MIT Atlantis and chain length

[LBleriot]

So, I bought an MIT Atlantis from a fellow member of the bunch, and am learning the pros and cons of those rrrreeeaaalllyyy long chainstays. They provide a nice comfy ride, but caused me some head scratching when it came to fitting a chain. I set up the Atlantis as traditional rambler/tourer with drop bars, bar end shifters, triple crankset, an 8 speed cassette and Altus front and rear derailleurs. After reading that Riv uses KMC 116 link chains, I put one on my new ride. No go; in the big ring, the derailleur stretches too much. So, back to the shop I went for another chain to add 6 links to the original chain. Time to bust out the old school skill of breaking and re-pinning the chain. Am I the only one to experience this?

[John Hawrylak]

The chain length calculation for a 52cm stay (53cm MIT-Atlantis) with a 46 ring and 36 cog gives 124 links.  So your just about correct.

Stay lengths > = 48cm typically require >116 links.  The MIT-AHH's should just fit a 116L chain (stay = 47.5cm), depending on the large ring and big cog..

This came before and Grant P suggested buying chain in bulk.

John Hawrylak

Woodstown NJ

[Kainalu V. -Brooklyn NY]

New school says two masterlinks and Grant's your uncle, but that might make me like school in summer? I know the skills of chain pinning, and I respect the game, but masterlinks are soooo easy.
-Kai

[Deacon Patrick]

Use masterlinks. It is so fiddly to get the pins popped in properly, and even when I thought I did, SNAP! POP! POP! go chains on a climb. Hasn't happened since I shifted to masterlinks for any chain connection work.

With abandon,
Patrick

[esoterica etc]

I came upon this same issue as I’m building up a Clem (with similar chainstay length to the MIT Atlantis) from just a frame. I contacted Riv to find out what length of chain was needed, and Will responded that they sell KMC chain in bulk and can cut you the proper length based on your chainring and cassette. Seems like the best option- that way you don’t have to worry about splicing chains or using two master links. Plus, you’ll be supporting Riv at the same time. Win-win in my book.

~Mark
Raleigh, NC

> On Jul 3, 2019, at 20:06, Kainalu V. -Brooklyn NY <kaivi...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> New school says two masterlinks and Grant's your uncle, but that might make me like school in summer? I know the skills of chain pinning, and I respect the game, but masterlinks are soooo easy.
> -Kai
>

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[John Hawrylak]

Mark

Wouldn't be nice if RBW told you this when you bought the frame (VBG)??  An informed consumer is the best customer.

John Hawrylak

Woodstown NJ

On Wednesday, July 3, 2019 at 8:19:52 PM UTC-4, esoterica etc wrote:

I came upon this same issue as I’m building up a Clem (with similar chainstay length to the MIT Atlantis) from just a frame. I contacted Riv to find out what length of chain was needed, and Will responded that they sell KMC chain in bulk and can cut you the proper length based on your chainring and cassette. Seems like the best option- that way you don’t have to worry about splicing chains or using two master links. Plus, you’ll be supporting Riv at the same time. Win-win in my book.

~Mark
Raleigh, NC


> On Jul 3, 2019, at 20:06, Kainalu V. -Brooklyn NY <kaivi...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> New school says two masterlinks and Grant's your uncle, but that might make me like school in summer? I know the skills of chain pinning, and I respect the game, but masterlinks are soooo easy.
> -Kai
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.

> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com.

[esoterica etc]

John,

Actually, I bought the frame from a third party, not directly from Riv. I’ve had nothing but stellar customer service every time I interact with them, so I’d like to think they would give folks who buy frames a heads up on something like that. 

~Mark 

Raleigh, NC

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[LBleriot]

Thanks John and everybody else! Even with the longer chain and the big pulley wheel on the Altus, it gets a little nutty in the big-big and small-small combos. And yes, I think Riv should put a note on website that certain drivetrains might require a longer chain.

[WETH]

I can’t speak for all models, but they have this text at the end of the description for Cheviots:
“NOTE ON CHAIN LENGTH: Because the chainstays of the 55 and 60 Cheviot are longer than a normal bike, you will need to use two chains, or 120-124ish links, depending on your drivetrain configuration. Start with 6 extra lynx and use your best judgement. The chain is the right length when it pulls the derailer cage free of and parallel to the chain itself when wrapped around the smallest cog and the smallest chainring -- i.e., the derailer cage will be flexed slightly. Here's the venerable Sheldon Brown's method, for an alternate take.”
https://www.rivbike.com/collections/framesets/products/frame-cheviot
All the best,
Erl

[Joe Bernard]

I was just about to mention that. I believe the chain note used to be on various model descriptions, but seems to have faded out with subsequent site updates. I suppose at some point Riv folks are expected to expect the chain issue like tandem and recumbent people do.

[ctifusion]

I had the same thing happen when I was building mine last summer. Last thing on the build was the chain and it didn't fit! But I had splurged for a 1x10 set up so I didn't have any extra links in the parts bin (first 10-speed bike for me). I had to add several links from another chain, which made it a $100 chain total (which hurt at the end of an expensive build!). But now I have extra 10 speed links for life. I also now thing my chain is a bit too long so prob should have just asked the LBS if they had a couple extra lying around. I think it's pretty easy to add links with a quality (Park) chain tool, just be slow and careful and be sure to bend the chain laterally both ways with some strength to loosen up the pins.

Post a pic! I also run drops on mine.

Brynnar

Indy

[LBleriot]

[Joe Bernard]

Nice job!👍

[Benz, Sunnyvale, CA]

On Wednesday, July 3, 2019 at 7:15:01 PM UTC-7, WETH wrote:

I can’t speak for all models, but they have this text at the end of the description for Cheviots:
“NOTE ON CHAIN LENGTH: Because the chainstays of the 55 and 60 Cheviot are longer than a normal bike, you will need to use two chains, or 120-124ish links, depending on your drivetrain configuration. Start with 6 extra lynx and use your best judgement. The chain is the right length when it pulls the derailer cage free of and parallel to the chain itself when wrapped around the smallest cog and the smallest chainring -- i.e., the derailer cage will be flexed slightly. Here's the venerable Sheldon Brown's method, for an alternate take.”

Would that be wild lynx, or semi-domesticated (OK, less wild) ones? I suspect if one uses wild lynx, the chain will be prone to jumping off the chainrings or cogs, even if they're caged by the derailleurs.