Is my chainline straight?
 

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4021/...26b51d6111.jpg

It looks slightly misaligned. Though it never made any problems when I ride. Should I put the chainring on the inner put of the crank?

Eyeballing a static picture is never a great way to measure chainline...

But if I had to guess, looks like your chainring is a good bit to the outside of the cog. So yeah, try putting the chainring on the inside of the spider.

New bottom bracket?

don't do that put the chainring where its meant to be. your wheel is either off center or its shoddy construction as a result of a cheap frameset and or subpar hub and wheelset or a combination of all 3

looks like you need a few 0.1mm spacers on your cog~ the chainring chainline looks like it lies right of the cog chainline a bit.
could also just be the picture, or the chain when you took it, or just my imagination. ;D

Do you know of a reason not to swap the chainring to the other side? Looks aside, it's not going to ruin anything.

Function > Aesthetics.

I also think changing something and not using it the way its intended to be used is a reason.

It's straight enough. If it's fine when you're riding and you've never dropped your chain, there's nothing to worry about. The chainline on my Premium Brew is off by 2mm and I've never had any sort of trouble. When I first built it, I had a 1.5mm spacer beneath my cog to "correct" it but always felt a little unsure about it so I removed it. I feel no difference at all.

Just because it may not be intended to have the chainring on the inside doesn't mean it's wrong. Most of these cranks are probably plain old cranks that can be used as doubles on road bikes just fine, but are sold as single speed cranks.

- its not straight, looks a good 3-4mm off (I think!)
- it could still work BUT
- yes, definitely try it out with the inner position

Hey Poop - what crank/cog are we talking about here?

Pictures are a terrible way to figure out chainline.

Your hub sets the cog at 42.5-43mm from the centerline of the bike. Measure where the center of the chainline sits by sticking a ruler against it, to the center of the seat tube. Measure that distance. Subtract one number from the other. If you get within a few millimeters of zero, then you're okay.

Some people want exact chainlines and I don't blame 'em, but pick up a chain someday, hold it in the air so that it dangles, and feel how much side-to-side play it actually has. 2mm over a crank-to-cog distance ain't nuthin'...

It's the stock crank and BB on the Clockwork from Bikes Direct. I bought the cog from my local bike shop, but don't remember the brand.

Gearing is 46 x 16

Is the chain falling off? Is it making a hellacious racket that haunts your dreams? Or are you worked into a paranoid frenzy by all the talk of perfectly straight chainlines?

Just ride your bike and worry more about other things. Like the price of beer or will you score with the ladies this weekend. You know, important stuff.

Nope, chain doesn't fall off at all. Nor does it make any rackity noises.

You're all set, man. Ride on!

Cool! Just like to say thanks for everyone's feedback, much appreciated Bike Forumers!

/thread