morbot

Why is 1/8 the standard for track stuff? What's the difference, really? I just bought a sugino 75 crankset without chainring, and im looking to buy one now, and this dude is selling a 75 chainring that's 3/32 pitch. does it really matter if im not actually racing track and get a matching chain and cog?

oh man shouldv read sheldon/searched the forums. pre-finals week, excuse me.

humancongereel

that's the width, not the pitch. the pitch is the same. one's thicker and used on geared bikes and more forgiving with chainline, the other's thinner and less forgiving if the chainline is off. that's my impression, anyhow.

shants

you'll be fine if you go 3/32". the general reason for advocating 1/8", as i understand it, is that the chains are stronger. many agree, many disagree. the anecdotes go both ways, as you'll probably see if many people respond to this thread. if there is any strength advantage, i'm pretty positive that you aren't heavy enough/put out enough force to obliterate a 3/32" chain.

drac_vamp

so long as your stuff matches, great! i think track specific chains, 1/8 ones, are a bit better as they don't allow much side to side movement like a roadchain would (since it needs to be shifted left/right in order to change gears). if a chain on a fixed gear were to move to the left or right that could spell "c-r-a-s-h" quickly.

shants

i think you're mixed up... 3/32" < 1/8" (albeit only by 1/32")

the thicker is used for track/singlespeed (1/8"), while the thinner is used for geared applications primarily (3/32").

BostonFixed

All chains are 1/2" pitch, except the dura ace 10mm pitch track group, which is unlikely that you will come into contact with.

3/2" and 1/8" refer to the width.

Chains on derailleur bicycles [3/32"] are subjected to much higher loads than on any fixed gear bicycle, regardless of gearing or rider.


ps. There are 3/32" chains available that are not meant for geared use, thus having no "side-side" wobble or play.

morbot

oh and is anyone even sure that Sugino 75 chainrings come in 3/32? the guy doesn't provide any photos for it and I guess I'm a bit skeptical

drac_vamp

woops!

humancongereel

yep, i'm mixed up.

rafi

Track chainrings come in both 1/8 and 3/32

https://www.businesscycles.com/trcomp.htm#chainrings

BostonFixed

The way I see it, 1/8" offers no benefits, unles you are building a full "track" bike, njs or the like. For us ordinary fixers, 1/8" offers no benefits over 3/32".

I think the prevalence of 1/8" track equipment is mainly rooted in tradition, rather than anything else.

ImOnCrank

Easy does it, don't forget the elder statesman, inch pitch.

r-dub

1/8" cogs and chainrings will also (all else constant) wear more slowly than 3/32", but if you replace your chain when it starts to stretch you'll never really need to worry about that.

queerpunk

ugh. that was you that beat me for those S75's on ebay,wasn't it. well, in my bitterness, i'll just tell you that you paid too much, and you'll be unhappy with them, and i think you're ugly too.

morbot

hah didnt you recently win some for like $100? or am i thinking of someone else?

and i totally deserved to win these. the guy lives like 20 miles from my house in cleveland, where ill be in two weeks!

RedDeMartini

there is a formula, width of the seattube, divided by distance from center of tooth to outside of seatube something something, I remmber 14 is good?
Ask Sheldon, Paul, Mark or some other old wise man.

queerpunk

nah, you're thinking of someone else, but a set went for like 108 last week.

congrats on being willing to pay more than me, though...

Aeroplane

14 is good, but to get really good results, divide your BB shell width by your max heart rate in octal.