Which Chain? (Chains / Size / Width / Wear)

so i now have road bike. woop.

i've got a 10 speed campag chain which advises use of their own link section if you want to open and re-close.

will i be needing to open and re-close often? is it worth it? does it compromise the chain efficiency at all? is there a better product?!

I take the chain off to clean it.
It's also usesful if you brake a chain to be able to take it off/add more links easily. I always carry a spare quick link.

For the price fo that link kit thing, you could by a decent kmc chain! And forget the campagolo crap.

cheers.
given i've got the chain...
this: http://www.kmcchain.eu/products-connectors-missing_links-3
?

and only use if i ever need to break the campag?

Any tips on a decent, quiet, long-lasting 1/8" track chain?

I had really liked the SRAM PC-1 and ran a few until recently, but it stretches very easily.
Before that I had an IZUMI track chain which I found to be very heavy and noisy.
I'm currently running a Wippermann 1Z1, but it is unbearably noisy.

Perhaps there is trade off between noise/resistance to stretching, but if anyone has any tips on decent chains, please share. What's a good KMC one?

kmc z510hx

+1 on the 510.

Run smoothly where other - more expensive, probably higher quality - chains run like shite.

No doubt they're not as strong as izumi etc but very cheap and do the job.

All the hire bikes (glasgow velodrome) are running them, mostly almost 2 years old now and running great.

I'm currently running a Wippermann 1Z1, but it is unbearably noisy

What chainring and sprocket? Other people find the 1Z1 eerily silent.

That's interesting. It's on a SRAM Omnium chainring and a EAI sprocket. I wonder if either is the culprit. Could perhaps be the SRAM chainring if it played a bit better with SRAM chain.

Maybe the sprocket, I have a feeling the EAI ones are noisy compared with Phil

Ah well I've always fancied trying a Phil cog, so that gives me a good excuse. Cheers.

had really liked the SRAM PC-1 and ran a few until recently, but it stretches very easily.
Before that I had an IZUMI track chain which I found to be very heavy and noisy.
I'm currently running a Wippermann 1Z1, but it is unbearably noisy.

If you want light then get something like the Gusset Expresso/KMC SL chains. If you want less stretch and strong, cost be damned, get the Izumi V. If you want lower losses with any chain you can pre-handle it with Parafin (with a dash of additives such as Teflon, MoS2, Krytox etc). You may also want to polish your sprocket--- the EAI Superstar and Phil sprockets come polished "out of the box". Most important is, however, getting the chain tension (more important than chainline) right. A slight increase in tension over the common slack practice will probably slightly improve efficiency-- even if it seems to be "louder".

Maybe the sprocket, I have a feeling the EAI ones are noisy compared with Phil

Clearly the Phil versus the standard steel EAIs. Same with Phil versus steel Campa or Dura Ace sprockets. The "noise" of Superstars versus Phils is, I think, more of a toss and seems to depend more on chain, lubrication and other variables.

Seriously guys. KMC b1 chain. Dirty cheap. Bushed chain. Ran my first on the commuter for 2 years before it hit 0.5% stretch. Quiet too although your chain line has to be spot on.

For reference. Omnium chainring, EAI 1/8 sprocket

Chains.

Don't.

Stretch.

Chains.

Don't.

Stretch.

Of course they, from the view of length, do--- as the pins and brushings wear. Length is generally how we measure that wear. Since the length increases--- chains don't shrink-- we call that "stretch" rather than elongation (since they don't grow either). I'm not familiar with any other widespread low-tech means to measure chain wear and suitability than length.

I'm with Scilly on this.

The only word which accurately describes what happens to chains is 'wear'.

It was a tongue-in-cheek remark: should have added a ":)" (or perhaps :^)

But the word you're looking for, is the one you used throughout: see MV reply.

Figured I might as well put this here instead of making a new thread..

I've got a 19t on the back of my fixed at the moment, I want to put an 18t on, just wondering if I might have to change the chain too.. how much difference does 1 tooth make to chain length??

Quarter of an inch innit? You'll be fine, unless your wheel is already at the extremes of the track ends.

Ah sweet, should be fine then yeah, cheers!

Quarter of an inch innit?

I suppose technically it is a quarter inch on the nominal chain length, but it's ⅛" of axle movement, which is what people are usually concerned about pending the production of the mythical quarter-link chain.

Opinions sought on 10 speed chains please.

I'm looking at swapping my Ultegra 6700 12-25 cassette for a 105 5700 12-27 and I'll be fitting a new chain with it. Is there any real benefit in pairing the new cassette with the directional 5701 chain or is any compatible 10 speed going to shift exactly the same?

Any compatible 10 speed chain will also be fine.

KMC X10-SL is where it's at for 10 speed. Can be had on ebay from taiwan (not fake) for cheap.