Bicycle Mechanics - mystery tabs on trek 1420

Hi all,

I just picked up a mid-nineties trek 1420. It's got these little thumb-tack looking tabs stuck about midway up on the inside of the seat stays. What. Are. These? Fender mounts? why would this bike have fender mounts?

I'm losing sleep over this enigma. Please help.
- j

Pics? I suspect they are for a rack of sometype.

Sometimes you see one on the inside of the drive-side seat stay. It's there to hang the chain on when removing/installing the rear wheel.

Sometimes you see one on the inside of the drive-side seat stay. It's there to hang the chain on when removing/installing the rear wheel.
Yep, that's it.

Ah. Chain hanger, huh? How delightfully unneccesary!

Thanks!

Ah. Chain hanger, huh? How delightfully unneccesary!

Thanks!
I had a '92 1420 and it had a chain hanger just as you describe and, yes, it was never used. They were common in the past but none of my current bikes ('96, '05,'06 and '10 vintage) have one.

Ah. Chain hanger, huh? How delightfully unneccesary!


That's what everyone says but I put the chain on that little tab all the time when I remove the rear wheel. I must be the only one, as I don't see those tabs on newer bikes.

My elance has it as part of the lug/dropout

That's what everyone says but I put the chain on that little tab all the time when I remove the rear wheel. I must be the only one, as I don't see those tabs on newer bikes.

I have one on one of my bikes and use it when I remember it's there.

Normally a chain hanger is only one peg, and on the drive side. You mentioned "tabs" on "seatstays." One on each side? Both on same side? Pics would help.

If it is a chain hanger, I don't know why some here would not bother using them. It's the most hady way to manage a chain when the weel is off the frame, plus it keeps your chain from scratching up your drive side chainstay when the wheel is off. Putting the wheel back on is also a breeze as the chain just lines up and fall on the small FW cog sometimes even without looking. I have it on my 80's Peugeot and I love it. My other bike does not have it and it's much harder to get the wheel back on the bike, trying to hold both the chain in position to fall properly on to the rear cogs and the wheel QR/axle ends. Why manufacturers don't provide these chain hangers on their frames anymore does not make too much sense to me.

Chombi

sounds like a great idea but I never seen one. Pictures.

Ah. Chain hanger, huh? How delightfully unneccesary!
I find them quite handy on my bikes that have them.

I wonder if the OP is ever going to come back? I am kind of curious about the 'tabs'