Comments on: How To Calculate Chain Length http://bicycletutor.com/calculate-chain-length/ Bike repair videos show how to fix your own bike. Bicycle maintenance and repair instructions by Alex Ramon. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:06:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Jon http://bicycletutor.com/calculate-chain-length/#comment-2143 Jon Sat, 28 Feb 2009 06:06:29 +0000 http://bicycletutor.com/calculate-chain-length/#comment-2143 Hi Alex! Thanks for all the great tutorials. I recently changed my cassette (not the same size as the old one) and so need to put on a new, longer chain. Going by this method that you illustrate, I can either have 1/2 a link overlapping or 1-1/2 links overlapping. I'm using a long cage derailleur, 11-32 cassette, 22-32-42 chainrings. Which would you recommend? Thanks! Hi Alex!

Thanks for all the great tutorials. I recently changed my cassette (not the same size as the old one) and so need to put on a new, longer chain. Going by this method that you illustrate, I can either have 1/2 a link overlapping or 1-1/2 links overlapping. I’m using a long cage derailleur, 11-32 cassette, 22-32-42 chainrings. Which would you recommend?

Thanks!

]]> By: Ian http://bicycletutor.com/calculate-chain-length/#comment-1002 Ian Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:03:08 +0000 http://bicycletutor.com/calculate-chain-length/#comment-1002 Thank's Alex, I decided to try your method instead of counting my old chain links. My first impression is that when I'm in 53-25 the derailler is a bit more stretch. But we all know that we should ryde in 53-25 so I'm ok with that. For the rest it seem to work good. I also think that using a shorter chain shoul prevent from the early damage to the cassette and chainring. Thank' s again Ian PS: Your tutorials are excellent. Keep your good work! Thank’s Alex,

I decided to try your method instead of counting my old chain links. My first impression is that when I’m in 53-25 the derailler is a bit more stretch. But we all know that we should ryde in 53-25 so I’m ok with that. For the rest it seem to work good.
I also think that using a shorter chain shoul prevent from the early damage to the cassette and chainring.

Thank’ s again

Ian

PS: Your tutorials are excellent. Keep your good work!

]]> By: Alex http://bicycletutor.com/calculate-chain-length/#comment-995 Alex Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:16:34 +0000 http://bicycletutor.com/calculate-chain-length/#comment-995 Thanks Simon... sure, you can use the old chain to measure the new one. It's actually better than using the method above. The video shows how to measure the chain if you don't have the old one to go off. However, this might be a problem if your old chain wasn't installed correctly to begin with... Thanks Simon… sure, you can use the old chain to measure the new one. It’s actually better than using the method above. The video shows how to measure the chain if you don’t have the old one to go off. However, this might be a problem if your old chain wasn’t installed correctly to begin with…

]]> By: Simon H http://bicycletutor.com/calculate-chain-length/#comment-981 Simon H Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:47:44 +0000 http://bicycletutor.com/calculate-chain-length/#comment-981 Hi Alex, Would it be possible to use the existing chain, once removed from the bike, to calculate the length required for the new chain, after allowing for the slight stretching of the old chain? Regards, Simon P.S. Your tutorials are excellent and easy to follow. Thank you. Hi Alex,

Would it be possible to use the existing chain, once removed from the bike, to calculate the length required for the new chain, after allowing for the slight stretching of the old chain?

Regards,

Simon

P.S. Your tutorials are excellent and easy to follow. Thank you.

]]> By: Alex http://bicycletutor.com/calculate-chain-length/#comment-993 Alex Sun, 04 Jan 2009 21:12:03 +0000 http://bicycletutor.com/calculate-chain-length/#comment-993 Hi Ian, if you are simply replacing an old chain the best method would be to make the new chain exactly the same length as the old chain. The video above is meant to show how to measure a new chain when you have no old chain to use as a reference. Hi Ian, if you are simply replacing an old chain the best method would be to make the new chain exactly the same length as the old chain. The video above is meant to show how to measure a new chain when you have no old chain to use as a reference.

]]> By: Ian http://bicycletutor.com/calculate-chain-length/#comment-975 Ian Sat, 03 Jan 2009 01:52:31 +0000 http://bicycletutor.com/calculate-chain-length/#comment-975 Hello Alex , I need to change my chain and here is the question. If I count the other chainlink on my present chain there is 54 outer-link. With your method it would give me 53 outer-link. Will it change something? Thank's Ian Hello Alex ,

I need to change my chain and here is the question.
If I count the other chainlink on my present chain there is 54 outer-link. With your method it would give me 53 outer-link. Will it change something?

Thank’s

Ian

]]> By: Alex http://bicycletutor.com/calculate-chain-length/#comment-913 Alex Wed, 24 Dec 2008 22:41:49 +0000 http://bicycletutor.com/calculate-chain-length/#comment-913 Yes, you can consider the quick release link as a regular link when making the calculation! Yes, you can consider the quick release link as a regular link when making the calculation!

]]> By: Fred http://bicycletutor.com/calculate-chain-length/#comment-888 Fred Wed, 24 Dec 2008 01:00:07 +0000 http://bicycletutor.com/calculate-chain-length/#comment-888 Hello there Alex! Just to make sure: If I used a quick release chin link, the QR link MUST be the last OUTER link that you pointed to, correct? So I assume I should cut 1 link closer to the chainring than the one you pointed to, and simply apply the QR link as the last OUTER link? Thanks! =] Hello there Alex!
Just to make sure:
If I used a quick release chin link, the QR link MUST be the last OUTER link that you pointed to, correct?
So I assume I should cut 1 link closer to the chainring than the one you pointed to, and simply apply the QR link as the last OUTER link?

Thanks! =]

]]> By: Alex http://bicycletutor.com/calculate-chain-length/#comment-203 Alex Sun, 02 Nov 2008 20:19:33 +0000 http://bicycletutor.com/calculate-chain-length/#comment-203 It should work. Install the new chain and check the measurement again once the <a href="http://bicycletutor.com/replace-cassette-cluster/" rel="nofollow">new cassette</a> is installed. It should work. Install the new chain and check the measurement again once the new cassette is installed.

]]> By: Gary http://bicycletutor.com/calculate-chain-length/#comment-202 Gary Sat, 01 Nov 2008 20:08:06 +0000 http://bicycletutor.com/calculate-chain-length/#comment-202 I have always used this method to size up my chains. It's a great method. However, I plan to get a 12-27t cassette in the future. I currently have 12-25t. Would it work if I just added 2 extra links to accomodate the extra 2 teeth? I don't have a 27t cassette at the moment to try it on. I have always used this method to size up my chains. It’s a great method. However, I plan to get a 12-27t cassette in the future. I currently have 12-25t. Would it work if I just added 2 extra links to accomodate the extra 2 teeth? I don’t have a 27t cassette at the moment to try it on.

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