Regarding Long Chains

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Bill Lindsay

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Mar 1, 2020, 11:24:15 AM3/1/20
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If you have a long chainstay bike like a MIT Atlantis or a Clem, etc, you'll need a chain longer than a regular 116 link chain.  There are a few ways to get this done:

1. Some people like me stock up on chains, and when they need a long one they splice two together, and go.  The massive excess on chain #2 becomes the next donor for the next time I need a chain.  I get roughly 4 long chains out of 5 real chains.   

2. Some people buy two chains, make one long chain, and discard or mislay the excess.  Some of those people complain about how Rivendells are twice as expensive to maintain, or point out how it is crazy that Grant shouldn't designs bikes with long chainstays in the first place.  

3. Rivendell has a long chain they can sell you https://www.rivbike.com/collections/chains/products/long-chain but it's Out of Stock

I'm posting this to explain how that long chain thing works.  They have a huge continuous roll of chain.  To get chains "In Stock" somebody just needs to put aside the time to cut 20 lengths off the roll, and put them in ziploc bags.  I went in yesterday, needing a chain for my MIT Atlantis.  Will walked me back there to the roll, cut off a length and tossed it in the bag and sold it to me.  He said "man, I need to make some of these and put them up on the site".  As he was making mine, Vince walked by and said "Oh, good, you're making long chains for the site!"  

So if you need a long 9-speed chain, Riv can definitely sell you one.  If it's not in stock, call them up and say "Make 10 and sell me one".  They'll make it happen for you.  

Bill Lindsay
El Cerrito, CA


'
 

Rivendell Bicycle Works has a part number for a long chain:  https://www.rivbike.com/collections/chains/products/long-chain

tc

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Mar 1, 2020, 11:38:06 AM3/1/20
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This is true. This very thing happened recently on a call I had with Vince. Out of stock just means they haven’t had the time to cut’em & bag’em.

Tom

Robert Tilley

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Mar 1, 2020, 1:15:50 PM3/1/20
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Are you just using quick-connects to splice the chains? So two quick-connects per finished chain? I need to create a couple of long chains and this was my plan. Mine will be 9-speed and I understand the pins on those should not be reused.

Robert Tilley
San Diego, CA

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Sent: March 1, 2020 8:24 AM
Subject: [RBW] Regarding Long Chains

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Joe Bernard

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Mar 1, 2020, 1:35:29 PM3/1/20
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Robert, that's what I do. Technically I suppose you're not supposed to use two quick-links because it introduces another weak spot, but I have it on a Clem with an electric rear hub and haven't had a problem. There's some serious stress going through there.

Ed Carolipio

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Mar 1, 2020, 2:09:51 PM3/1/20
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A second quick link works to join two chains but Shimano offers replacement chain pins if you want a cleaner look. Here's the 9 speed version:


I made the mistake of reusing a pin when I assembled my first superlong chain for a Surly Big Dummy and the link popped when I started up at a light. Just happened to be carrying 50 lbs of gear that day and didn't happen to bring along a chain tool...

Also, to add to Bill's list, I use the leftover chain, along with a sacrificial tube, to secure saddles on bikes I plan to lock up. There I do re-use the pin since the chain isn't really being stressed.

--Ed C.

Robert Tilley

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Mar 1, 2020, 2:40:00 PM3/1/20
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Thanks! This will be on a tandem but, even as a team, we won't be putting out the power that an electric rear hub would.

Robert "low torque" Tilley
San Diego, CA


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Robert Tilley

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Mar 2, 2020, 1:13:16 AM3/2/20
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This is good info. I'd forgotten that replacement pins are available.  I'll be using KMC chains and I bet Shimano pins would work. I have extra quick links now so I'll use those first but will probably pick up some pins to have on hand.

Robert Tilley
San Diego, CA

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Sent: March 1, 2020 11:09 AM
Subject: Re: [RBW] Regarding Long Chains
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James / Analog Cycles

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Mar 4, 2020, 4:33:44 PM3/4/20
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tooting my own horn here, but if you want a nice Connex chain, we sell them, with two quick links and extra lengths of chain, in every size and type, 9, 10 and 11 speed.   It's an option on our connex chain product page.  We call it the XL chain.  Often needed for certain 1x gearing set ups as well. So if you say, want a 9 speed stainless chain for your clem, we have it.  Connex chains last significantly longer than SRAM, KMC and Shimano chains, if you are into that kinda thing.  Chains rarely fail at the quick link.  You don't want two right next to each other, so you end up trimming the base chain a bit, so the quick links end up at least 6 links away.  Better shifting if nothing else.  

James, Analog Cycles, Riv Dealer o' Vermont
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