How is Bicycle Chain Measured?

tbl said:

How is bicycle chain measured?

What is the difference between 8-speed chain and
[other]-speed chain?

Who is the custodian of the standard (if there is one)?

Thanks,

Sheldon Brown knows all, sees all, tells all:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/speeds.html#chains

Spend some time at his Harris Cyclery site. It's fun and educational!

Jeff

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden]
says...

Quoted message said:

How is bicycle chain measured?

You can use a ruler or tape measure to measure the length. You can use
calipers to measure the width.

Quoted message said:

What is the difference between 8-speed chain and
[other]-speed chain?

The difference is the width of the chain.

Quoted message said:

Who is the custodian of the standard (if there is one)?

Each drivetrain manufacturer comes up with their own standard. For a given
speed, most of them end up with pretty much the same chain width.
--------------
Alex

tbl said:

How is bicycle chain measured?

If you mean chain wear, using one of these
http://www.parktool.com/products/detail.asp?cat=5&item=CC%2D3 is my
prefered method.

Without one of the above tools, with a vernier/slide gauge/caliper,
using the part to take inside measurements, when you can have those
measuring 133 mm between a certain number of links, it's time to
replace your chain. An alternative, probably better, explanation of
this method can be found here
http://www.campagnolo.com/qea_search.php?gid=9&cid=6&key=comp , under
"When do I have to replace the chain

Regards,
JBR

Alex Rodriguez said:

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden]
says...

Quoted message said:

How is bicycle chain measured?

You can use a ruler or tape measure to measure the length.

Outer-edge of links? Rivet-hole center to rivet-hole
center?

Quoted message said:

You can use calipers to measure the width.

Over the rivet-heads? Over the outer-links?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

What is the difference between 8-speed chain and
[other]-speed chain?

The difference is the width of the chain.

Quoted message said:

Who is the custodian of the standard (if there is one)?

Each drivetrain manufacturer comes up with their own standard. For a given
speed, most of them end up with pretty much the same chain width.

So I can find a chain that will pretty much fit the rest of
the pretty much equipment.

I think I'll just walk.
--
Thanks,
tbl