10 Speed Chain
 

I'm new to the whole Tandem thing (30+ years on the road) but recently picked up a workable Fuji that my son and I are riding, with plans to do a few organized rides this summer. We are currently in the process of converting to Road bars and ended up going 10 speed. I've always had good luck with Shimano chain but wondered if there are some good recommends for narrow chain that will hold up on a Tandem?

It's been a blast so far.

Any correct size chain will work. KMC is a good value. Shimano will be fine. SRAM or Wipperman are fine as well. One difference on a tandem is that I always carry a quick link for both chains and extra links for the crossover chain. Many use a cheaper wider chain for a sync chain and if it breaks and can't be fixed the stoker has to provide all the power and that is not a very workable way to get home.

For us there is no one home to call for help so we must be self reliant. As a result I always carry a spare tire and cables as well as a spare tube patch kit and pump. Your situation may be different.

Wayne

Any chain will wear at a faster rate on a tandem then a single. The narrower the chain gets the faster it wears as well. So expect more frequent chain replacement then what you're use to. I (we, but I make the mechanical decisions...) have stayed away from the 10 spd stuff and run 9 spd. When I worked at a tandem shop a few years ago most of the shifting complaints were with 10 spd stuff and STI in particular. But having said that, we had better acceptance with Shimano chains then with KMC. (It bothered us that a $6,000 bike would try to save a few $ with a non spec. chain). On our CoMotion we run Sram chain, Shimano cassette, Campy rear der. and Ergo levers through a Shiftmate. But then we're a light team, we spin and soft pedal during shifts and the bike gets a 35+ years shop wrench's personal care. Andy.

Apparently there has been a bunch of ultegra failures http://cozybeehive.blogspot.com/2010...n-failure.html I busted an older model Sachs link on a tour several days ago http://share.ovi.com/media/currentre...resident.10401 it knocked the derailer into the spokes fortunately I was only going 5 mph that could have been a bad wreck. Hollow pin chains can fail at the pin save these for racing. http://share.ovi.com/media/currentre...resident.10383 Whipperman has tested a bunch of chains and claims theirs are the strongest. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGjcD8xEu8o One note their stainless chains are not stainless I had an old one attached to my seat as an antitheft device.

Interesting. I raced on DA till they went to the hollow pins, then went to Ultegra. I'm not a small rider and was a sprinter so I was always leery of sacrificing too much strength for weight (no carbon seat post for me). I was considering Ultegra chain so appreciate that bit of information. Wear doesn't bother me, do all of my own repairs, just want to steer clear of catastrophic failure.

Been using 10 speed Shimano (Dura-Ace) chains on my tandem for the last 5 years. Never broke one yet. If you connect them properly with the correct pins they will be just fine. When you start connecting by either trying to push the pins back in or using quick links you are going to have problems. Read the service instructions supplied with the chain and connect it per the instructions.

Have not tried the 7900 (hollow) chain on my tandem but I may when I change the cassette/chains this Spring. Not worried in the slightest. Only concern is the price...

With that being said - If you try hard enough you can break anything.

We have been using the fancy dancy drilled out, hole's in sideplates Shimano chains and Connex quick link since there inception. No problems

Hollow pins don't provide a weakness that matters with chains. Like frame tubes it's the assembly issues that count. And the treatment the chain sees, like jam shifting. Andy.