Which Chain? (Chains / Size / Width / Wear)

Thanks both!

That KMC does sound good, have you bought one of the ebay ones from Taiwan? If so did it take long to arrive?

I need a 3/32 singlespeed chain, as cheap as possible. What should i get? Will any 6/7/8/9/10/11 speed chain do? Or should i look for singlespeed specific chains?

Defo not 11 speed! I'd go 8 speed, the more gears in the sprocket the thinner and weaker the chain. 8 speed is the happy medium and still easily sourced in shops

I need a 3/32 singlespeed chain, as cheap as possible. What should i get?

Wippermann 7Z1, KMC Z-whatever, any 8-speed or less derailleur chain. If lowest price is your only concern, shop around for whatever is on offer and you'll probably get something for under a fiver.

Okay, thanks :)

Recommendations for an 11speed chain? (Shimano 5800 groupset)

Fwiw I just learned that Decathlon Btwin chains are all KMC. Bargains.

same question here. have the Shimano CN-HG601 but looking for something less high-maintenance.

Those are all bushingless - any benefit in trying to find a bushed chain e.g. Wipperman 7R8? Unfortunately KMC don't seem to do any bushed chain in 3/32", only for 1/8" (e.g. X101).

PS apologies for the dredge...

Does anywhere know where I can buy a bunch of eleven speed quick links? They're handy for taking on tour etc. I baulk at the idea of spending close to a tenner for one, when a whole new chain - including a quick link - costs only double that.

any benefit in trying to find a bushed chain

Very little. There might be a small gain in drivetrain life, and an even smaller gain in efficiency, but the former is negligible since the components are cheap to buy and quick to replace (cf. industrial drives where taking plant off line for an hour can cost thousands of pounds, so reducing the frequency of replacement is worth spending money on) and the latter is a concern only if you've already done everything else; it's hunting in the weeds for tenths of a Watt.

Thanks for confirming what my thread trawl was suggesting.
I'll see what's cheap (and maybe galvanised) and go from there.

Does anywhere know where I can buy a bunch of eleven speed quick links?

Buy a new chain in advance and use the quick link from that?
I recently bought a separate kmc link from eBay from ~£3.50 posted.

I'd prefer not to take one from a new chain, as I'd want to have a new unstretched one with a new chain.

I swear I once bought some from Evans Cycles at £10 for ten. The staff had a paper blister pack like thing of loads of them & couldn't figure out if the price of £10 was for one, or for a sheet of four of them. They charged me a tenner for four, but mused that they'd charged the same to a guy earlier in the day for one, but that price seemed ridiculous & that they must've got it wrong. Strange.

Anyway, eBay was a good call, cheers. Managed to get four for £2.50, though I'll have to wait a while for them to come from China.

a new unstretched one

Chains don't stretch

Hm, my experience differs.

That's worn, not stretched. To be pedantic.
None of the links are longer, just the pins between them are worn

Not sure if serious...

Okay, that's fair. In some capacity it's squashed instead of stretched I guess, if we're talking about the pins then.

super srs

In some capacity it's squashed instead of stretched I guess, if we're talking about the pins then.

Nope, worn.

Howdy chain experts.

I recently bought a new chain and fitted it to my bike. It slipped when I was pedalling out the saddle or putting down any significant force, so I thought "aha! I must have left it too long". Shortened it. Same problem, so... you guessed it... shortened it some more and possibly a bit more still (I forget now).

In the cold light of day I can see that my chain is now far too fucking short and it still slips under force. I'm starting to think my rear derailleur may be poorly adjusted but to be honest I don't really know. I'm keen to learn lessons and get a bit more handy with the bike and I've put on a new chain before without issue, but this has left me stumped and on a just about commutable bike. I'll drop it to the LBS next time I have any spare cash, but would appreciate any suggestions and the minimum amount of ridicule.

Ta!

minimum amount of ridicule

Show us the wear on your chain rings and sprockets, then we can judge the level of ridicule which is in order

Nb. This is a different chain (which also slips) 😔

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Change the cassette (and possibly the chainring if it showing wear).

You just fitted a new chain on a worn out drivetrain, even if it said 0.5 on the chain wear tool, there's always a possibility that a couple of sprockets is worn with the chain and likely to cause skipping.