Possible to buy bike chain buy the metre?

[02GF74]

as per title, anyone knows?

Preferably Shimano but any decent 9 speed chain compatible with Shimano LX/XT gears would do.

After fitting, there are about 10 links left over so it would be nice, and much chepaer too, to buy it in bulk and cut it to exact length. Saves on having to pay for fancy boxes too.

 

[palinurus]

Recumbent riders need to get long chains from somewhere. I don't know where tho'.

 

[02GF74]

Or do they join up 2 or more chains?

 

[tyred]

Save up all the bits you have left over each time you buy a new chain and join them together. You will eventually have a full chain.

 

[barq]

Save up all the bits you have left over each time you buy a new chain and join them together. You will eventually have a full chain.

... which will cost how much in Powerlinks?

 

[tyred]

You don't necessarily need a powerlink to join a chain.

 

[dodgy]

I don't fancy riding a bike with lots of rejoins in its chain.

 

[hubgearfreak]

I don't fancy riding a bike with lots of rejoins in its chain.

you'd sooner have one that's been what, carved out of a solid bar?

seriously, all chains are made of lots of little bits of chain

 

[dodgy]

Yes I know that, but what is it about this forum?

I said rejoins
What I mean is that if you put links in a chain yourself, they won't be as strong as the rest of the chain - particularly if you're using shimano joining pins or attempting to join them by pushing a pin out of another link then re-inserting it. The exception to that is using powerlinks or similar.

 

[byegad]

As a 'bent rider I buy three chains and link them with SRAM power links (I buy SRAM chains and have used them for years) As I actually need 2 and 2/3rds normal chain lengths so have the same problem as you. What I should do is buy only two chains and use two 1/3rd leftovers every third change over but I always forget!

 

[palinurus]

As a 'bent rider I buy three chains and link them with SRAM power links (I buy SRAM chains and have used them for years) As I actually need 2 and 2/3rds normal chain lengths so have the same problem as you. What I should do is buy only two chains and use two 1/3rd leftovers every third change over but I always forget!

Ah well, learn something new etc.

 

[andrew_s]

You don't necessarily need a powerlink to join a chain.

You do if it's a 9 or 10-speed chain (or shimano joining pins).

 

[andrew_s]

Saves on having to pay for fancy boxes too.

Some of the places will sell cheap OEM chains as supplied to bike manufacturers. These come loose with no packaging at all. You should check whether you are getting a powerlink or not.

eg
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/productdetail.asp?productcatalogue=KMCACHAI250000000000
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/productdetail.asp?productcatalogue=KMCACHAI650000000000

I've also come across ordinary bike shops doing the same.

 

[spandex]

To get back to the question yes you can buy chain buy the meter. But I have found that not many LBS buy (basic) chains in pre spelt 116 lengths in box's of 50. There was one in York that did but that was 6 years ago.