Technical > Transmission

Touring and quicklink

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mickeg:
Most of the time I have two quick links on my Rohloff bike.  I have to remove four links if I want to use a smaller chainring and two quick links simplifies that.  (Photo)

I carry a few spare quick links on tour.  Once years ago working on my bike at home outside, I disconnected the quick link to remove the chain and one quick link went flying, I never found it.  You do not want to be on a tour and lose a piece of your chain.  I carry several spare quick links on my tours.

One tour, one guy I met had broken his chain four times, his chain got shorter every time, and he was getting to the point where he was running out of gears.  I gave him one of my 8 speed quick links for his 9 speed bike and said it would probably not work, but if he was stranded on the side of the road, that would be the time to try it.  This was in the middle of Iceland, nearest retailer of anything was over 100 km away.

Some quick links are useable for multiple times, some are for one time use.  If possible, avoid the one time use ones.

If using KMC 8 speed chain, there are two different quick links, a 7.1mm and 7.3mm, get the right one.

Do you have a tool to remove a quick link?  New ones sometimes need some help from the right tool.  I bought a small version to carry on tours.

On tour I also bring a chain tool, but that is because it is attached to the better multitools so I would have to go out of my way to leave it at home.

Off topic but related - If you are getting a Thorn built, they would have the spare spokes and know what sizes you need, buy a couple spares.  You probably will never need them, but if you do it is nice to have the right length spare already.  On tour I carry two spares for each wheel.

navrig:
Thanks for the replies.

I've been running quicklinks on my roadbikes for 10+ years and only had one issue which was user error rather than mechanical failure.  I always have spares in my toolkit and generally use KMC.

The new bike will be running 2x11 and probably a Shimano chain which I have not had any issues with.

On tour I'll be carrying a spare chain (cut to size) and a couple of spare quicklinks.

I do have the quicklink pliers but only with the removal bits and not the nose for engaging the link (which was the cause of the fail I mention above).  I'll be buying a new set.

Danneaux:
For more than 25 years, I've enjoyed great performance from Taya's Sigma Pro connectors...
https://tayachain.com/product/sc-23/

They require no tools and are reusable. Available in a variety of widths to suit whatever chain you might be using.

Taya also makes a more conventional quick-link connector, but I prefer the Sigma Pro, which has both pins on one plate and a simple flat top cover that snaps on and holds ever tighter under increasing pressure, yet snaps off easily if you bend the slack chain in the right direction. Tip: It helps to put the flat top cover on the outside as standard practice for ease of installation/removal.

Best,

Dan.

in4:
What type of chain do you use this link with Dan? I tracked Taya down to a wholesaler in UK; Oxford something or other. Might be useful for the Nomad tool kit.
Thanks

Danneaux:

--- Quote ---What type of chain do you use this link with Dan?
--- End quote ---
I don't use the Taya Sigma Pro with all my chains all the time, but I find over the years it is the one I return to over and over again after trying others.

I've used them successfully with Shimano, SRAM, DID Lanner and KMC (...and...anyone remember Sedis and Regina?) chains in 5/6/7-sp and 8-sp, not tried in 9-sp or beyond in both derailleur and SS/IGH applications -- provided they are matched to stated and actual chain width. I would recommend actually trying each and every quick-link made by every brand in your chain before it is needed, as I have had links of various brands arrive in mis-printed packages that did not fit in practice and them measured too narrow or wide for the stated size. So far, Tayas have been accurate as stated but not all chains are equal, so still best to try in advance of need.

In the back-of-beyond in rural Romania, I found not all 8-sp chains or connectors have the same actual width even when labeled a match. It can be heartbreaking to find your intended quick-link is 0.1mm too narrow to slide together and a cable tie will actually work briefly as a replacement (!) until you can get to a farmer with a rock anvil, a hand sledge and a punch awl. Such saved a tour for me.

Best,

Dan.

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