Building a Chain
#26
except for those inevitable stuck links/stiff joints and the damage you do to a pin by breaking/rebuilding it.
#27
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 170
Likes: 12
From: Koreatown, Los Angeles --> Oakland
just get this
https://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...&category=1614
or this
https://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...&category=1614
and be done with it.
https://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...&category=1614
or this
https://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...&category=1614
and be done with it.
#28
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
From: NOLA
Bikes: '00 Bruce Gordon Rock and Road Tour, '01 Breezer Venturi, '97 Specialized Stumpjumper M2 Pro, '87 GT Timberland, '82 Benotto single speed, '48 Schwinn Phantom, '71 Schwinn Pea Picker, '07 BFSSFGIRO
#29
FNG
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,313
Likes: 0
From: Toronto, ON
Bikes: 2008 IRO Angus, 2008 Jamis Exile 29er
Okay, see, if you had posted this to begin with, I wouldn't have said anything. Do you see my point? There's a big difference between "you're stupid" and "you're stupid, here's an explanation as to why you're stupid and how you can avoid being stupid in the future."
#30
Double Agent
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,187
Likes: 0
From: your girl's bed
Bikes: Fly Pantera, GT GTB
@op: if you use a good, heavy duty chain breaker like the park 1/8" breaker with a loosening shelf you should be fine as long as you're precise and careful.
Edit: Also make sure your chainline is buttah if you wanna do this.
#31
passive agressive anger much? "Z" chains are pieces of crap.
#32
i see your point, and you're right. i usually try to avoid such bad behavior on bf, but i just get chapped seeing so many people new to cycling (particularly in the fixed gear scene) that just don't have a clue and don't seem bothered to educate themselves about anything to do with cycling other than what color to spray paint their aerospoke or who makes pink riser bars.
i mean there's a history to cycling, and a reason for the way most things are done. i dig all kinds of new folks getting into riding, but i hate road bikes (and face it -a fixed gear on the street is just a road bike) as a fashion accessory.
i mean there's a history to cycling, and a reason for the way most things are done. i dig all kinds of new folks getting into riding, but i hate road bikes (and face it -a fixed gear on the street is just a road bike) as a fashion accessory.
#33
bum style
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 664
Likes: 0
From: CT
Bikes: Poprad, Fuji conversion, Quattro Assi
There is a lot of bad advice in this thread. I worked with a BMX dude who built 3 color chains, alternating 3 or 4 links at a time. He rode hard. He was also a good mechanic. No fail.
I dunno about every other link.
I dunno about every other link.
#34
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
i see your point, and you're right. i usually try to avoid such bad behavior on bf, but i just get chapped seeing so many people new to cycling (particularly in the fixed gear scene) that just don't have a clue and don't seem bothered to educate themselves about anything to do with cycling other than what color to spray paint their aerospoke or who makes pink riser bars.
i mean there's a history to cycling, and a reason for the way most things are done. i dig all kinds of new folks getting into riding, but i hate road bikes (and face it -a fixed gear on the street is just a road bike) as a fashion accessory.
i mean there's a history to cycling, and a reason for the way most things are done. i dig all kinds of new folks getting into riding, but i hate road bikes (and face it -a fixed gear on the street is just a road bike) as a fashion accessory.
i remember now why i joined this forum last year and then promptly left.
Thanks go out to those who gave constructive criticism. To those that were *******s, go **** yourselves.
#37
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 138
Likes: 0
#38
Doing this yourself is gonna be a real pain.
I say **** everyone on the forum and do it. At least you're not asking what kind of deep-v wheels you should get, or whether or not you should ride with one or two straps or vans vs converse.
1) Ride with a brake at least and be prepared for whatever consequences might arise from doing this; breaking the chain at essentially every link and then reconnecting it (and doing this yourself) probably isn't the best thing for it.
2) Do invest in a nice chain breaker as you're gonna be putting a lot of stress on it. Pedros makes a new one these days with I think three or four replacement needles inside of the handle that you can replace yourself.
3) Practice on an old piece of chain or some extra links first to get the hang of a chain breaker.
And yea... **** everyone here. Do it dude, its new and unique.
I say **** everyone on the forum and do it. At least you're not asking what kind of deep-v wheels you should get, or whether or not you should ride with one or two straps or vans vs converse.
1) Ride with a brake at least and be prepared for whatever consequences might arise from doing this; breaking the chain at essentially every link and then reconnecting it (and doing this yourself) probably isn't the best thing for it.
2) Do invest in a nice chain breaker as you're gonna be putting a lot of stress on it. Pedros makes a new one these days with I think three or four replacement needles inside of the handle that you can replace yourself.
3) Practice on an old piece of chain or some extra links first to get the hang of a chain breaker.
And yea... **** everyone here. Do it dude, its new and unique.
#39
irori
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
#43
Solution: two chains. One white, one black. Use a road double up front and put two single cogs from a cassette on a rear wheel with a freehub body (with spacers as necessary). If fixed, weld the freehub in place. If for a single speed, use a White Industires Dos freewheel (or the freehub setup). Cut each chain to the necessary length.
Or, better yet, shifters + derailleurs + ride your bike.
Or, better yet, shifters + derailleurs + ride your bike.
#44
Shiftless bum

Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,693
Likes: 1
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Bikes: Apollo fixed winter bike, Gazelle Cross, Baboe Cargo bike, Linskey Rouleur Road, Bridgestone Picnica, Tern C7, 2nd gen Strida
The issue with using a chain tool is that many chains nowadays are peened. The pins are mashed slightly into a mushroom head that gets sheared off when breaking the chain resulting in an unstable link if you try to rejoin it. https://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=25
Apart from being a diddly project, there shouldn't be a lot of problems doing this as long as you're careful and use an unpeened chain.
KMC's website might help you select an appropriate chain https://www.kmcchain.com There's an icon system that shows if a particular chain is peened.
While not white, KMC does make a silver/black chain
https://www.kmcchain.com/index.php?ln...mo=view&id=631
Apart from being a diddly project, there shouldn't be a lot of problems doing this as long as you're careful and use an unpeened chain.
KMC's website might help you select an appropriate chain https://www.kmcchain.com There's an icon system that shows if a particular chain is peened.
While not white, KMC does make a silver/black chain
https://www.kmcchain.com/index.php?ln...mo=view&id=631





