I recently bought a[url= http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=11284 ]Wipperman 1Z1 anti rust chain[/url] and have found that I need to retension the chain after every 3 hour ride as it seems to stretch very easily. Its beginning to do my head in, if I did a 5 hr ride with lots of climbs I'd probably need to retension it during the ride! Dog egg.
So can I have some recommendations for a replacement please? It will be used with a Rohloff sprocket (fitted to a Rohloff hub.....) and DH chainring. Both of those are 1/16". I seem to remember reading something saying that Rohloff don't recommend a SS specific chain as they're too wide for the sprocket. However they do also say to not use any cables other than their own and I've been using Shimanos fine for a number of years now..... Top of my wish list is something that doesn't stretch so easily that I need to be doing the same that I am now. I've used just normal Shimanos in the past which although needed weekly/biweekly re-adjustment was much better than what I have now.
Also I'll just add in that I'm not some chain stretching monster and don't think I'm doing anything odd with it. A couple of mates have the same chain as I have currently and had the same experience
Izumi track chain? They're a bushed chain so should stretch less. I got one on fleabay for about 15 quid.
Do you mean 1/8" width chain or is that 1/16" measured width of the chainring? If it's a standard DH chainring it'll be fine with a 3/32" width chain, but I'm not sure about the sprocket.
edit.. I would be searching elsewhere though and making absolutely sure it's nothing else slipping that's causing this
well, many will say use regular 8/9sp chains, and pick your price point. i haven't been down that route so can't comment. i've used two izumi super toughness track type chains on my ss. they ran for about 4 years bewteen them. the first one is still hanging up in the garage, but i did succeed in breaking the second at the link after about 2.5 years use. it had been making noises for a little while though....
the only reason i changed the first one is because i got a new frame. i had intended to put it back on after i got to the end of the drop-outs, but by the time that second chain broke, the white inddustries freewheel was shot ( bearing, pawls, and one tooth broken off ), so figured it was time to bin that, and didn't want to put an old chain on the new one.
am currently using a kmc track chain, just becuase it was easier to get hold of. not a fan. will go back to the izumi. not light, not cheap, but very, very good IMHO.
fwiw i used a 1/8th chain with my rohloff for a bit, and i reckon it was too wide - made for quite a noisy drivechain ime.
for SS (and the rohloff) i tend to use regular 9 speed chains, makes no difference imo.
Perhaps someone with a Rohloff can suggest something, but if not, I would think you could do worse than to go across to Charlie the Bike Monger and look at his SS chain selection. KMC Z610HX might do the trick (i.e. blithely ignoring your/Rohloff's warning about SS chains).
Do you mean 1/8" width chain or is that 1/16" measured width of the chainring? If it's a standard DH chainring it'll be fine with a 3/32" width chain, but I'm not sure about the sprocket.
Sorry, typo. I meant 3/32" which as I understand it is 'standard' 9 speed.
Izumi is a name I've read before so I'll have a look at those I think unless there are any other suggestions out there?? Thanks for the replies so far.
no recommendations, but iirc you can get 3/32 SS chains.
but as i said, imo 8 or 9 speed work just as well.
[url= http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=25433 ]KMC Z610[/url] looks good. You can get it in 3/32" as well. Blurb says it has 'reinforced tensile strength' which will hopefully stop me needing to faff around with retensioning all the time. Thanks for the advice Luke, I hadn't seen that one before.
This is the one I meant:
It's got quite sticky outy pins so will be fine for joining without a splitlink.. Mine aint gone wrong yet anyway!
I'm currently using a KMC 3/32 with a Rohloff but it doesn't seem much different from the cheap 9 speed SRAM chain that was on before. I only adjust the EBB every few months when the chain starts to fall off.
I had a Rohloff 8 speed chain (don't make 'em anymore) on Rohloff hub. Lasted about 750miles before it stretched and needed changing. Not particularly great value considering the price of it (3x a sram chain).
Mr H why change it when it stretches. My last chain lasted for 3 years 2 on road 1 off and was still working just fine when I changed it. Current one is coming up to a year old on an off road commuter used all year round. Have a look on the Thorn forums a lot of road users on there get 10,000 miles from a chain so 750 miles off road looks like your changing it a little early to say the least. Throw away the gauge.
There was an irritating clicking noise which I couldn't locate. Eventually I noticed the chain wasn't meshing with the rear sprocket - change of chain - problem solved.