Bicycle Mechanics - what is a good mid-range replacement chain for Cannondale F9?

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Flying Wasp
09-16-12, 05:06 AM
My chain fell off and got stuck between my pedal and the cassette and it twisted a little coming out and now it skips. Can I get away with buying a $20 replacement chain on Amazon or will I see a dip in performance? Also how do I know what size I should get? I believe the bike is 24 speed mountain bike

ARider2
09-16-12, 05:18 AM
You can get a decent KMC chain for $15 from you local bike shop and it will be fine. Or you can spend $30 for a Shimano chain at your LBS. But keep in mind that you might also need to replace your cassette when you change your chain. If the new chain does not mesh with your old cassette the chain will skip and you will need a new cassette to fix this problem.
wrk101
09-16-12, 06:18 AM
My chain fell off and got stuck between my pedal and the cassette and it twisted a little coming out and now it skips. Can I get away with buying a $20 replacement chain on Amazon or will I see a dip in performance? Also how do I know what size I should get? I believe the bike is 24 speed mountain bike

Count the rear cogs, the chain does not care about how many chain rings you have. So if you have 24 speeds total, you have an "8 speed" bike. Get any decent 8 speed chain. I use KMC chain, its affordable, and good.

jimc101
09-16-12, 06:34 AM
Another one for KMC here; for what to get, as wrk101 for t count, then how bling do you want it. KMC range is normally gray, silver/gray, silver then gold, with the nicer loking finish = more expensive. KMC have a chain chooses here http://www.kmcchain.eu/?en/the_right_chain_for_your_bike/
dsbrantjr
09-16-12, 07:09 AM
+1 for KMC or other brand which closes the chain with a master link as opposed to Shimano's "special joining pin" sytem which requires you to install a new pin with a chain tool each time you open and re-close the chain.
Burton
10-07-12, 12:04 PM
+1 for KMC or other brand which closes the chain with a master link as opposed to Shimano's "special joining pin" sytem which requires you to install a new pin with a chain tool each time you open and re-close the chain.

I think you're kidding yourself. Almost all 'master links' from KMC and SRAM specify that this is a "Single-use connecting link". A one-time-use item. The only execption I'm aware of are the master links for single speeds which have a retaining clip outside the outer plate.

So you can use 'quick links', which need no tools to install and master link pliers to remove, or oversize pins, which can be installed or removed with a chain tool - its all supposed to be one-time-use. Oh yeah - you can ignore that and reuse the links if you want to. Some people skip the oversize pins and reinstall the original rivets on chains too. Neither one is better than the other.