best way to size a chain

[tony edwards]

May be a dumb question but here goes?
What is the best and easiest way of sizing a chain. I have done a search on the internet and have seen so many different ways I m now confused.
Many thanks Tony

 

[Harryburgundy]

General rule of thumb is biggest cog to biggest chainring (not running through the rear mech) + two links. I run a bit tighter.

 

[Steve Kish]

I use smallest to smallest without chain slack and then one link less. I regularly use this combination but never use biggest to biggest.

A lot also depends on the length of your rear derailleur cage.

 

[Harryburgundy]

I use smallest to smallest without chain slack and then one link less. I regularly use this combination but never use biggest to biggest.

A lot also depends on the length of your rear derailleur cage.

That I gotta see..that's a very short chain :shock: Agree with the mech though

 

[Tazio]

Biggest to biggest with the rear deraileur almost as flat as it goes, then slack it off a coupe of links. Gives you a nice tight chain with little slop.

 

[Xesh]

I measure it by going on the two smallest and shortening it so that the chain just clears the rear mech cage.

If it's on a single chainring set-up then I measure it on the largest sprocket and tension the r mech as much as possible.

 

[Andy B]

I've used both the big/big (bypass r.mech) method & the small/small (not dragging on r mech cage) method, both work

Be aware that if it's a full susser you may need to account for chain growth as the suspension compresses.

 

[Charlieboy28]

sort of related,and school boy stuff so i apologise for the hijack, i did big big with two links on a recent build, worked fine gears perfectly indexed and all that, been using the bike quite infrequently really as its the childseat bike 2-300 miles maybe, now when on the middle ring and smallest two (7 and at the back it starts skipping, doesnt happen on big ring in any gear, and doesnt skip when no tension on chain, i.e when bike is upsde down or turning cranks when not riding, havent tried it on granny to tell you the truth, does this sound like a link too many after the chain has bedded in type problem? all new rings, cassette and chain so everything has had equal use,

thoughts folks?

 

[outlander]

I've always use this method http://bicycletutor.com/calculate-chain-length/

 

[taffy]

I've always use this method http://bicycletutor.com/calculate-chain-length/

Thats mine too.

large - large and then add 1 whole link.
(for suspension designs do it with the rear suspension at full compression - ie max stretch)
I was always told/led to believe chain length will be the same irrespective of rear mech cage length - and that a long cage is more able to cope with small small combination's by taking up more slack.