Bob_Benner

Got my bike today (a Specialized Hardrock Sport converted to single gear from my LBS) and road it to work for the first time tonight. The ride to work was great, havent ridden a bike in almost 8 years. Got about 1/3 of the way home and my chain snapped going up a hill. My first commute and already a bas experience. Can anyone recommend a super strong chain to avaoid this in the future ? Thanks

jsigone

what kind of chain did they put on there? I've been using SRAM chains on all 3 of my bikes and have one broke powerlink (mis shifting from me). Now I carry extra power links in the saddle bags of all the bikes. BTW, I'm 200lbs and tend to beat the crap outa my bikes

What kind of chain tentioner are you using?

Bob_Benner

The chain is a Shimano IG, chain tentioner is a Surly Singleator

gear

I weigh over 200 lbs and have been riding for more than 18 years on and off the road, I have never had a broken chain.

MediaCreations 

I'd be asking the LBS a few questions. That shouldn't have happened.

ItsJustMe

You don't need a super-strong chain, you need one that's not defective. Or one that's not been improperly installed. Offhand I'd suspect it's a master-link style chain like an SRAM and the link was damaged or not installed right. Or, it was a conventional chain and they didn't press the rivet in properly.

You'd have to be frick'n Steve Austin to break a non-defective brand new bike chain. Seriously, I don't think even a pro with legs as big as my torso could break a new chain unless there was something wrong with it.

I-Like-To-Bike

Agree with the other posters; something was defective about the chain or the assembly.

Just curious, after not cycling for 8 years why did you choose to buy a single gear conversion bicycle for getting to work?

My suggestion is to avoid that LBS, especially if they talked you into buying that type of bike for your commute.

huhenio

Learning how to use the chain tool is not an obscure science .... it only takes a little patience and latex gloves.

Bob_Benner

Actually, for my short commute I wanted to go nice and simple and ride single gear. My last bike back in the day was a single speed cannondale mountain bike bike that got me around just fine, so I went with what I knew. It wasn't even the master link that broke, it was just a regular link. I am going to ask them what the hell happened.

slvoid

Def get a chain tool and you can at least limp around next time.
Go back to the LBS and say you almost died.

truman

It happens. Buy a Sram PC-1 Singlespeed specific chain, and an extra "powerlink" above the one that comes with the chain. You'll be set for well-under 20 dollars, and ready for any other breaks, you might get. Shimano chains are supposed to be reassembled with a specific pin. I wonder if yours was properly done up by the bike shop.

It occurs to me that a few years back the chain broke on the used bike I bought to turn into a singlespeed on MY first ride, too. Sucks, but it hasn't happened since, either.

ItsJustMe

Hmm, I'm no expert, but isn't chain tension fairly critical on a single-speed? Maybe they set it too tight. Seems like you'd notice that though; I bet it would pedal hard and rough (be able to feel the cogs).

LóFarkas

The singleator is a springloaded tensioner, so there's no possible way it could have overtensioned the chain.

It was definitely crappy installation. Kick somebody's @ss in the shop. Either they pushed a rivet in too far/not far enough, or reused a non-reusable rivet, or built the bike with very-very bad chainline (cog not in line w/ chainring).
The chain could iof course have been defective, but that's really unlikely.

Get a PC-1, have it installed properly and you can forget about chain issues until it wears out.

LóFarkas

The singleator is a springloaded tensioner, so there's no possible way it could have overtensioned the chain.

It was definitely crappy installation. Kick somebody's @ss in the shop. Either they pushed a rivet in too far/not far enough, or reused a non-reusable rivet, or built the bike with very-very bad chainline (cog not in line w/ chainring).
The chain could iof course have been defective, but that's really unlikely.

Get a PC-1, have it installed properly and you can forget about chain issues until it wears out.

Oh, what damage can you see on the chain? Torn, bent sideplate, missing rivet etc. could show what happened.

bostontrevor

I've heard too many stories both first- and second-hand about people having Shimano chains pop apart on them while just riding along to think that the shop necessarily bears any responsibility here. Sure, it's possible that they misinstalled it, but it's really not that difficult. It's just as likely that the damn thing broke because it felt like it.

If the chain is now too short, I'd go back to the shop and explain the situation, they'll probably make it good. If you have enough links and a tool, I'd just shorten it up and be on your way. Obviously if you don't have a chain tool, the shop's in your future in any case.

jsigone

might want to cheack your chain line as well.

Bob_Benner

Took my bike back in tonight to have it fixed and I am back on the road again. They put a new SRAM chain on it free of charge. The link on the the other chain that broke looked like it actually spread apart at one end which made the pin pop out. The guys at the shop are good guys, and they mainly ride and build S/S and fixed gear bikes, my friend rides a S/S MTB and have been going to them for 2 years with nothing but great service. Hopefully I am good to go for awhile. I walked my bike to the shop and then road home with no problems at all, but didn't have any hills to climb either which is where my chain broke. Tomorrows commute to and from work will hopefully be a better one.

slagjumper

Hmm that spread sounds like an improperly shortend chain. Could happen when the pin is in too far on one side. They had to change the length of the chain to convert it to single speed. I bet they kept the chain. Was a master link used? I hate those.

A friend "broke" a chain once pedaling around a curve and he broke his coller bone. You have to get that pin in just right.

slvoid

I thought that was fixed...