Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Ugh, gotta buy some new stuff..

A few days ago, a problem started to occur where my chain kept coming loose.
I would tighten it up, ride for about a mile, then just like that, the chain is loose as hell.

It appears that my chain ring is slightly bent, which leads me to believe that someone kicked my bike while it was locked up outside of the bar.

Also, when I ride, my rear wheel feels kind of "bumpy" if that makes any sense. I am wondering if maybe it just needs to be trued, or maybe whoever kicked my chain ring didn't like my wheel either.

Just asking here before I go to an LBS for any recommendations on a new chain ring and rear wheel. I'm balling on a budget also.

Thanks

Rear wheel: check the see if the bead of the tire is seated all the way around. If the tire is even distance from the rim all the way around, check the rim for just maybe being out of round. You can usually reround a wheel but you can not get rid of a flat spot cheaply and no guarantee it will stay round after words.

Chain ring: I would just take it off, lay it on a flat hard surface, and slap it a few times with a hammer. Touch up any scratches you may have put on it in the process, paint it possibly. Stickers. there are a few options.

As far as options for new stuff, what BCD is your crank set? Also, what would you like in a wheel? What do you have now? You can usually buy factory Bianchi Pista wheelsets for pretty cheap. Search around in the trade thread here. Might be able to trade something for one.

Good luck.

Spin your rear wheel and watch it. You'll know if it is out of true.

Why would someone kick your bike? That's evil.

The same reason my uni friends would walk along the street kicking all the door mirrors off all the parked cars and running on top of them jumping between the gaps to the next car.

Because they are Northern Monkeys

Ah, yes. The same kind of ******* who randomly keyed my wife's WRX while walking home drunk from downtown late Saturday night. Funny part is, my neighbor saw him and knows where he lives.

never underestimate how little alcohol it takes to turn someone into a total jackass.

Why would someone kick your bike? That's evil.
Because people suck.

The same reason my uni friends would walk along the street kicking all the door mirrors off all the parked cars and running on top of them jumping between the gaps to the next car.

Because they are Northern Monkeys

Oh, like they're any better than the Southern Wankers.

Alright, so I went into my LBS and they were very helpful.

According to the mechanic, the problems probably didn't have to do anything with a bike-hater. I had been riding with my chain too tight for the past couple years, causing the chain ring to bend. And the rear wheel has one bent spoke (which he said won't kill me now, but will need to be replaced eventually) and was way out of true.

He said he could bend the ring back into place but since I wanted to up my gear ratio anyway (now riding 44-15), I got a new chain ring.

I rode home last night from the shop and it felt great. However, my chain ring just looks so loose to me! He said there should be about a half inch of slack.. When i lift my back wheel and rotate the crank, I notice the chain goes from tight to looser, tight to looser, as the wheel rotates. Guess it aint the end of the world but I have no money left for anything.

By this time next month I wanna get a new rear wheel, but not really sure what to go with.

I am riding Vuelta XRP's currently and I dig em'. Another factor that could be causing this is that I had this same wheelset on my old conversion with vertical dropouts. Since it was bought as a complete I believe the builder may have sanded down the axel a bit to make it work. I don't know. Bahhhhh

Alright, so I went into my LBS and they were very helpful.

According to the mechanic, the problems probably didn't have to do anything with a bike-hater. I had been riding with my chain too tight for the past couple years, causing the chain ring to bend. And the rear wheel has one bent spoke (which he said won't kill me now, but will need to be replaced eventually) and was way out of true.

He said he could bend the ring back into place but since I wanted to up my gear ratio anyway (now riding 44-15), I got a new chain ring.

I rode home last night from the shop and it felt great. However, my chain ring just looks so loose to me! He said there should be about a half inch of slack.. When i lift my back wheel and rotate the crank, I notice the chain goes from tight to looser, tight to looser, as the wheel rotates. Guess it aint the end of the world but I have no money left for anything.

By this time next month I wanna get a new rear wheel, but not really sure what to go with.

I am riding Vuelta XRP's currently and I dig em'. Another factor that could be causing this is that I had this same wheelset on my old conversion with vertical dropouts. Since it was bought as a complete I believe the builder may have sanded down the axel a bit to make it work. I don't know. Bahhhhh

You are supposed to have slack in your chain. An overly tight chain will reduce the life of your drivetrain substantially.

If you wheel isn't broke, why replace it?

You are supposed to have slack in your chain. An overly tight chain will reduce the life of your drivetrain substantially.

If you wheel isn't broke, why replace it?

Understood, but its odd that the chain goes from half an inch of slack to nearly an inch of slack in half a pedal rotation.. Is that normal?
I'll wait on the wheel though.. You're right

Also, does 44-15 seem like a decent ratio for Portland riding? I was riding 42-15 and now I feel like I should have tried out 48-15. Rghhh