Bicycle chain question
10-26-11 | 04:23 AM
#1
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Bicycle chain question
Hello all,
I've got a 70's road bike with a 10 speed system; 2 chainrings and a 5 speed cassette. I need to pick up a new chain but am confused. When a modern chain is advertised as 10 speed or 6/7/8 speed chain, is it referring to the amount of sprockets on the cassette, or the total number of gears? I'm only asking because 10 speed chains appear to go for about twice as much as 5/6 speed chains.
Thanks
I've got a 70's road bike with a 10 speed system; 2 chainrings and a 5 speed cassette. I need to pick up a new chain but am confused. When a modern chain is advertised as 10 speed or 6/7/8 speed chain, is it referring to the amount of sprockets on the cassette, or the total number of gears? I'm only asking because 10 speed chains appear to go for about twice as much as 5/6 speed chains.
Thanks
10-26-11 | 04:57 AM
#2
A "10 speed chain" is a chain designed for 10 rear sprockets and, accordingly, is narrower, which means it needs to be stronger, which means it will be more expensive. Quite how much more expensive it should be and how much it is can be debated elsewhere. 
HTH
HTH
10-26-11 | 04:59 AM
#3
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Fantastic, thanks Matt, you've saved me some money there.
10-26-11 | 06:12 AM
#4
10-26-11 | 07:03 AM
#5
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Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
Buy a chain labeled 6/7/8-speed or just 8-speed. It will be narrower than your current chain but wide enough to work well with your crank and chainrings. The even narrower 9 and 10-speed chains could slip into the gap between the two chainrings. Cranks intended for use with 9 and 10-speed chains have the chainrings closer together to prevent this.
