4

I've seen formulas to calculate chain length for multi-speed bikes, but I need something for single speed.

Example: 42T Chainring 17T Cog 406mm (16") Chainstay Length

The answer in this case should come to ~94L.

Criggie
  • 124,066
  • 14
  • 180
  • 423
Jason Wood
  • 143
  • 1
  • 1
  • 3
  • 1
    I have made a strikingly question before, although I wanted to find chainstay length while you want to find number of chain links. Should this count as a duplicate? http://bicycles.stackexchange.com/q/8608/2355 – heltonbiker May 07 '13 at 03:28
  • And if you want a still more technical explanation: http://math.stackexchange.com/q/123361/27435 – heltonbiker May 07 '13 at 03:30
  • And, just in case you want to find the "magic gear" for a vertical dropout bike, I think it's risky, since minor variations on the parts themselves can make the chain become too tight or too slacky... Not to mention the ideal length will quickly vanish as the chain wears out. (well, just a thought) – heltonbiker May 07 '13 at 03:34
  • I did see the other similar question but as you mentioned it would have to be re-worked to solve for chain length. I'm not competent enough to understand how to do that unfortunately! – Jason Wood May 07 '13 at 04:13
  • The formula I would use, to get the practical length (i.e. the one that is known to work) - wrap a chain around the cogs and match up one end to the link that it meets when tight, count the links.... Or were you wanting the theoretical value. – mattnz May 08 '13 at 04:32

1 Answers1

6

http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/chain-length-sizing

Scroll to the bottom, equation is there, you want the "Rigorous Equation".

Better solution: start with heltonbiker's question on the math stack and ask how to convert to chain length.

Happy Riding.

Ken Hiatt
  • 5,931
  • 1
  • 23
  • 28