ultimate noob chain question

Clum84
Clum84 Posts: 196
edited July 2009 in Road beginners
Right as per the title i need some help regarding chains. I got a Giant SCR3 last Aug as my first road bike for a trip from Paris to Turin and it's sat in my garage unloved since then. I've just got it out with a mind to brave the Edinburgh roads on it and found the chain is unsuprisingly, all seized up. Now i've not done any work on a bike since i was about 16 so need to just confirm which size chain i need to order to replace it. I reckon it's an 8 speed i'm after as the bikes a 24spd triple with a 30/39/50 on the front and a 12-26 cassette. Is this correct?

Also if anyone could reccomend a good chain to replace it with preferably sub £25 that would be great! i think the stock one was a Shimano HG73 which lasted me fine 600 odd miles including the alps so is it worth just chucking another one of them on or should i look at something more?

Cheers!
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Comments

  • will3
    will3 Posts: 2,173
    it's 8 speed if you have 8 cogs on the back, 9 speed if you have 9 cogs. 12-26 doesn't really tell us much as you don;'t say how many other gears there are between 12 and 26 .Personally I'd go with SRAM chain as you can take it on and off more easily.

    PS 8 speed chain is 3/32" wide. THat's the same as 6 and 7 speed chain.
  • Clum84
    Clum84 Posts: 196
    Thanks for that, it's an 8 cog so 8 speed it is. They're Sram cogs as well so an Sram chain makes sense. just wanted to make sure before i embarrassed myself in the bike shop!

    Thanks
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  • will3
    will3 Posts: 2,173
    All chains are the same fit so long as you have the correct width. Each link is half an inch long (or 1 inch depending on what you call a link), so it doesn;t really matter what brand you get from a fit point of view so long as it is the correct width.
    So SRAM/shimano/KMC will probably all give you decent service if installed correctly.
    Personally I' give TAYA a miss though.
    You will also need to adjust the length to suit your installation for which you will need a chain tool.

    http://www.bicyclinglife.com/HowTo/ChangeAChain.htm
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    I'd recommend KMC or SRAM simply for the convenience of having the joining link. Or you could get the Shimano chain and a KMC link to join it (I just did this with my original Shimano 10 spd chain to make future removal / refitting easier)
  • Clum84
    Clum84 Posts: 196
    thanks for the replies. Theres an they've got a few SRAM chains in stock up at edinburgh bikes so i'll pop up for a look.

    Thanks
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