Tight chain

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  • Hi everyone!!I just today got a genesis flyer so even after many years cycling i have my first single speed bike.First impressions are great and enjoyed the short spin i had on it.Only thing i have noticed is the chain is very ,very tight.Is this normal and will it loosen up and stretch with a bit of mileage?Ta

  • It's better to have it tight. If it's loose you're in risk of throwing the chain due to the lack of a derailleur, which is an inconvenience on a singlespeed and a potentially lethal problem on a fixie.

  • Ok,thanks very much for that reply.I bought the bike online and was a bit taken back by the tightness of the chain.Cheers

  • No worries. Does the flyer come with a fixed cog too? If so, give it a go! On a quiet road. At least at first. : )

  • You want it firm but not too tight, otherwise there's too much friction on the drivetrain, enough for it to spin smoothly without binding.

  • Good point, just turn the bike upside down and turn the pedals. If it feels like its binding slacken it off a bit, but not too much. I assumed you'd bought it from a shop in which case you'd expect it to be set up properly. It's probably fine anyways

  • I bought the bike from the cyclists touring club website and unknown to me they use a supplier "evans cycles".The bike was set up ,even the tyres pumped up,i just had to put pedals on and turn round handlebars.I live in South Belfast where its full of monster hills.First big one i hit i thought no way can i cycle up this without gears and was about to turn back ,but i just kept going and felt great at the top.I have a very "Irish" reason for buying a single speed as i thought gears made it too easy and wanted to actually push myself.The chain adjustments were at their limit ,it binds very slighty but i reckon when i get a few miles on it,it should be fine.No sure about about using the fixed side yet ,one step at a time!!!

  • Once you get used to fixed, you will never go back to freewheel.

  • Very true. Its amazing how quickly you get used to it too! Well then again this is in relatively flat london... Take it easy on those hills

  • Well.. not sure about that but fixed is nice fo sho.

    RE: tension.. you don't want it binding.. it just wears out your driveline quicker.. http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed.html#tension

  • tone34 Once you get used to fixed, you will never go back to freewheel.

    Definitely. I've only been riding fixed for a few months but it just feels really weird to ride with a freewheel now, I feel more secure and in control fixed.

  • Ah! An Irish person.. wrong Ireland though! Welcome aboard. Eat those hills!

  • Yeah, trusting for the chain to stretch to make it not bind is not a good way to go.

    Bear in mind that the first time you take the back wheel off to fix a punture, you will have to reset the chain tension by hand, so you might as well do it now rather than wearing down your drivetrain.

    Read Sheldon on how to set the rear wheel position correctly to get a good tension. (Ignore the part about the chain wheel and stack bolts, that is not normally needed, particularly on a new bike.)

  • Actually, I like to run mine a little slack, usually people say you want about 1/2inch of play in it but I just set it so there is just a little visible sag to it.

    I believe that a chain doesnt have to be binding in order to be tight enough to accellerate the wear to your drivetrain, and if you have a half decent chainline (like on a new bike) then derailling should be unlikely. I heard that the old trackie test was to set the peddles spinning then shake the bike up and down, if the chain stayed on the cogs then it was good.

  • Doesn't that annoy you when you trackstand, the pedals moving through the slack, back and forward?

  • Saggy chains... (sharp intake of breath)

  • Hi again everyone across the water!!! I got in touch with the local genesis dealer in Belfast today and told them about the tight chain. Buying a bike online was something i was wary about in case there were any problems.The guy in the shop said he wouldnt be able to check the bike until next week.Also when i told him i bought the bike online he was a bit hesitant about warranty etc.Is it really worth saving 30 or 40 pounds online and ending up being a second class customer?????Anyhow i cycled over to a nearby shop and guy had a look at it and said it was fine .I told him i was worried about snapping the chain but he said it was a good quality one .He also said BMX chains are set up just as tightly.He gave the chain a slight adjustment and best of all no charge!!!Still getting used to going uphill and feeling the "burn"!!!Cheers guys!!!

  • Depends.. in London, everybody already IS a second class customer! :)

  • You will get to know when your bike is running well the more you ride. Maybe get yourself some tools and work on your bike a bit so you dont have to rely on your lbs too much. Half the fun for me is working on my bike.

  • I just realized what whisper back does, tell me if I am wrong but when you whisper to someone then only that person sees the message.

  • You are correct.. whisperign is for private messages to the person you whisper.

  • asm It's better to have it tight. If it's loose you're in risk of throwing the chain due to the lack of a derailleur, which is an inconvenience on a singlespeed and a potentially lethal problem on a fixie.

    A bit ignorant I know, but lethal how? Am assuming if it throws the chain it'll just hang either side of the ring? even if it does jam, it'll just cause you to skid?

    Feel free to correct me, am still a newbie in all things fixie?

  • If it comes off the chainring and wraps around the crank arm you stop.. quick like. Possible crash.
    If it wedges inboard it can lock the wheel and if you don't have a lockring or have a poorly fitted one, it will unscrew the cog and destroy other bits of your bike or leave your without any method of stopping (if brakeless).
    Umm...

  • Here's some more: http://fixiefaqs.xwiki.com/xwiki/bin/view/Main/WebHome#Q1.12

    and if you're a newb then this is worthwhile reading through. As is 63xc.com and um Sheldon's stuff and.. you get the idea :)

  • Aaah, an idiots guide to fixed riding, just what the doctor ordered...

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Tight chain

Posted by Avatar for billy @billy

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