Chain

dinyull

Managed to snap my chain on the ride in to work this morning (cheers to the fellow cyclist offering me a chain link!!!).

Just looking at ordering a new one, but a little overwhelmed and confused at the different options. I'm running a 9spd Tiagra/105 mix - will any 9 speed chain work?

Any recommendations???

Cheers

keef66

Any 9 speed chain will work. Some people recommend KMC because they include a reusable joining link. SRAM include a link but it's not meant to be reusable. Shimano persist in joining their chains with a snap-off joining pin, though you can use a KMC link, available separately, with Shimano chains, but that then works out a bit dearer.

Whatever you buy, you'll need a chain tool to cut the chain to the correct length.

simonj

As above, I think KMC make the best chains, so if in budget I'd sway you towards one of them.

Ouija

The 9 speed SRAM quick connect link is reusable, i believe (done so many times). It's the 10 speed SRAM chains that have the non-reusable link, i seem to recall.

keef66

Ouija wrote:

The 9 speed SRAM quick connect link is reusable, i believe (done so many times). It's the 10 speed SRAM chains that have the non-reusable link, i seem to recall.

That rings a bell. PowerLink reusable and PowerLock not. I stand corrected. SRAM or KMC then, whichever is cheapest / shiniest.

I've generally used Shimano chains with KMC links. Occasional experiments with suspiciously cheap alternatives off the internet have invariably proved false economy.

farrina

Dinyull wrote:

Any recommendations???

Not a recommendation, more an observation.

You don't say how old your chain/cassette combination is. Bear in mind, depending on how worn they are, that you may also need to purchase a new cassette. You will soon find out if the the cassette is worn after you install the new chain and you start experiencing chain slip.

dinyull

Bike is 4 years old, has a fair few k on it and no drive train has been replaced so far. Cassette looks pretty good, no obvious sign of wear.

ai_1

This should do fine if you just want a standard Shimano chain
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/e ... rp-prod247

dj58

Is it the original O.E. chain, What mileage?

DiscoBoy

KMC X9L Silver 9 Spd

keef66

4 years old and several 000 km? My guess is that although the cassette doesn't look worn, when you fit the new chain and do your first hill-start it will skip like a 6 year old girl.

dinyull

Tbh, for a little while I've been thinking of upgrading to 5700 105, so for the sake of an extra £200 (looking at £100 for cassette, front mech, chain, cables) I might just go for it.

keef66

£30 for a 9 speed chain and cassette vs £300 for a 105 groupset?

I have 9 speed Tiagra on one bike and 10 speed 105 on the other, and in the dark I'd be hard pressed to tell which is which.

Matthewfalle

KMC chains rock - very good value for money (ie cost tuppence and last for donkey's years and miles with no issues). Also come with the fabled KMC quick link which is brilliant.

9 speed - probably £15 or so from CRC?

Re upgrading - don't bother changing the front mech, waste of time and money - its just a metal guard that swings across.

Chain, cassette (to match new chain), cable inners and outers for now. Save the money from the front mech and put it in the big pot of hidden money until you find Red or D/A on sale and get some shifters and rear mech.

dinyull

Front mech is a need not a want, seized up over the winter.

Cheers for all the input, ordered new cassette and chain last night.