Bicycle Mechanics - How the heck did I double loop my chain?

The weirdest thing happened today. I was shifting the front derailleur from the middle to the large wheel and the chain slipped off onto the crank. When I got off the bike and looked at the chain, it had two small loops in it (opposing directions). I spent an hour trying to get the damn things out to no avail. Unfortunately my attempts broke the chain. If I ever get the double loops again, what's the best way to get them out? How did I get the chain in this predicament?

Chains are overrated.

second question: Roll one of the loops toward the other along the chain till they meet and roll onto each other(1 small loop minus 1 small loop = zero small loops).

Regarding the first question: This is a geometric topology problem! I don't know specifically how you got it there. I often see it when I put the rear wheel back on. The chain probably looped on itself while slack. The opposite directions are there because chain links primarily have 1 degree of freedom-pitch-relative their leading/trailing sister links, minimal yaw or roll. So you need offsetting loops in opposite directions to balance the 1 net loop you started with (your normal big chain loop). The opposing loops were likley together at formation and slipped apart as they came to rest, though two opposite direction loops occurring simultaneously could occur from separate pitch forces acting on the chain at differing places.

I tried that but they would just hit and form half of a cloverleaf. I spent one hour trying to figure out how to get rid of the two small loops.

Originally posted by meb
second question: Roll one of the loops toward the other along the chain till they meet and roll onto each other(1 small loop minus 1 small loop = zero small loops).

Regarding the first question: This is a geometric topology problem! I don't know specifically how you got it there. I often see it when I put the rear wheel back on. The chain probably looped on itself while slack. The opposite directions are there because chain links primarily have 1 degree of freedom-pitch-relative their leading/trailing sister links, minimal yaw or roll. So you need offsetting loops in opposite directions to balance the 1 net loop you started with (your normal big chain loop). The opposing loops were likley together at formation and slipped apart as they came to rest, though two opposite direction loops occurring simultaneously could occur from separate pitch forces acting on the chain at differing places.

WHOA... that description blew my mind...... are you like a nuclear physicist or something? ;)

Chains are like that you know. A flexible structure build out of inflexible segments.

Is it a Zen thing?