Bicycle chains are made according to
two(three) common standards , 1/8 and 3/32 of an inch in size(3.175mm and
2.38mm respectively). 1/8ths chains are usually reserved for
single speed, BMX and other similar applications. This is mainly due
to the fact that a chain that size has very thick links and does not
bend/flex very well.
The thinner chain (3/32) is used for
for bicycles that have up to 21 gears (3 chainrings in front, 8 in
back). If your bicycle has 5 gears in the back and 2 in the front,
you can easily buy a 7-speed chain and use it successfully(just make
sure the cassette/freewheel gears have not worn out too much,
otherwise the new chain might start skipping).
There are several sizes of chain
available, but they all share one feature in common – they link
length from center to center is 1/2 inch (half an inch, 12.7mm). The
common thicknesses are listed below:
1/8 – BMX, singlespeed, biketrials
3/32 – bicycles with
cassettes/freewheeles, between 5 and 8 gears in the rear
11/128 – bicycles with cassettes,
between 9 and 11 gears in the rear
Since there are many types of bicycles
out there, there are also a host of different sizes, uses and
coatings available that help prolong chain-life and keep systems
running longer. Check from your local bikes hop or online to see which
chain matches up with your bicycle. Having the right chain makes sure
that you also have the best performance and reliability.
No comments:
Post a Comment