Jim Smash 10-speed Chains!

[hairygrump]

Man... cross season took a turn for the crap for me last week.

I was out for a training ride with my brother on Wednesday and as we were just getting to the lake I ride around to warm up, my chain broke. It didn't completely let go, but two plates were bent and the pin was barely hanging on. Fortunately we only had to limp about 10 blocks back to my house to put on my spare 10-spd chain.

3 good rides later, it's Sunday and my brother and girlfriend get up bright and early to accompany me to a cyclocross race that's not that spectator-friendly (lots of singletrack and only two really good viewing areas on a really, really long loop). We get there late, so my warm up lap has me lining up way at the back, but I'm racing.

I get a third of a lap in... maybe 10 minutes, or exactly half as long as I stood in line to register, when my chain breaks again. The lesson, I think, is that hollow-pin 10-speed chains are great if you're a graceful bike racer that doesn't shift one pedal stroke too late when approaching a climb. For me... not so much.

Wipperman, here I come.

A photo of me carrying my bike back to the start line where my brother and lady were wondering why I was so far behind all the little kids and fat(ter) people:

[rockyrider]

Jim Smash!!!!!

I'm kinda surprised CX riders don't use 8 speed cassettes and chains for the beefiness. It's not like you'd need super wide gear ranges.

[hairygrump]

I really should, but when somebody hands you a 10-spd Rival derailleur you try to make it work.

[wigger thomas]

yeah,I'm a little surprised to see you running a 10 speed chain. I'm not surprised they exist. Have they gotten to 11?

[Family Guy]

Not so easy these days to get quality 8 speed shifters to go with the 8 speed cassettes and chains.

Anyway, 10 speed chains are very, very, very sensitive to improper installation, even what would be proper installation on 8-9 speed chains. Don't flex the chain sideways to loosen up a tight link after installation, use a quality chain tool, and maybe just skip the whole Shimano special pin altogether and just use a SRAM chain. I am assuming you are riding a Shimano 10 speed, I could be wrong though.

[2dumb4gears]

I think you all knew this was coming.............................S-I-N-G-L-E S-P-E-E-D.:D

[hairygrump]

I hereby swear that if I have to put one more expensive chain on this bike this year my commuter will get a rear brake and a freewheel.

[rockhound]

You need a belt-driven Misfit diSSent.

[rockyrider]

yeah,I'm a little surprised to see you running a 10 speed chain. I'm not surprised they exist. Have they gotten to 11?Spinal Tap officially becomes a product developer for Shimano?

[S. cerevisiae]

Spinal Tap officially becomes a product developer for Shimano?

Shimano are not playing Stonehenge...hello Cleveland!

[davkatreb]

Not so easy these days to get quality 8 speed shifters to go with the 8 speed cassettes and chains.


Bullshit. Run Barcons, set 'em on "friction" and live happily ever after. Done and done.

[robcycle]

I think you all knew this was coming.............................S-I-N-G-L-E S-P-E-E-D.:DLOL, When I saw the picture I though "San Jose, that doesn't run a 10-speed chain :confused:" I guess they make other bikes in Celeste Blue :p

-Rob.

[Family Guy]

Bullshit. Run Barcons, set 'em on "friction" and live happily ever after. Done and done.

I've been running this set-up for years myself, but most people want STI for racing.

[davkatreb]

I've been running this set-up for years myself, but most people want STI for racing.
Meh. Why be normal? And all bullshit aside, most people do NOT "want STI for racing". They want it because the "pros" have it, and so the sheeple think it will help them win races. Shifting faster (or more often) doesn't win races. Riding harder and faster does.

Whatever.

[AM Radio]

Meh. Why be normal? And all bullshit aside, most people do NOT "want STI for racing". They want it because the "pros" have it, and so the sheeple think it will help them win races. Shifting faster (or more often) doesn't win races. Riding harder and faster does.

Whatever.

What Dave, What! Did you awake from an Old Bay/Wild Turkey coma and decide to respond to every fricking active thread? I want some of whatever Kathy is prescribed....
PS .

[davkatreb]

I want some of whatever Kathy is prescribed....
.
Son, you couldn't handle it. Trust me on this.

[robcycle]

Son, you couldn't handle it. Trust me on this. Oh sh!t!!!! Almost fell out of my chair laughing :p

-Rob.