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3/32 or 1/8 and why.

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Singlespeed & Fixed Gear "I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!"-- Henri Desgrange (31 January 1865 - 16 August 1940)

3/32 or 1/8 and why.

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Old 05-19-14 | 04:56 AM
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3/32 or 1/8 and why.

What size chain do you run and why.

Do you think there are benefits to one or another?

I run 3/32. From what I've read a 1/8 is only wider and I'm not sure that's an advantage.
I see more options for chainrings being one though for ss/fg.

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Old 05-19-14 | 05:01 AM
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Originally Posted by GENESTARWIND
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Old 05-19-14 | 05:23 AM
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i run 1/8 because thats what came on the bike and it seems like i have more options.

I'm also not a weight weenie and would prefer any durability benefits over saving a few ounces.
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Old 05-19-14 | 07:00 AM
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The advantage with a 1/8" chain is that it will work with 1/8" or 3/32" cogs/chainrings, but a 3/32" chain will ONLY work with 3/32" cogs/chainrings.
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Old 05-19-14 | 07:19 AM
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Originally Posted by TejanoTrackie
The advantage with a 1/8" chain is that it will work with 1/8" or 3/32" cogs/chainrings, but a 3/32" chain will ONLY work with 3/32" cogs/chainrings.
The logical extension of that statement is that 3/32" cogs & rings work with either chain size while 1/8" parts require 1/8" chain
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Old 05-19-14 | 08:17 AM
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There are probably a couple of threads on this already.
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Old 05-19-14 | 08:25 AM
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My cog and chainring are 1/8 so I run a 1/8 chain
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Old 05-19-14 | 10:08 AM
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1. I've only been riding fixed a couple of years
2. I asked Scrod and Richard (ownes Wabi) the advantages/disadvantages of 3/32 v 1/8. They both recommended using 3/32 which I ignored because what could they know about fixed geard bikes.
3. I had the hots for a Sugino crank and Izume track chain that cost more than my bike.
4. I didn't want a chain designed to fall off a cog-othewise known as "shifting".
5. I'm happy 'cause what do Scrod and Richard know about fixed gear bikes.
6. Scrod's happy 'cause i've bought a bunch of EAI cogs.
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Old 05-19-14 | 10:10 AM
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I have used both on the road and mountain bike. No difference. chain are hard
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Old 05-19-14 | 10:30 AM
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3/32nds for me.

Skinny is sexy. Plus, I'm a thousand times faster because they are lighter.
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Old 05-19-14 | 11:29 AM
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Originally Posted by GENESTARWIND
From what I've read a 1/8 is only wider
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If you run wider chains on narrower gears, you can have perfect chainline with less than perfect alignment of chainwheel and cog
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Old 05-19-14 | 11:52 AM
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1/8 because race biek
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Old 05-19-14 | 12:22 PM
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1/8" on my commuter, 3/32" on my Leader 725 and Switch. Mostly dictated by the components I bought for them and wanting to match tolerances. I think durability is negligible between the two if it's just for recreational rides or urban commuting.

My Switch frame is 'sorta' a weight weenie build and 3/32" chain is lighter by a fair number of grams (by weenie standards).

Last edited by GhostSS; 05-19-14 at 12:25 PM.
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Old 05-19-14 | 05:54 PM
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3/32 road fixed gear
1/8 track bike

dont ask me why because i dont really think it makes a difference. yes i do know of some endurance track riders that actually use 3/32 in races
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Old 05-19-14 | 07:36 PM
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Originally Posted by DiabloScott
If you run wider chains on narrower gears, you can have perfect chainline with less than perfect alignment of chainwheel and cog
Exact reason I run 1/8 on my conversion and it's dead silent.
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Old 05-19-14 | 08:48 PM
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11/128 chain. dingle cog
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Old 05-22-14 | 09:15 AM
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1/8 because pretty chains and POWA.
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Old 05-22-14 | 06:07 PM
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When it came time to replace my worn out drivetrain I switched to 3/32". I saved 90g on the chain and 20g on the chainring for a grand total of $0. Haven't looked back.

No one here is strong enough to need an 1/8" chain. Remember that DA is available in 3/32" and all road racing is done on 3/32" chains. The only upside to a 1/8" chain in my eyes is the KMC master link, which makes it super easy to pop the chain off for a quick cleaning.
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Old 05-22-14 | 06:17 PM
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That's all well and good but a lot of track chainrings are only available in 1/8".
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Old 05-22-14 | 07:01 PM
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problem solved

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Old 05-23-14 | 11:13 AM
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Originally Posted by thermalattorney
The only upside to a 1/8" chain in my eyes is the KMC master link, which makes it super easy to pop the chain off for a quick cleaning.
3/32nds KMCs have a master link as well.
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Old 05-23-14 | 01:26 PM
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1/8" on my fixed gear and coaster brake bikes.

Just cuz all the other bikes have 3/32"

I just use $8 KMC or Jeri, I ferget, chain on the coaster, cuz I'm cheap bastard.
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Old 05-23-14 | 01:28 PM
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Originally Posted by SquidPuppet
3/32nds KMCs have a master link as well.
I thought all the 3/32 ones had quik-link, or whatever they call it, not master link.

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Old 05-23-14 | 03:28 PM
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Originally Posted by LesterOfPuppets
I thought all the 3/32 ones had quik-link, or whatever they call it, not master link.

The Z610HX uses a good old fashioned master link like in your pic, same as my Schwinn StingRay did 40+ years ago. It's cheap too.

Maybe they snazzy hollow plate jobbers use the missing link.

Oh, and the 3/32nds fits Shimano coasters too. I don't know about other brand CBs though.

Last edited by SquidPuppet; 05-23-14 at 03:38 PM.
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Old 05-23-14 | 05:35 PM
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Originally Posted by thermalattorney
No one here is strong enough to need an 1/8" chain. Remember that DA is available in 3/32" and all road racing is done on 3/32" chains. The only upside to a 1/8" chain in my eyes is the KMC master link, which makes it super easy to pop the chain off for a quick cleaning.
1/8" could never be stronger anyway, the plate thickness isn't wider.

I run a 1/8" chain because I don't care.
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