Broken Chain

charliew87
charliew87 Posts: 371
edited May 2012 in Road beginners
After dodgy gears, a broken wheel and crap tyres, my 600 mile old Bianchi's latest issue is a broken chain.

I have no idea how this even happened. One minute I was happily making my way along a quiet flat road at about 17mph in a middle gear on the big ring, the next the chain is wrapped around my foot and looking not too happy. Put it back on, but basically there is one link which has been twisted by nearly 90 degrees so every time it comes round, the chain jumps to a different gear, which is a bit ridiculous.

1 Why do chains randomly break like this?
2 Is it normal for road bikes to break all the time and cost mad amounts to keep alive?
Canyon AL Ultimate 9.0

Comments

  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,178
    Dodgy gears? You mean the cable needed a bit of retensioning? Yes, this is normal
    Broken wheels? What exactly did break?
    What was crap about the tyres? Was the pressure correct?

    No, chains should not break, but they do because they are poor quality and these quick links have made things worse.
    Looks like your bike shop didn't do a good build in the first place.

    That said, and it might not be your case, most people go around with bicycles in shocking conditions, even reasonably new bikes that rattle like old bangers, so no, I am not surprised things break. A light bike is quite delicate and requires a bit of mechanical knowhow to keep running smoothly, it's not like a car that once per year gets a service, in this respect is way under-engineered and needs attention
    left the forum March 2023
  • charliew87
    charliew87 Posts: 371
    Dodgy gears? You mean the cable needed a bit of retensioning? Yes, this is normal
    Broken wheels? What exactly did break?
    What was crap about the tyres? Was the pressure correct?

    No, chains should not break, but they do because they are poor quality and these quick links have made things worse.
    Looks like your bike shop didn't do a good build in the first place.

    That said, and it might not be your case, most people go around with bicycles in shocking conditions, even reasonably new bikes that rattle like old bangers, so no, I am not surprised things break. A light bike is quite delicate and requires a bit of mechanical knowhow to keep running smoothly, it's not like a car that once per year gets a service, in this respect is way under-engineered and needs attention

    Gears were a retensioning thing, which I've had to do a couple of times now.
    Broken wheel - the rear wheel went inexplicably out of shape, egg style. It's currently with Bianchi who will hopefully send me a new one. http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40020&t=12850997&p=17587167#p17587167

    Tyres generally poor, not puncture resistent, also went out of shape with dodgy wheel.

    I can see legit reasons why these things would happen, just don't see how a chain is straight and working one minute, then with a wonky link the next. Looking online, looks like another £15 just for a spare link.
    Canyon AL Ultimate 9.0
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    £15 for a joining link?? You'd be better off getting a replacement KMC chain which includes one!
  • jonomc4
    jonomc4 Posts: 891
    you can get a goodish quality new chain on ebay for about £20 - £35
  • gaddster
    gaddster Posts: 401
    jonomc4 wrote:
    you can get a goodish quality new chain on ebay for about £20 - £35


    merlin are doing dura ace 7901 chains for 32.25, can't really beat that and cycle surgery will match that price. got one on saturday and it's a very smooth chain.
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