lala

Anybody use one? How does it work? Where does one adjust it?

EnLaCalle

There's two screws that come out the back (where the fins of the ship are). I managed to break mine within a week (the screws), but I don't think that speaks to the craftsmanship of the product -- only my own jackassery. I think they're cute. With a name like Lala AND a Spot Rocket Chain tensioner, you're going to be too cute to handle.

*edit* - to explain it better, the screw-ends push against the ends of the drop-outs. This is how it works.

ImOnCrank

Screw it. I had one and it tore the hell out of my dropouts. They're more meant for mtn bikes with big burly ends, not so much trackends. And they're kind of a pain to adjust. I liked my mks ones better before I broke one...

the pope

These DO NOT fit Bianchi Pistas. No fit mine, anyway. The difference between the thickness of the drop-out and the rocket meant the screws would not line up correctly. It is a cool looking little doohickey though.

Would like to hear from someone who got these to work on an 05 Pista if they're out there.

EnLaCalle

It's like ImOnCrank and the pope, said. They don't fit on trackends well. You need to use a spacer (washer), and even then, it's kind of wonky. That's kind of why my screws broke. I was trying to force it to work.

But I was kind of under the impression that Lala rides a mtb, no? But like the others said, if it's a track bike, go with another brand.

lala

Thanks, folks. It is a mtb, but it has track ends on it. I guess I'll go with another brand. Any suggestions for non BMX tensioners that use allen keys?

Maybe I should go for the MKS.

zip22

https://www.danscomp.com/

has a few. not sure what they're like, but i'm in the market as well. a handful of them seem to be allen bolt.

hyperRevue

I love my MKS.
Best $30 I've spent.

skanking biker

sorry if this is an absurd question, but why do you need a tensioner on a track bike?

zip22

its a hassle to get the chain tensioned, this makes it trivial and costs ~$10. it also eliminates slipping nuts, which could be very bad. i assume its the same reason bmxers need them

skanking biker

i hate it when my nuts slip out of position

giboyeux

Zing

giboyeux

There are ZINGS on the loose, people!

ZappCatt

Partly for quick changes on race day, but another benefit is to mount it inside the frame on aluminum frames, so the axle nuts do not chew up your frame...I have steel inserts on the outside, but the inside is AL

hyperRevue

I use them so I can get perfect chain tension within 30 seconds, every time.

the pope

I like them because they are snazzy.

ImOnCrank

quick changes on race day? No. Perfect chain tension that you never have to worry about, yes.

Ira in Chi

Was your mtb designed with reverse facing dropouts, or did you have them welded on? I think what these guys are saying is that this tensioner did not work on their track bikes because their track ends were two narrow/delicate for the way this tensioner works. If you have standard ss mtb rear facing dropouts, which are generally stouter that those on a track bike, it will probably do the trick. The MKS may actually be too narrow for you needs. I saw a guy try to fit one on a Koga Miyata track bike with thick alloy track ends and it did not fit. The Spot tensioner would probably have been a better choice for him.

popdelusions

There's actually an MKS tensioner with a bigger bore, meant for alloy track ends. Sorry, not NJS-approved, but otherwise identical -- of course if you're running an AL frame, NJSworthiness is likely not an issue. It works great, much better than the Spot (which I have lying in a drawer someplace)

noriel

I know a guy that has them on his mtb, and the Surly's are better for opening bottles. He managed to spill a bit of his using the Spot.

popdelusions

There you go...not as effective at tensioning as the MKS; not as effective at bottle-opening as the Surly. A bit of compromise, I guess.

ersatz radio

I have one of these on my road conversion. A few minutes with a router made it fit, and it's holding up so far.

the pope

Nice, ersatz. Would a dremel do it? What did you do to make it work? (I'm 1100 miles from bike and tensioner so I can't really remember how it didn't fit.)

Thanks very much.

TrevorInSoCal

FWIW I have both the Surly and the Spot tensioners (Spot tensioner on my Surly 1x1 MTB, Surly tensioner on my IRO Jamie Roy.). I much prefer the Surly tensioner. The Spot is kind of, for lack of a better word, fidgety.

The Surly tensioner is much easier to use, IMO.

-Trevor