SS specific chains

[ArmOnFire]

On my SS ride today, I snapped my chain on a climb.
The pin ripped through the end of the link.
It is a SRAM PCxx

What are you using on your SS?
Do you use a BMX chain?

I should have known something was going to go wrong:
Friday the 13th
Trails I've only ridden once
(last year w/AA-->Stow conservation land)



Ended up getting lost walking out.
The trails there are fun, definately going back.

[bdee]

I heard Sram is now making a SS chain. I've always used a heavy cheap 8 spd Sram chain. The only one I ever broke was an old 9 spd Sram chain on a worn ramped ring and cog. I like to learn my lessons the hard way ::)

[ArmOnFire]

Thanks, it was a SRAM 8-speed chain

I had a chain tool, but the link was beyond repair, and I couldn't make it work without that link, so I will be carrying extra links from now on.

[ssnoobie]

I do not have a lot of experience, but here you go:

I am currently using the KMC Z chain that came on my bike. Another guy I ride with uses the Z chains on his SS and likes them. He rides exclusively SS and puts on a lot of miles.

On my winter beater I have an old uniglide chain that I pieced together. Even with a bad chainline, multiple tossed chains, a worn chainring and cog, and my decidely amateur SS riding style, I did not break that chain.

All that being said, I have some SRAM PC58s on my bench waiting to replace the Z chain when it wears out. A lot of people on the bikeforums board seem to have good luck with those. I got them on sale, and I like the idea of having a master link.

[bdee]

The nice thing about Sram chains is that even without an extra master link you can fix it without a special pin, unlike Shimano chains. All you need is a chain tool.

[jaime]

FWIW, all the zealots on the fixed gear mailing list speak very highly of the Izumi track chains. If it's strong enough for a track bike/fixed gear, I doubt it'd give any reason for complaint on a SS. got to make sure your cog is sized right, though.

And, they ain't cheap ::)

[gnurider1080]

sram 8 speed chains work good. cheap, reliable and work on cogs and chainrings that are for 9 or 8 speed chains.

[PutAwayWet]

From the Surly webpage:

"4. 1/2x1/8" chains vs. 1/2x3/32" chains. 1/2x1/8" chains suck. Run whatever you want, but bigger isn’t better here. Yeah, they’re wider, but according to manufacturer-supplied data, they’re not stronger and they are definitely not of better quality. Multi-speed drivetrains is where the bucks are at, and chains that work on such drivetrains are where the manufacturers of chains showcase their innovations and developments in quality. The rollers are better, the plates are better, the pins are stronger, and the construction method (riveting procedure) is better on all multi-speed 3/32" chains. I guess if you grind your chainring and chain down the handrail every night at the local pub, a bigger 1/2x1/8 " chain will last longer, but most of us don’t and it won’t."

Based on that, I use a SRAM (XT level, whatever the number is) 9 spd chain on my SS with no problems....so far (knock on wood)

[DT]

Yea I saw that Surly wrote that, kind of surprised me. I agree to a certain point that the 9 spd chains should be better technology wise, but the plates are still thinner. After going through a 9 spd Shimano chain and an 8 spd SRAM chain, I settled on KMC Rustbuster singlespeed chain. Something about riding fixie off road really stresses the chain and the KMC has really held up.

I ran it for a little over a year, which included one race season (14 races) and probably about 5 rides a week. At one point in the season I dropped the chain and bent a link, managed to bend it back and it held strong the rest of the season.

One other positive is it resists rust a lot better than other chains. Great for singlespeeders who would rather be riding than maintaining...

DT