K
Ken Braatz
Guest
I'm having some serious problems keeping the chain on the chain rings during any kind of hard
riding. Particularly, the chain pops most frequently when riding through a depression or anything
with a quick/sharp uphill transition, such as a stream bank.
It happens in the middle and big rings, regardless of gear in the back. The pop is usually right
when I give that quick push to get up the other side of the depression or stream bank. Nothing
major, just that quick downstroke and off it goes, jammed between the granny gear and the bottom
bracket. The setup is pretty basic:
2002 Trek Alpha AL frame LX Rear Der. (New < 500mi.) SRAM 5.0 Cassette (New < 100mi.) SRAM PC 58
Chain (New < 100mi.) Cheap-O SunTour crankset (Orig. >1400mi.)
The bike is tuned up pretty good and is kept clean and lubed. I have no trouble shifting front or
rear -- it's actually pretty sweet. Only minor rubbing on the front der. when in the
'big-big/small-small' config, which I don't run in anyway. I don't have any problems with chain skip
or chain suck other than the fact that it really sucks when my chain pops and I'm left standing in
icy water.
I'm guessing that it's the crankset or that the chain is too long. THe crankset is on my list to
replace (probably a RaceFace Prodigy XC or something like that) but any input would be appreciated.
If it is the chain being too long, how can I determine the correct length? When I replaced it, I
made the new chain the same exact length as the original (which had only about 500mi. on it).
Thanks!
riding. Particularly, the chain pops most frequently when riding through a depression or anything
with a quick/sharp uphill transition, such as a stream bank.
It happens in the middle and big rings, regardless of gear in the back. The pop is usually right
when I give that quick push to get up the other side of the depression or stream bank. Nothing
major, just that quick downstroke and off it goes, jammed between the granny gear and the bottom
bracket. The setup is pretty basic:
2002 Trek Alpha AL frame LX Rear Der. (New < 500mi.) SRAM 5.0 Cassette (New < 100mi.) SRAM PC 58
Chain (New < 100mi.) Cheap-O SunTour crankset (Orig. >1400mi.)
The bike is tuned up pretty good and is kept clean and lubed. I have no trouble shifting front or
rear -- it's actually pretty sweet. Only minor rubbing on the front der. when in the
'big-big/small-small' config, which I don't run in anyway. I don't have any problems with chain skip
or chain suck other than the fact that it really sucks when my chain pops and I'm left standing in
icy water.
I'm guessing that it's the crankset or that the chain is too long. THe crankset is on my list to
replace (probably a RaceFace Prodigy XC or something like that) but any input would be appreciated.
If it is the chain being too long, how can I determine the correct length? When I replaced it, I
made the new chain the same exact length as the original (which had only about 500mi. on it).
Thanks!