Temperature and chain breaks
 

Hi, I'm not sure if this forum has dealt with temperature impact on singlespeed and fixed gear chains, although a search on "temperature" and "chain breaks" didn't yield anything. This year is the first time I'll be riding my fixie in winter. I like my chain really tight and it worked well throughout the summer. This week, with the temperature going down by about 20 degrees F, I had my first chain break. I'm wondering if the two events are related. If so I guess I'll move the back axle a smidgen to accommodate for chain contraction. Does anyone have a similar experience? Thanks!

I've never had any problems with that. I wonder...... seems to me that your chain would actually stay warmish what with all the friction, but that's only once you get started, so I dunno.

I don't think temperature had anything to do with it. I think you tightened your chain too tight. People have ridden single speed bikes in the Iditabike race up in Alaska and although I could be mistaken, I don't think broken chains were much of an issue. Besides, you said temperatures dropped 20 degrees - that is insignificant from a metallurgy standpoint.

temp could probably drop 120 with little effect on the metal. The lube is another story, but I strongly doubt temp. has anything to do with your chain breaking.

me no like double posts

correct me if i'm wrong, but if you've got friction, then you're doing it wrong, eh?

lube tries to make friction go away. you wanna approach mu-sub-naught equals zero, you know what i'm sayin?

i'm sayin that there's not enough friciton to get that chain warm.