How Do You Measure A Bike Chain

The type of chain you need will depend on the type of bike you are riding.
How do you measure a bike chain. If you ve got a straight seat tube you can measure the seat tube angle by lining up your smartphone and reading the number off the clinometer app. If you need to replace the chain on your bike determine how long the new chain needs to be. So i made this video of how to measure chain stretch wear using a 12 inch ruler. A brand new chain will measure 12 inches across 12 links so if you measure your chain and it is 12 1 16 inches across 12 links then it s time to replace it.
Pick up the chain tool again and unscrew the handle a. With the roller distance you can find the gearing ratio for your model of bike you will need to consult your bike s manual. Facing the bike from the drive side push the pin into the chain to hold it together. I was asked how to measure chain wear without using a gauge like park tool s cc 3 or cc 3 2.
This video will take you step by step through sizing a bike chain including determining whether your old chain was correctly sized sizing to an old chain and the largest cog chainring method. A number of different chain widths are available to suit specific bike types such as bmx or to fit different road and mtb drivetrains e g. If you don t have the original chain or it s the wrong size use the largest cog and chainring to find the cutting point on the new chain. It should stay in place without you needing to hold it.
Over time distance and cycling conditions the rivets and rollers begin to wear out causing the chain to actually stretch in length. You can compare the original chain to the new chain and match the rivets. Make sure your bike is vertical and standing.