What affect does chain length have?

raca

I haven't ridden in years but recently i've got back into it. Over the years ive lost chain links slowly but surely and im just wondering what affect my shorter chain has? Does it explain the occasional slipped gear or make pedalling harder, etc?

Sorry if this is a simple/stupid question but i couldnt find any answers on google. Thanks[;)]

nicklouse

chain too short some gears will not be useable.

skipping and other things worn parts.

nick
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raca

thanks for the fast reply, i dont have the money to replace parts at the minute but worn parts sound likely. I'll try a new chain that my m8 has spare and see what the difference is. I can't use my smallest gear atm so that would make sence.

Finally another quick question - looking through the top 10 "hot-cross bun"s: http://www.mbuk.com/readerphotos/morewood.jpg what would you call the thing wrapped around the frame to prevent chain slap? ill have a search around ebay for one of those if i knew what they were called

joshleb

Y may not be able to go into your big gears becasue the chain may not be long enough,
IIRC you tend to get chain-skip if your chain is too long, so the shortness probably isnt the problem

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JammyH

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by raca</i>

Finally another quick question - looking through the top 10 "hot-cross bun"s: http://www.mbuk.com/readerphotos/morewood.jpg what would you call the thing wrapped around the frame to prevent chain slap? ill have a search around ebay for one of those if i knew what they were called
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
That would be a chainstay protector [:)] Oh and its as easy to wrap an old inner tube around it as it is to buy one.

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<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by DJIP</i>

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