Over the bars with Shram chains

[Unclejohnsson]

Out of the seat, in the drops and climbing a slight road incline at speed. Behind a line of bored drivers, delayed until they can pass in a few seconds...and I am in the air and over the bars. Adrenaline got me to my feet and looked back to see a bottles, biscuits and bananas in the road and a very bent bike. Amongst all of this was the culprit, lying straight out in a perfect line, a Shram PC 1031 chain.

This is the third break this year in this brand and model, although I regularly replace them when the chain measure drops fully in. They just seem to be opening up under heavy pressure. I’m sitting here with considerable road rash and some bruised bones and an ankle I cannot stand on wondering what the absolute strongest chain is, and weight will be sacrificed to keep flesh on my body.

Thanks in advance.
UJ

 

[Red Light]

Schadenfreude strikes those annoying people who can climb inclines at speed

Seriously though I've never had it happen even on a loaded touring tandem. Folded a chain ring and broken a sprocket but never a chain. Are you using the Powerlink or joining it with a rivet?

Heal well.

 

[ianrauk]

So this happened twice before with the same chain? Why buy a third of the same?

 

[Glover Fan]

So this happened twice before with the same chain? Why buy a third of the same?

+ 1

Surely evolution dictates that we mutate over time to ensure survival of the fittest, I'd have ditched that line of chains the first time.

 

[Unclejohnsson]

Schadenfreude strikes those annoying people who can climb inclines at speed

Seriously though I've never had it happen even on a loaded touring tandem. Folded a chain ring and broken a sprocket but never a chain. Are you using the Powerlink or joining it with a rivet?

Heal well.

Thanks

A link opened up. The powerlink union was OK. Still looking for a recommendation for the mother of all beefy chains.

 

[monnet]

Never ever had a problem with a SRAM chain, I use a 1030 on my winter/training bike and the commuter - both see some hammer and I race on a 1071. General consensus of late appears to be KMCs are the best chains out there (I had one on my commuter last year and it worked well). Given that I've never snapped a chain and in years of racing and club riding I've only seen chains go when they are very heavily worn I'd be intrigued to know how you've managed to snap 3 of them.

 

[Glover Fan]

Excessive load under cross chaining conditions?

 

[amaferanga]

I'd suspect it's down to joining the chain without a special link and/or poorly set-up gears and/or changing gear while under heavy load and/or the excessive load under cross chaining theory above.

I'v been using 10 speed SRAM chains for years and have never had a problem. It's almost certainly something you're doing, though I expect you'll find this hard to accept - easier just to blame SRAM.

 

[mickle]

I too have never had a SRAM chain fail, and I'm 16.5 stone.

 

[Cubist]

Yep, I'm a bit of fat ****er big boy and I always use SRAM

 

[zexel]

Exactly this:

I'd suspect it's down to joining the chain without a special link and/or poorly set-up gears and/or changing gear while under heavy load and/or the excessive load under cross chaining theory above.

I'v been using 10 speed SRAM chains for years and have never had a problem. It's almost certainly something you're doing, though I expect you'll find this hard to accept - easier just to blame SRAM.

I'd be more inclined to go with 'changing gear under heavy load'.

Get better soon.

 

[Smokin Joe]

The only chain I've ever broken was a SRAM - but that was down to me as I had just added a link and that's where it let go. Highly unlikely to be caused by changing gears under load, you can bet your life the pros do exactly that when they are on the power.

 

[Unclejohnsson]

All very interesting and greatly appreciated. I’m likely to go with a placebo change in manufacture and a critical look at my technique and set up. Thanks all.

 

[zexel]

The only chain I've ever broken was a SRAM - but that was down to me as I had just added a link and that's where it let go. Highly unlikely to be caused by changing gears under load, you can bet your life the pros do exactly that when they are on the power.

The difference with the pro's (and others) is that they lessen the power for a moment (even while standing) when they change gear, ie, lessen pressure on pedals/know how to change gear.

One is just asking for trouble if one changes gear while putting full power through the drivechain.

Of course this still assumes the chain has been correctly fitted in the first place.

 

[Emmanuel Obikwelu]

Try another brand of chain would be my advise.