What happened?
03-31-10, 02:12 PM
#1
Degenerate Grouch
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Lawrence
Posts: 212
Bikes: Kona Hahanna, Schwinn Speedster
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
What happened?
Today I rode my bike into work just like any other day I got pretty close to work going up a hill and bam, my bike quit pedaling. Luckily I was going slow up the hill and didn't fall down or anything. So I inspect my bike and notice the chain came off the rear sprocket wedging itself between the frame and the freewheel. Now, I am NOT mechanically inclined so what happened? The bike is a single speed road bike with horizontal dropouts. I checked the chaintension this morning it seemed ok, I think my chain line is ok because the bike shop I bought it from assembled it and they have have pretty good mechanics as best I can tell. I just don't know what happened. Is there anything I should be worried about that could have gotten damaged? The frame has some paint missing where the chain came off but other than that I don't think anything is damaged. The bike is a 09 Torker U-District if it matters.
03-31-10, 02:17 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 8,101
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 52 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 17 Times
in
13 Posts
Is the chainring (sprocket on the front) bent a little ? When you pedal does it seem to move in and out at all? That's the only thing I can think of assuming the chainline is fine and the tension was good.
If you don't get a good answer here I'd try the mechanics forum or the fixed/SS forum. The last one I think would be especially helpful.
If you don't get a good answer here I'd try the mechanics forum or the fixed/SS forum. The last one I think would be especially helpful.
03-31-10, 02:21 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: England
Posts: 12,948
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 19 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
7 Posts
On a steel frame, de-chaining usually damages the chain not the bike. The tubes of your hi-ten steel frame has plenty of thickness and are quuite tough.
Check that you chainrings are circular, some have tight spots and loose spots.
The chainrings for singlespeeds can have taller teeth than for double or triple chainsets. Longer teeth make it harder to de-chain.
Check that you chainrings are circular, some have tight spots and loose spots.
The chainrings for singlespeeds can have taller teeth than for double or triple chainsets. Longer teeth make it harder to de-chain.
03-31-10, 02:28 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 11,375
Bikes: '08 Surly Cross-Check, 2011 Redline Conquest Pro, 2012 Spesh FSR Comp EVO, 2015 Trek Domane 6.2 disc
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
6 Posts
If your chainline was OK, and the chainring looks OK, and your chain tension wasn't all slackity, then I'm going to guess you slipped your wheel in the fork end.
When you looked everything over, was the wheel alligned straight in the fork end or was the tire rubbing one of the stays? Especially on a singlespeed where you have no choice but to power it up the hills, you can put some hefty torque on the drivetrain. If the nuts aren't tightened down, you can yank the driveside of the wheel forward in the fork end.
Heck, on my geared bike this past weekend I needed to readjust my rear wheel because it was slipping forward in the front-facing semi-horizontal dropout after hammering a few too many hills.
When you looked everything over, was the wheel alligned straight in the fork end or was the tire rubbing one of the stays? Especially on a singlespeed where you have no choice but to power it up the hills, you can put some hefty torque on the drivetrain. If the nuts aren't tightened down, you can yank the driveside of the wheel forward in the fork end.
Heck, on my geared bike this past weekend I needed to readjust my rear wheel because it was slipping forward in the front-facing semi-horizontal dropout after hammering a few too many hills.
__________________
"I feel like my world was classier before I found cyclocross."
- Mandi M.
"I feel like my world was classier before I found cyclocross."
- Mandi M.
03-31-10, 02:48 PM
#5
One Man Fast Brick
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 1,121
Bikes: Specialized Langster, Bianchi San Jose, early 90s GT Karakoram, Yuba Mundo, Mercier Nano (mini velo), Nashbar Steel Commuter, KHS Tandemania Sport
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
then I'm going to guess you slipped your wheel in the fork end.
this was my first guess - ya gotta crank down on those badboys
this was my first guess - ya gotta crank down on those badboys
03-31-10, 02:48 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,454
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
Could have been that the chain was slack, something wasn't straight, you hit a big bump, etc...
I would check the chain if it got lodged in the frame/freewheel. I've had this happen on my mountain bike and didn't check the chain. I was biking around on it and the chain broke... It happened when I was taking this really steep hill on campus. My knee hit the handle bar pretty hard.
I would check the chain if it got lodged in the frame/freewheel. I've had this happen on my mountain bike and didn't check the chain. I was biking around on it and the chain broke... It happened when I was taking this really steep hill on campus. My knee hit the handle bar pretty hard.
03-31-10, 08:34 PM
#7
Degenerate Grouch
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Lawrence
Posts: 212
Bikes: Kona Hahanna, Schwinn Speedster
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
If your chainline was OK, and the chainring looks OK, and your chain tension wasn't all slackity, then I'm going to guess you slipped your wheel in the fork end.
When you looked everything over, was the wheel alligned straight in the fork end or was the tire rubbing one of the stays? Especially on a singlespeed where you have no choice but to power it up the hills, you can put some hefty torque on the drivetrain. If the nuts aren't tightened down, you can yank the driveside of the wheel forward in the fork end.
Heck, on my geared bike this past weekend I needed to readjust my rear wheel because it was slipping forward in the front-facing semi-horizontal dropout after hammering a few too many hills.
When you looked everything over, was the wheel alligned straight in the fork end or was the tire rubbing one of the stays? Especially on a singlespeed where you have no choice but to power it up the hills, you can put some hefty torque on the drivetrain. If the nuts aren't tightened down, you can yank the driveside of the wheel forward in the fork end.
Heck, on my geared bike this past weekend I needed to readjust my rear wheel because it was slipping forward in the front-facing semi-horizontal dropout after hammering a few too many hills.
I didn't think about it but it makes sense since I rode 3 hours the day before over some really hilly ground.
Last edited by xray1978; 03-31-10 at 08:36 PM. Reason: Because I am an idiot
03-31-10, 08:52 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Montreal
Posts: 6,521
Bikes: Peugeot Hybrid, Minelli Hybrid
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
This happened when the OP was going up a hill. I bet he was pushing harder on the pedals than any other time in the ride and the wheel slipped forward in the frame.
