A bike chain is made up of a series of links, comprised primarily of side plates, pins and rollers. Our Media Lift the chain off of the front chainring. Shift your gears into the smallest cog on the rear and the largest chainring in front, then life the chain. If you notice a big gap between the chain and the chainring it's probably time to start shopping around for a new bike chain.

KMC 18 or 21 SPEED HV500 3/32 CHAIN 108 LINK (54”) IDEAL FOR

Each link has two side plates, which are held together by rivets (also called pins) and a roller sits on the shoulder of the outer link. In some chains, there can be a separate bushing on either side of the roller, although these are usually absent from modern chains. Practice shifting gears regularly– To get the hang of shifting gears, it’s important to practice regularly and focus on shifting smoothly and consistently without disrupting your cadence.

This article was co-authored by Ikaika Cox. Ikaika Cox is the Shop Director at the Salt Lake City branch Bicycle Collective in Salt Lake City, Utah. He has been a bike mechanic since 2012, beginning as a volunteer with the Provo Bicycle Collective, and growing and honing his skills as a bicycle mechanic and educator in multiple Bicycle Collective locations over the years. He now leads the Salt Lake City branch of the Bicycle Collective. It feels as if it should be easy to find the right part to replace your bicycle chain. But chains are one of those bike parts that appear simple but hide a web of fiendishly complex compatibility issues below the surface. If you are using a bike with a derailleur the number of cogs on the rear hub will determine the chain size you will need. They are always 3/32" chains. Premium quality mountain bike chains last a long time and ensure a smooth ride allowing you to send it with total confidence every time you blast the trail. In this case am I right in thinking that my initial calculation would be (36-9) + (38-28) = 27 + 10 = 37? If so, How have you any idea how short I would cut the chain? 116 links (148cms) is what most chain length calculators advise for a 38T.

Bicycle Chain: 15 Steps (with Pictures How to Put On a Bicycle Chain: 15 Steps (with Pictures

Your bike chain may get damaged accidentally or you are having the importance of changing the old chain. In that case, you should know how to choose and which one to choose.Chains with master links. These chains have a special link with 2 pins that is used to join the 2 ends of the chain. If this link is broken, you may need to wait until you can replace it to be able to repair the chain. Fewer things are frustrating than a chain that keeps coming undone in the middle of a ride. If this is a problem, you need to tighten up your bike chain. If your chain, when engaged, moves up or down more than an inch, you need to tighten your bike chain.