Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - X-Mart chains- any experience (I'm gonna get flamed for this....)

Yeah, I'm a bottom feeder, and on a budget. All the LBS's want $12 at least for a chain. Its just a simple fixed gear commuter. Anything wrong with X-mart chains? $6 is hard to beat....

X-mart chain on a SS, 800 miles since March. I'm not sure about fixed riding, though. Definitely keep it lubed or it'll rust in about 30 to 45 seconds.

thanks for the heads up! For $6 I'll give it a shot. I have a feeling my current chain is quite stretched ;)

Ha, I just checked. My current chain, at 12 inches, is half a link longer than it should be. Yep, time for a new one....

Yeah, you're due!!

I'll be doing the same to a conversion I'm working on right now.

PS, we don't flame people here.

Really? Have you met "I-like-to-bike"? ;) I was just bracing for impact. No impact is good :)

Ha, I just checked. My current chain, at 12 inches, is half a link longer than it should be. Yep, time for a new one....

probably time for a new cog and chainring too.

Really? Ouch. Don't have the dough for that right now. Maybe soon. I'll inspect them...

Why not spend the extra 4 dollars and get a sram 1/8" ss chain. It's not going to rust in 30-45 seconds and you don't have to buy it from the devil.

Yeah, people like to replace the chainring, chain, and cog all at once if they're really old because components wear together. Also, for cheap chains you can't beat KMC (could even be what your X-Mart carries).. and if you're willing to wait, order them from danscomp.com $7 for a nice treated chain. But really, $12 isn't bad..

$12 to support a sport you might actually stick with for more than a nanosecond. Oh wait, who's going to install it? Surely the mechanics at Wal-Mart will assist you...

$12 to support a sport you might actually stick with for more than a nanosecond. Oh wait, who's going to install it? Surely the mechanics at Wal-Mart will assist you...

If you cant install a chain you should be taken out the back and shot.

If you cant install a chain you should be taken out the back and shot.

So wait, you've managed to SAFELY install a chain without a chain tool? Do tell..

I highly doubt the guy has a chain tool if he's quibbling over four bucks at a LBS.

So wait, you've managed to SAFELY install a chain without a chain tool? Do tell..

I highly doubt the guy has a chain tool if he's quibbling over four bucks at a LBS.
If he managed to shorten the chain on his conversion, he must have one. A chain tool is a much needed tool!

All my friend runs is Xmart chains, they work fine.

If you cant install a chain you should be taken out the back and shot.

I thought we didn't flame here. :D

you can get a z-chain for like $7. ask for a bmx chain at your lbs. i don't know if there is a 3/32 option, but you probably have 1/8 anyway.

The shop I work at has the z chain in both sizes for $6.

The shop I work at has the z chain in both sizes for $6.
the best price i've found in all of boston is $10 for the 1/8" and $12 for the 3/32"!

that's it - i'm movin' to georgia!

the 1/8 xmart chain is the KMC chain.
They also have chain tools for $3 that are identical to the ones sold at the LBS for $10+

Not to hijak but which of these chain tools is best:
http://www.nashbar.com/results.cfm
I was thinking about getting the topeak droid and this thread inspired me (I have never changed a chain).

and you don't have to buy it from the devil.

Oh PLEASE.

Yeah, people like to replace the chainring, chain, and cog all at once if they're really old because components wear together. Also, for cheap chains you can't beat KMC (could even be what your X-Mart carries).. and if you're willing to wait, order them from danscomp.com $7 for a nice treated chain. But really, $12 isn't bad..

I don't disagree with you. I'm just a bona-fide bottom feeder. I'm going to buy a chain at the LBS tomorrow.

So wait, you've managed to SAFELY install a chain without a chain tool? Do tell..

I highly doubt the guy has a chain tool if he's quibbling over four bucks at a LBS.

I love stereotypes. For the record, I've done every mechanical thing that can be done on my bike except build the wheels. I've rebuilt front and rear hubs, installed/removed my own cogs, rebuilt bottom brackets, did the whole conversion, headsets... the whole bit. I own plenty of tools. Chain tools, spoke wrenches, cone wrenches, all the allen wrenches, etc. I do all my own work except for wheel building. And I plan on taking that up too.

Like I've said, I'm just a cheapskate.

Back to your regular programming!

Dude, just STEAL it from X-mart. That way you are fighting the man, and saving money. Plus, they don't give a crap about petty theft. If you get caught, just drop it and leave. You don't even need to run.

Dude, just STEAL it from X-mart. That way you are fighting the man, and saving money. Plus, they don't give a crap about petty theft. If you get caught, just drop it and leave. You don't even need to run.
Weak. If they say something to you chain-whip them and strut out like you own the house.

kmc z chain 7 bucks just about any where x-mart chains have weird pins that are more like rivets the suck when it comes to adding and removing links

MY experience with bottom-end chains is that they stretch real fast and cost more in the long run. Earlier this year, I went through 3 cheapo chains in about 1200 miles...every 50 miles or so I had to keep adjusting chain tension due to the "stretch". My new chain is a better one (a KMC something or other that cost about $25). I haven't noted any significant stretch with it for more than 1000 miles. In the end, a pricier chain will get you more miles for the money and cause less wear on your drive chain.

Thanks for the tips folks. Sounds like false economy as usual. I bought a KMC Z-chain today. $13, nobody had it cheaper.

Yeah, I'm a bottom feeder, and on a budget. All the LBS's want $12 at least for a chain. Its just a simple fixed gear commuter. Anything wrong with X-mart chains? $6 is hard to beat....
A Sram PC-1, which is good enough for anyone who doesn't race Keirin costs $4 here, $5.50 for the nickel plated version. How much is it over there?

every 50 miles or so I had to keep adjusting chain tension due to the "stretch".

I find this very hard to believe.

The cheapest chain I could find was $10. Now, last time I bought a PC1 chain it was $6. Ugh.

Instead of spending time on your computer, and shopping chain prices all over town, you could have gone out, recycled some cans and bottles, helped the environment, and earned the 6 extra bucks to buy the chain from your LBS instead of the man.