in the box.

Are all road bike chains the same?

Chains have become narrower to match, which limits their compatibility between drivetrains with different numbers of gears. Therefore, you can’t run a 12-speed chain with an 11-speed sprocket set, for example, and it means that if you’ve got an 11-speed drivetrain you’ll need an 11-speed chain.

How tight should a bike chain be?

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.