Chain catcher?

[Dirt]

You really shouldn’t be dropping your chain on a road bike. If things are working correctly, then it really should almost never happen. If it is happening, then you should probably have it in for a tune-up/derailleur adjustment. That said, I have one on my cross bike. SRAM makes one that is designed to work beautifully with their front derailleurs. There are times on the cross bike where I’m rattling down a dirty back road and shifting from big to small ring. That’s a time when even a well adjusted bike might drop the chain. That’s why I have it.

You’re not being a nervous nellie by having one. I know many people who just always ride with one. If it gives you peace of mind, go for it! They’re not expensive.

If you WANT to go the expensive route, SRAM deisnged the new RED front derailleur to act as its own chain catcher. As the derailleur moves from large ring to small, the shape of the cage changes to prevent the chain from dropping. Basically it was done in response to Andy Schleck “losing” the Tour de France to Bert Pistolhead when he dropped his chain a few years ago. It is a $170 fix to a $20 problem, but it is cool.

Rock and roll!

Dirt.

[JimF22003]

I had to have my R3 repaired because of dropped chains. I rode a Trek bike before that where I got into a bad habit of trying to ride the chain back onto the ring if it dropped. It worked on the Trek. On the R3 it just gouged right into the frame.

I actually did Mountains of Misery on the bike with that gouge in it so I guess I wasn’t in imminent danger of death. But I did get it repaired by Calfee.

I put a chain catcher on it subsequently but had lots of trouble getting the front derailleur adjusted correctly. Kind of hated it actually.

That’s one of the reasons (self-justification really) that I went electronic shifting on my bikes. (Not that I haven’t dropped a chain with that setup either once in awhile, but it’s much less frequent than before.)

I think the reason I drop chains a lot is that I use a compact setup (50/34 with 11/28 cassette). Whenever I shift the front I almost always need to adjust the back. Many times I shift both simultaneously, and it usually works fine…

[TwoWheelsDC]

@Dirt 36974 wrote:

You really shouldn’t be dropping your chain on a road bike. If things are working correctly, then it really should almost never happen. If it is happening, then you should probably have it in for a tune-up/derailleur adjustment. That said, I have one on my cross bike. SRAM makes one that is designed to work beautifully with their front derailleurs. There are times on the cross bike where I’m rattling down a dirty back road and shifting from big to small ring. That’s a time when even a well adjusted bike might drop the chain. That’s why I have it.

You’re not being a nervous nellie by having one. I know many people who just always ride with one. If it gives you peace of mind, go for it! They’re not expensive.

If you WANT to go the expensive route, SRAM deisnged the new RED front derailleur to act as its own chain catcher. As the derailleur moves from large ring to small, the shape of the cage changes to prevent the chain from dropping. Basically it was done in response to Andy Schleck “losing” the Tour de France to Bert Pistolhead when he dropped his chain a few years ago. It is a $170 fix to a $20 problem, but it is cool.

Rock and roll!

Dirt.

Upwards of 4k miles this year and I don’t think I’ve dropped a chain once, so it probably isn’t a huge deal. Looks like the main problem would be if I tried to pedal the chain back onto the ring. I guess if I somehow do drop a chain, I’ll just hop off and fix it by hand. Maybe if I happen across one at a shop I’ll pick it up, but my anxiety is lessened now knowing that I probably won’t be riding under any conditions that may require it any time soon. If I do Mountains of Misery or something next year though, maybe I’ll pick one up before that.

[vvill]

Chain catchers have been on my “to buy” list for some time now. I have dropped my chain maybe 5-10 times this year. My folding bike is most prone since it’s a 1×10 but I’ve also dropped the chain on my road bike a couple times and the CX bike quite a few. Once in the second minute or so of DC CX.

[dcv]

@vvill 37008 wrote:

Chain catchers have been on my “to buy” list for some time now. I have dropped my chain maybe 5-10 times this year. My folding bike is most prone since it’s a 1×10 but I’ve also dropped the chain on my road bike a couple times and the CX bike quite a few. Once in the second minute or so of DC CX.

At dccx were you bunny hopping off the big knoll trying to catch air?

[vvill]

Nah it was just regular shifting. I was downshifting before a short steep part. Should’ve just SS’d it I guess I’ve since had the LBS re-run the front shifter cable.

Also: correction my folder is a 1×9 not a 1×10.

[bluerider]

I use the K-Edge chain catcher on my Blue cross bike. It works great and has saved me a few times. The K-Edge is expensive but well made.

[Vicegrip]

Any tricks to stop chain suck? Clean good condition chain and correct tension are top on the list. What else to do or look for?

[DaveK]

Try tightening your b-screw on the rear derailleur. If you are running your upper pulley too close to the cassette you’re running an increased risk. The additional tension in the rear derailleur also helps it keep the chain from flopping around.

[Author]

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