Avoiding loop/twisted chain

daustin
daustin Posts: 17
edited July 2016 in Road general
I've had a couple instances where I've gotten loops in the chain when changing the back wheel. They can be such a pain to them out. One time I used a chain breaker. Today it happened when changing a flat. Luckily I was able to get the loops out. If I'm at home I make sure to use a chain keeper. I don't want to carry that on my rides but am wondering if just using a rubbing band attaching the topside of the chain to seat stay might work? anybody do this or have other tips? I also just need to be more careful and aware of how my chain is sitting.

Comments

  • sungod
    sungod Posts: 17,379
    never had that happen, if you fit a removable link it'd make it easy to resolve should it recur, but really it's a case of doing as you say and being more careful
    my bike - faster than god's and twice as shiny
  • trailflow
    trailflow Posts: 1,311
    edited July 2016
    Unless your removing the wheel in an unconventional way i dont see how this would be a regular occurance. Only way i can see it happening is if you unhook it from the front chainring and its free to swing and dangle all over.

    This is how i do it

    1. Drop the chain into the highest gear (smallest last cog) to make re-inserting the wheel easier
    2. Turn your bike upside down
    3. Remove skewer completely
    4. Push the RD body and upper jockey wheel out of the way with left hand whilst pulling the wheel out with the right hand
    5. When re-installing. Push the RD body again and hook the chain on the last cog and guide and seat the wheel in the drop outs.
    6. Refit skewer

    The chain stays inline and rests on itself through the process. i try not to touch the chain at all if i can help it.

    How do you go about looping it ??
  • plowmar
    plowmar Posts: 1,032
    As with other posters I haven't experienced the event described. I would go with 'trailflow' re removing and refitting wheel, although the removal and refitting of the skewer slightly bemuses me as I tend to do it with it insitu.
  • trailflow
    trailflow Posts: 1,311
    Just slides back in easier i find. Less frustration = clean hands
  • webboo
    webboo Posts: 6,087
    I was told on my first ever club run a sign of the incompetent was to place your bike upside down. :D
  • plowmar
    plowmar Posts: 1,032
    As I only have one pair of hands I would find it extremely inefficient to try to change a tube whilst maintaining the bike in an upright position to mend a puncture whilst outside and no stand available.
  • webboo
    webboo Posts: 6,087
    Lay it down, hang it on something with the saddle. The comment was made in the days of exposed brake levers, so they got crushed when you put your bike upside down.
    Never seen a bike mechanic do it though.
  • imposter2.0
    imposter2.0 Posts: 12,028
    As others have already said - never had this happen to me, ever. I can't really imagine how it is happening as the result of a simple wheel change anyway.
  • darkhairedlord
    darkhairedlord Posts: 7,180
    you fix your own punctures?
  • daustin
    daustin Posts: 17
    trailflow wrote:
    Unless your removing the wheel in an unconventional way i dont see how this would be a regular occurance. Only way i can see it happening is if you unhook it from the front chainring and its free to swing and dangle all over.

    This is how i do it

    1. Drop the chain into the highest gear (smallest last cog) to make re-inserting the wheel easier
    2. Turn your bike upside down
    3. Remove skewer completely
    4. Push the RD body and upper jockey wheel out of the way with left hand whilst pulling the wheel out with the right hand
    5. When re-installing. Push the RD body again and hook the chain on the last cog and guide and seat the wheel in the drop outs.
    6. Refit skewer

    The chain stays inline and rests on itself through the process. i try not to touch the chain at all if i can help it.

    How do you go about looping it ??

    It's happened a couple of times. The most recent I did happen to notice that after removing the rear wheel the chain on the front chainring was loose. And I was on the side of the road and ground was sloped so top part of the chain probably fell below and created loops maybe when I was moving frame or something. This is my triathlon bike and unfortunately the rear dropouts are horizontal which is slightly annoying because I have to actually pull the chain back to get the cassette off as opposed to vertical dropouts where it can just drop out.
  • daustin
    daustin Posts: 17
    This is actually a good video explaining the problem and how to get out of it. Obviously it's not always this simple

    https://youtu.be/6iuLauaK0Ao

    In my scenario, I did not have the bike upside down but on it's side on a downward slope. Probably the easiest way to deal with it if I am out on the road is to have a quick link.
  • fenix
    fenix Posts: 5,437
    Never in thirty years of cycling have I had a loop or seen anyone with a loop in the chain.

    Just pay attention when you take the wheel off and when you reinsert it.
  • mallorcajeff
    mallorcajeff Posts: 1,489
    As fenix said. And i fail to see how putting a bike upside down? Your club ride must be a right joyous bunch. Jeez shame having cycled over 50 thousand miles i would still be described as an amatuer. Sound like a right opinionated lot that sap the fun out of riding. Got a club local to me like that with over 1000 members that seem along the same lines. Thats why i always ride alone.
  • webboo
    webboo Posts: 6,087
    Its a good way to end up with a scuffed saddle and brakehoods. If you read my first post again you will see it was in the time before concealed cables, so quite a while ago.
  • fenix
    fenix Posts: 5,437
    Must admit I don't put my bike upside down.

    DEFINITELY not on concrete - that's a noob mistake as you will scuff your hoods and saddle.

    Maybe on grass but its just easier to lay it on its side - again on grass - or off a nearby fence.
  • Alex99
    Alex99 Posts: 1,407
    daustin wrote:
    This is actually a good video explaining the problem and how to get out of it. Obviously it's not always this simple

    https://youtu.be/6iuLauaK0Ao

    In my scenario, I did not have the bike upside down but on it's side on a downward slope. Probably the easiest way to deal with it if I am out on the road is to have a quick link.

    That's amazing. Never seen it happen. I take it that folks always put the chain on the big ring before taking the wheel out? No need to turn the bike upside down. I fail to see how this helps.

    Steps:
    1) put the bike in big ring and smallest sprocket.
    2) release the brake QR
    3) standing on the non-drive side of the bike holding saddle or top tube with left hand, release the wheel QR with right hand
    4) lift the bike off the ground
    5) wheel drops out with the cassette catching on the lower part of the chain
    6) move the chain around the edge of the wheel to fully free it from the bike
    7) catch the rear wheel with right hand and lay it down
    8 ) lay bike down on it's side on a soft surface

    Lots of steps, takes about 10 seconds.

Categories