Old Age Creeping In

[Chislenko]

Fitted a new chain and cassette to the winter bike recently. Yesterday was first chance to get out for a ride and the chain kept coming off the front chain rings. Adjusted the barrel adjuster as much as I could but didn't make much difference.

In the garage today making an entrance plinth for the garage floor (just tiled it so a small step up, hence a rebated plinth). Looks over at the bike on the wall and thinks to myself "that chain looks slack".

Then it dawned on me I had fitted a new chain but had forgot to size it!!! After fitting numerous chains and having never made such a basic error in the past I can only put it down getting on.

Anyway the chain is now the correct size so hopefully a more enjoyable ride awaits tomorrow.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Likely not age, and just distraction.

 

[ColinJ]

Then it dawned on me I had fitted a new chain but had forgot to size it!!! After fitting numerous chains and having never made such a basic error in the past I can only put it down getting on.

Anyway the chain is now the correct size so hopefully a more enjoyable ride awaits tomorrow.

Despite my increasing age (late 60s), I did remember to shorten a new chain, but I made a silly mistake and overshortened it!

I worked out that I needed to put 3 pairs of links back in. That's 6 links, right?

So, I put 6 pairs of links back in and then took months to notice!

After 3 attempts, the chain is finally the proper length!

 

[Dogtrousers]

@ColinJ I hope that every time you refitted your chain you did it twice. First with it threaded wrongly through the derailleur then a second time with it done right.

 

[ColinJ]

@ColinJ I hope that every time you refitted your chain you did it twice. First with it threaded wrongly through the derailleur then a second time with it done right.

How dare you!!! As if I would make that stupid mistake as well...

Er, oops #2... (I spotted that the chain is routed on the wrong side of that tab!)

View attachment 733235

I took the chain off and rerouted it...

View attachment 733234

It's amazing...

• That I didn't hear the new chain rubbing on the tab. (Being hard of hearing probably explains that!)
• How grubby everything has got in less than 100 km of riding. I'll clean the bike before I ride it again.

... every time!!!

 

[Sterlo]

Despite my increasing age (late 60s), I did remember to shorten a new chain, but I made a silly mistake and overshortened it!

I worked out that I needed to put 3 pairs of links back in. That's 6 links, right?

So, I put 6 pairs of links back in and then took months to notice!

After 3 attempts, the chain is finally the proper length!

Thank God, I thought it was just me. I only noticed when the derailleur seems to be at the wrong angle. Seems to still ride okay but I definitely need to put a few links back in. Also didn't feed it through the jockey wheels correctly first time, thought it seemed a bit juddery.

 

[All uphill]

When I do something ridiculous I take comfort from knowing that I would have done the same thirty years ago.

So with me it's not age, it's stupidity.

 

[Vantage]

When I do something ridiculous I take comfort from knowing that I would have done the same thirty years ago.

So with me it's not age, it's stupidity.

Same here

 

[Dogtrousers]

Despite my increasing age (late 60s), I did remember to shorten a new chain, but I made a silly mistake and overshortened it!

I worked out that I needed to put 3 pairs of links back in. That's 6 links, right?

So, I put 6 pairs of links back in and then took months to notice!

After 3 attempts, the chain is finally the proper length!

Incidentally, the question of whether a "link" consists of one inner+one outer (which is the repeating unit) or whether it's an inner or an outer is one that I don't think I will ever really understand. I think it's the latter but my brain rejects it.

 

[Bristolian]

So with me it's not age, it's stupidity.

I resemble that remark

 

[cougie uk]

Is it me or have chains got smaller ? I used to take lots out of my chains in the past but the last few have been one or two links at most.

 

[tyred]

Is it me or have chains got smaller ? I used to take lots out of my chains in the past but the last few have been one or two links at most.

I've noticed that too.

 

[ColinJ]

Is it me or have chains got smaller ? I used to take lots out of my chains in the past but the last few have been one or two links at most.

I hadn't noticed, but you may still be right. As long as nearly everybody still finds that links need to be removed then it was probably a good idea to stop supplying unnecessary extra spare links.

A friend of mine used to work in a bike shop. He used to make all of his chains from the offcuts from customers' chains!