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Questions and answers about sports

How to Sight a Chain Line

5 min read

Asked by: Allison Kelley

Using a straight ruler (a small flat metal one is easiest), measure from the centerline of the rear hub to the center of the chain around the cog. Then measure from the center of the seat tube to the center of the chain around the chainring. Voila, chainline measurements.

How do you check chain lines?


Quote from video: Here I measure from the outside face take the number I go from the outside face of the small ring I take that number add the two together divide. It in two that gives me the middle.

How do you improve chainline?

Chainline may be adjusted at the rear wheel by rearranging spacers on the rear axle, and with a steel frame, also by re-spacing the rear dropouts. Adjustable hubs use conventional threaded axles, so you can increase the OLD spacing by removing the locknuts and adding spacer washers, and replace the axle as needed.

How do you line up a single speed chain?

Quote from video: To my chainring to the center of my chain ring and we're at let's say 50 51. And 1/2 let's say 52 millimeters. So that is my other number 52 millimeter – let's say to chain.

How do you align a bicycle chain?

Quote from video: So you need to make sure that's in a straight line so it doesn't derail if it's not in a straight line it will try and pull that wheel into into alignment.

Are chain lines important?

The chainline is very important for several reasons: more efficient transmission; the less you bend the chain, the smaller the power loss; better function and less chance of the chain falling off the rings; less wear due to less friction; better function of the front derailleur; and quieter operation.

Do you need bottom bracket spacer?

Much like GXP, you don’t need to add any spacers to the bottom bracket if you have a 73mm shell, but you will need to add a 4.5mm spacer to the right-hand side of the crank axle, unless you’re using a chain guide, in which case a 2mm spacer is required instead, along with a 2.5mm spacer on the right-hand side of the

How slack 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. Chains often loosen when a bike does not have a derailleur. Derailleur is the gear changing mechanism towards the back of the bike.

How important is chainline on a single speed?

Chainline is important on all bicycle drivetrains but especially so on a one-speed. A perfect chainline is one in which the chainring and rear cog are in perfect alignment with each other and the chain takes a perfectly straight path from the chainring to the cog.

How much slack is in a fixie chain?

It should be tight as it can be without binding. If the chain is too loose, it can fall off, which is quite dangerous on a fixed gear. Set the rear axle so that the chain pulls taut at the tightest part of the cranks’ rotation. One at a time, loosen up each of the stack bolts, and tighten it back just finger tight.

What is perfect chainline?

A bicycle is said to have perfect chainline if the chain is parallel to the centerline of the frame, which means that the rear sprocket is directly behind the front chainring. Chainline also refers to the distance between a sprocket and the centerline of the frame.

What is the chainline dimension?

Chainline is the distance between the centerline of your frame and the average centerline of your chainring(s). For 1X this is easy – If the center of your chainring teeth is 49mm from the centerline of your frame then your chainline is 49mm.

What are chain lines?

Definition of chain line



: one of the wider-spaced parallel watermark lines in a laid paper made by the chain wires and running with the grain — compare laid line.

What chainline is super boost?

Super Boost Plus 157 uses the exis ng chain-line developed for DH bikes but uses standard trailbike BB widths and crank combinaYons to take 29” and Plus bike performance to the next level.

What is the difference between boost and non boost crankset?

The only different between boost and non boost drivetrain kits is the crankset. The only different between a boost and non boost crankset is the chainring. You can swap a crankset from boost to non boost or vice versa just by installing a different chainring. Hope this is helpful!

What is offset on a chainring?

The offset of a ring is how much it is dished over from a standard flat chainring, it is used to achieve correct tyre/frame clearance and also to set the correct chainline.

What are chain lines?

Definition of chain line



: one of the wider-spaced parallel watermark lines in a laid paper made by the chain wires and running with the grain — compare laid line.

What is the use of chain line?

THE USERS OF LINE

Line description Name by use
Thin Chain doubledashed line Imaginary line
Thin wave line Break line
Thin chain line with the part which changes of direction Cutting line
Thin solid line with Draw regularly Hatching

What are the 7 types of lines?

The different types of lines are as mentioned below:

  • Straight line.
  • Curved line.
  • Horizontal line.
  • Vertical line.
  • Parallel lines.
  • Intersecting lines.
  • Perpendicular lines.
  • Transversal line.