How quiet should my fixed gear be?
03-08-09 | 02:28 PM
#26
partly metal, partly real
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,597
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From: Philadelphia.
Bikes: Hummer H2
03-08-09 | 02:33 PM
#27
King of the Hipsters
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,128
Likes: 2
From: Bend, Oregon
Bikes: Realm Cycles Custom
Some chains and some chainwheel/sprocket combinations will make an engagement noise no matter what you do.
It has to do with the shape of the teeth and the valleys in between the teeth.
Otherwise, noise comes from slight misalignments between the sprocket and the chainwheel.
Sheldon Brown and, I think, John Dace of Businesscycles, both maintain a technical page that gives the different offsets for the various sprockets (more differences than one might think).
If one knows the offset of his or her chainwheel down to a gnat's whisker, he or she can select a sprocket to match...
OR
...one can get a Phil or Miche bottom bracket (assuming a match with one's crankset), both of which allow about 5mm left and right adjustment.
I ride with a Phil bottom bracket, and I bias it about one thread to the right for a dead silent chain.
I have ridden through an early morning herd of deer on two ocassions and they neither "saw" nor heard me.
It has to do with the shape of the teeth and the valleys in between the teeth.
Otherwise, noise comes from slight misalignments between the sprocket and the chainwheel.
Sheldon Brown and, I think, John Dace of Businesscycles, both maintain a technical page that gives the different offsets for the various sprockets (more differences than one might think).
If one knows the offset of his or her chainwheel down to a gnat's whisker, he or she can select a sprocket to match...
OR
...one can get a Phil or Miche bottom bracket (assuming a match with one's crankset), both of which allow about 5mm left and right adjustment.
I ride with a Phil bottom bracket, and I bias it about one thread to the right for a dead silent chain.
I have ridden through an early morning herd of deer on two ocassions and they neither "saw" nor heard me.
03-08-09 | 02:44 PM
#28
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 185
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From: New Gersey
Bikes: 199X Bicycle Corporation of America Rival Road Bike, 1970s Auto-Mini Junior, 2009 Windsor Hour
Yes. What I mean is that for about 1/6 of the rotation of my chain ring while pedaling, the chain is a little bit slack and I can feel it if I backpedal in the spot. For the other 5/6 of the rotation of the ring, I don't feel any slack in the chain.
03-08-09 | 04:22 PM
#30
Old fart
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 26,401
Likes: 5,333
From: Appleton WI
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
I've got a constant, though fairly quiet, chain noise. A friend who doesn't ride fixed commented on it recently and I had never thought twice about it. He said it could be possible that the rear sprocket wasn't in line with the front, or something to that effect.
What's normal? Should I be worried? The rear wheel is straight, chain tension is good. There's nothing obviously wrong with it in my eyes.
It's a 2002 Bianchi Pista, by the way. Two months old.
What's normal? Should I be worried? The rear wheel is straight, chain tension is good. There's nothing obviously wrong with it in my eyes.
It's a 2002 Bianchi Pista, by the way. Two months old.
03-08-09 | 05:09 PM
#31
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 185
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From: New Gersey
Bikes: 199X Bicycle Corporation of America Rival Road Bike, 1970s Auto-Mini Junior, 2009 Windsor Hour
03-08-09 | 05:53 PM
#32
helmet brake
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 624
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From: Brooklyn
Bikes: Kilo TT
When my bike isnt completely silent, I consider it broken.
Same with chain slop... Theres no way that I would be happy with 1/2 inch of slop in the drivetrain as was suggested by an earlier post.
Noise and looseness in a simple machine are simply unacceptable.
Same with chain slop... Theres no way that I would be happy with 1/2 inch of slop in the drivetrain as was suggested by an earlier post.
Noise and looseness in a simple machine are simply unacceptable.
03-08-09 | 06:48 PM
#33
Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 27
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My own experience suggests that a tighter chain actually exacerbates chain noise. There's always gonna be some noise even on a perfectedly paired chain/cog/chainring. I think a properly slightly loose chain (1/4-1/2 inch slack) is the only way to go, insofar as efficiency is concerned because a tight chain creates excessive tension/friction.
If your chain is making excessive noise, it's probably because one or more of the chain/cog/chainring is warn so it's not sitting flush on the one of the other parts. The chances are, try the chain first, then cog, then chainring, in that order of wear.
If your chain is making excessive noise, it's probably because one or more of the chain/cog/chainring is warn so it's not sitting flush on the one of the other parts. The chances are, try the chain first, then cog, then chainring, in that order of wear.
03-08-09 | 07:00 PM
#34
partly metal, partly real
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Philadelphia.
Bikes: Hummer H2
ps, my gf just went from a perfect 42mm chainline with 1/8" to a 42 front, 41.5 rear in 3/32".
she now has, by far, the quietest bike i've heard in awhile. it's readarded* how quiet a regular old 3/32 chain on a fixed drivetrain can be...
*word filters are for f@gs.
she now has, by far, the quietest bike i've heard in awhile. it's readarded* how quiet a regular old 3/32 chain on a fixed drivetrain can be...
*word filters are for f@gs.
