Autobus

Got a VHS the other day with track racing and I notice that most of the racers had real droopy chains.
Isn't that kind of dangerous? Maybe it reduces friction??

It would seem that it would make trackstands a little tougher to do!

dizzy101

A somewhat slack chain means less friction, less chain wear. Even with an inch of play, chances of throwing the chain are practically zero. Most fixed bikes I see have their chains way too tight.

bonechilling

I'm sure 11.4 can chime and give us the complete history of chain lengths, but basically you don't need a tight chain on the track, because you're never going to be resisting the pedals. Once you get going, all the slack is compensated for. Also, too much tension can bind the chain and reduces the lifespan of components.

kmart

Dude seriously. Every time I've been at the local 'drome I've seen all the experienced track dudes with slack chains. I really felt like walking up and saying something but I figured there was maybe a good reason for it. I have not idea what that reason is though. In any case, for street riding slack chains make track stands and tricks much harder.

roughrider504

Tighten your chain and spin the pedals.

Now loosen the chain and spin the pedals again.

Which one keeps going longer? Exactly.

Autobus

How many inches up play is recommend for messenger style fixed riding? I have about 1/2" play.

When I had my chain super-taut, I got alot of noise and it seemed like I was pedalling a bigger gear than I have!

queerpunk

a slack chain might make a trackstand harder, but there's precious few events at the velodrome that involve trackstands.

i've corrected people who think that it's important to have a tight chain. once they give it a bit of slack, they realize how much power has been wasted by an overtight chain.

Autobus

What does this do??

andre nickatina

Well, it makes for more efficicent power transfer. The tighter a chain is, the more loss there is in efficiency. Also, the fact that velodromes don't have potholes / bumps, and that properly set up track bikes usually have perfect or near perfect chainlines coupled with high quality drivetrain components (EAI Superstar cogs, Izumi Vs, etc) are going to mean there's almost no likelyhood of throwing the chain.

queerpunk

do it. you're likely to discover that when your chain isn't too tight, your drivetrain will function more smoothely.


you don't need high quality components to ensure that you don't throw your chain. you need basic components, set up properly.

andre nickatina

Well, you want it tighter than at the track because obviously road surfaces are imperfect and there's more chance of throwing a chain, but I can't really say an exact measurement. It's mostly by feel is how I gauge it, but you don't want the chain so tight that when you trackstand, you can't feel the chain loosening/tightening at all.

Landgolier

All of the above is true, plus remember that you generally throw your chain going over a bump or something, which isn't a concern on the track.

If you don't have a tiny bit of play at the pedals at all points in the circle, your chain is too tight.

Landgolier

wow, megaturbo simulpost

andre nickatina

Didn't say you did, I'm just saying most track bikes I've seen on the velodrome aren't just $6 Z-Chains coupled with a Sugino RD crankset/ring and cheapo generic cog, as compared to bikes you may see on the street.

lyledriver

I always see chains getting thrown at the track.
Generally its when someone clips a wheel and goes down, then things get sketchy and someone will lock up their legs lose the chain, and slide off the wood as well.

Hobartlemagne 

It takes less time to put the wheel on with the chain slack. The racers change their gears
between races sometimes, so I bet its just less hassle to bolt the wheel down with less chain
tension.

dutret

I once was standing outside a hipster bar and I noticed all the chains looked crazy tight so I started feeling them... pretty much everyone was way way too tight.

It's not that track riders keep their chains really loose it's that people have no clue how tight a chain should be. All the people who suggest "walking the wheel back" are evidence of this too.

Autobus

That sound like a great pointer that I haven't read here before. I'll check my bike out. Thanks!

queerpunk

lyledriver, i think of "throwing a chain" as happening under normal riding conditions, not counting accidents.

rduenas

What's wrong with a Sugino RD crankset/ring?

wearyourtruth

hehe, a trackstand is not as important on the track as it is on the street

kmart

Ok, so going by the standard that is quoted often here, you should have about 1/2" of play when you press down on the middle of the chain between the ring and cog, right? I have my bike set up like this and I don't have any tight spots. During trackstands I can feel a bit of play in the pedals (maybe 3mm) but it feels very slight.

Landgolier

The problem is that you can have a fair amount of vertical movement in the chain and still have it be too tight. What you want is for it not to be binding at any point, and if there's play at the pedals, it's not binding. Only a very tiny amount is needed, though.

goldenskeletons

i keep my chain as tight as i can without any sign of binding. i like no play whatsoever in my cranks, and for whatever reason, i keep buying Izumi chains, which are notorious for stretching all the damned time. I have better peace of mind knowing i'm gonna blow out a tire before i'm gonna throw a chain on these streets.

piwonka

lol.
you should be able to see some slack in your chain.