New Cassette/Chain

cambs-rider
cambs-rider Posts: 3
edited March 2013 in Workshop
I've just bought some new wheels for my road bike. The wheels didn't come with a cassette so I've bought a 11-25 tiagra 9 speed. What is the best chain to use with this cassette? I think at the moment I've just got a standard Shimano 9 speed chain. I've read about KMC chains being good. Would I just be able to buy this chain and fit it to the bike out of the box?

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=25423

Thanks

Comments

  • sungod
    sungod Posts: 17,414
    chain will be fine

    but whatever chain you get will need cutting to the correct length, a chain tool does this, for instance...

    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... delID=7843
    my bike - faster than god's and twice as shiny
  • cambs-rider
    cambs-rider Posts: 3
    Sorry for the nooby question but how do I know what length to cut the chain?

    Thanks for your help
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Various methods. One is to put chain round biggest chainring and biggest sprocket on the cassette, but not through the rear mech, then add 2 whole links (a link is 1 outer plus 1 inner)

    Shimano sometimes recommend that the rear derailleur jockey wheels are vertically aligned when in the big chainring / smallest sprocket (and with the chain correctly routed through the rear mech obv.)
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,666
    Believe another way to tell is to run the chain on big/big, not through derailleur and add 2 links - check the Shimano pdfs.

    EdiT: Anyway, better to go too long than too short. If then, small/small looks too slack, you can always take out another link.
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    coriordan wrote:
    Believe another way to tell is to run the chain on big/big, not through derailleur and add 2 links

    So that's the first one I mentioned then? :wink:
  • sungod
    sungod Posts: 17,414
    there's a guide, with pictures, to various methods here...

    http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-hel ... gth-sizing

    how to cut the chain...

    http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-hel ... leur-bikes

    the kmc chain is supplied with a removable "missing link", which makes it very easy to fit once you have the length correct
    my bike - faster than god's and twice as shiny
  • ratsbeyfus
    ratsbeyfus Posts: 2,841
    A third way of doing it is to wrap chain round big chainring and largest rear sprocket, bypass the rear mech and add two whole links. Recommended if you have a triple.

    I had one of them red bikes but I don't any more. Sad face.

    @ratsbey
  • g00se
    g00se Posts: 2,221
    And another option is to measure your chainstay and apply the 'rigorous' equation from here;
    http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-hel ... gth-sizing

    Or just use this tool to do the maths for you:
    http://www.machinehead-software.co.uk/b ... hcalc.html
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    Or, the easier solution is, if the new cassette has the same range as the old, just make the chain the same length as the old!
    Faster than a tent.......
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,666
    Unless its worn so much that it appears 1 link longer....

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