Fit, technique, or chain length?
03-13-20, 06:55 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Fit, technique, or chain length?
So just starting to get out on a newly reconfigured machine (new seat, bars, gearing, etc.) and am experiencing what I'd normally describe as chain slack when I approach 90 rpm in my normal cruising gears on the flats. As I'm turning it over, there is a very slight moment where there's nothing before kicking in again. Not sure if this is easily answerable, so any thoughts on how to start narrowing it down between fit, technique, or chain length? I have been doing some self-fitting tweaks (admittedly not quite all the way there yet), and lord knows it could well be a combination of all three. The ratio is 11/30 on a 52/38 which is a bigger range than I'm used to and perhaps the chain needs to be longer to accommodate?
Sorry for the random mix of questions, but appreciate any perspectives. May just have to lug it into the LBS and get a top notch fit.
Sorry for the random mix of questions, but appreciate any perspectives. May just have to lug it into the LBS and get a top notch fit.
03-13-20, 09:29 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Nor Cal
Posts: 6,016
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1814 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 919 Times
in
567 Posts
Sounds like there is a dead spot in your pedal stroke, which could be from getting used to a different saddle height.
If the chain needed to be longer, you would already have ruined your drivetrain, & a longer chain would do nothing for your issue.
There's a slight possibility of a freehub issue.
If the chain needed to be longer, you would already have ruined your drivetrain, & a longer chain would do nothing for your issue.
There's a slight possibility of a freehub issue.
Likes For woodcraft:
03-13-20, 10:24 PM
#3
just another gosling
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Everett, WA
Posts: 19,201
Bikes: CoMo Speedster 2003, Trek 5200, CAAD 9, Fred 2004
Mentioned: 113 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3733 Post(s)
Liked 1,736 Times
in
1,266 Posts
Check the freehub for drag, either by taking the chain off the spinning it, or lifting the rear wheel up, spinning the cranks up, then stopping. Do the cranks still want to go around? Even so, you would be feeling slack chain unless you had a dead spot in the stroke. So where's your dead spot?
__________________
Results matter
Results matter
03-14-20, 10:41 AM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,923
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 964 Post(s)
Liked 1,167 Times
in
668 Posts
So just starting to get out on a newly reconfigured machine (new seat, bars, gearing, etc.) and am experiencing what I'd normally describe as chain slack when I approach 90 rpm in my normal cruising gears on the flats. As I'm turning it over, there is a very slight moment where there's nothing before kicking in again. Not sure if this is easily answerable, so any thoughts on how to start narrowing it down between fit, technique, or chain length? I have been doing some self-fitting tweaks (admittedly not quite all the way there yet), and lord knows it could well be a combination of all three. The ratio is 11/30 on a 52/38 which is a bigger range than I'm used to and perhaps the chain needs to be longer to accommodate?
Sorry for the random mix of questions, but appreciate any perspectives. May just have to lug it into the LBS and get a top notch fit.
Sorry for the random mix of questions, but appreciate any perspectives. May just have to lug it into the LBS and get a top notch fit.
03-15-20, 10:21 AM
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Thanks for these thoughts all. Just noticed that my seat slipped back all the way somehow on the last ride w/o me noticing so going to fix that first and see where things are at. Will definitely circle back.
Likes For Berge20:
03-15-20, 01:59 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,923
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 964 Post(s)
Liked 1,167 Times
in
668 Posts
Good catch. That will effectively "raise" your saddle, or more correctly, increase the extension of your leg, a bit, which could cause what you are seeing. Again though, I would read the article I posted.
Likes For phughes:
03-16-20, 10:02 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 1,410
Bikes: 2017 Specialized Allez Sprint Comp
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 849 Post(s)
Liked 344 Times
in
247 Posts
When I switched from a fixed gear to a road bike, I had the exact same issue. Massive dead spots. I had become accustomed to letting the flywheel effect carry my feet through the deadspots. It took a few rides to smooth out my pedal stroke. I’d verify your fit, then work on actively pedaling circles.
Likes For Berge20:
