{"id":1195,"date":"2021-06-10T14:11:44","date_gmt":"2021-06-10T14:11:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/?p=1195"},"modified":"2021-07-07T18:48:47","modified_gmt":"2021-07-07T18:48:47","slug":"chain-speed-tensioner-necessary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/chain-speed-tensioner-necessary\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Is A Chain Speed Tensioner Necessary? [Purpose And Length]"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>If you&#8217;ve been biking some time then chances are you&#8217;ve met a few gear heads talking about tensioners.\u00a0 \u00a0 These things often don&#8217;t come on your default bike gear sets and are an addition.\u00a0 Is a chain speed tensioner necessary?\u00a0 Well, it really depends.\u00a0 \u00a0 It basically comes down to your vertical drop out (of your chain) and the rear <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">derailleur.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Once you get the hang of the gear set and the tensioner you can focus on getting the best pedals but for now let&#8217;s dive into a single-speed tensioner.<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%;\">\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_You_Need_a_Chain_Tensioner_for_Single_Speed\"><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 24pt;\"><b>Do You Need a Chain Tensioner for Single Speed?<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">What you will learn in this Article<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-662df54250e79\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-662df54250e79\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/chain-speed-tensioner-necessary\/#Do_You_Need_a_Chain_Tensioner_for_Single_Speed\" title=\"Do You Need a Chain Tensioner for Single Speed?\">Do You Need a Chain Tensioner for Single Speed?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/chain-speed-tensioner-necessary\/#The_Purpose_Of_A_Chain_Tensioner\" title=\"The Purpose Of A Chain Tensioner\">The Purpose Of A Chain Tensioner<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/chain-speed-tensioner-necessary\/#No_Need_for_Chain_Tensioner\" title=\"No Need for Chain Tensioner?\">No Need for Chain Tensioner?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/chain-speed-tensioner-necessary\/#How_To_Reduce_Your_Derailleur\" title=\"How To Reduce Your Derailleur\">How To Reduce Your Derailleur<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/chain-speed-tensioner-necessary\/#Optimal_Chain_Length\" title=\"Optimal Chain Length\">Optimal Chain Length<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/chain-speed-tensioner-necessary\/#Why_Is_It_Important_To_Discover_The_Exact_Chain_Length_For_Single_Speed\" title=\"Why Is It Important To Discover The Exact Chain Length For Single Speed?\">Why Is It Important To Discover The Exact Chain Length For Single Speed?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/chain-speed-tensioner-necessary\/#Discovering_The_Ideal_Chain_Range\" title=\"Discovering The Ideal Chain Range\">Discovering The Ideal Chain Range<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/chain-speed-tensioner-necessary\/#Do_Horizontal_Dropouts_Require_A_Chain_Tensioner\" title=\"Do Horizontal Dropouts Require A Chain Tensioner?\">Do Horizontal Dropouts Require A Chain Tensioner?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/chain-speed-tensioner-necessary\/#Types_Of_Horizontal_Dropouts\" title=\"Types Of Horizontal Dropouts\">Types Of Horizontal Dropouts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/chain-speed-tensioner-necessary\/#Is_A_Chain_Speed_Tensioner_Necessary\" title=\"Is A Chain Speed Tensioner Necessary?\">Is A Chain Speed Tensioner Necessary?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;ve recaptured your youth and have opted for a single-speed bike, then you might not have known that it comes with some nuances that you didn&#8217;t expect.\u00a0 Being an owner of a single-speed bicycle means you are not relying on switchgear, shifters, and cables. Unfortunately, changing out gears doesn&#8217;t immediately simplify the overall bike&#8217;s mechanics. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most people experience loss of chain tension due to the removal of a rear derailleur.\u00a0 In addition, tensioners can help if you have other things affecting your vertical drop out.\u00a0 \u00a0 Honestly, the biking community is split on this one.\u00a0 The reality is that most people like the simplicity of the single-speed chain set up and adding a tensioner adds to the complexity.\u00a0 However, if you&#8217;re a real gear head and want to keep some of your setup but opt for a single-speed run, a tensioner is a must-have.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%;\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Purpose_Of_A_Chain_Tensioner\"><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>The Purpose Of A Chain Tensioner<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The rear derailleur is responsible for switching the chain tension while shifting to a new gear. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During this, a pulley progresses through the spring mechanism and decreases the chain tension.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The bicycle chain keeps on dropping all the time due to the absence of this feature. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a result, it becomes difficult to change gears.\u00a0 \u00a0Again, as mentioned, tensioners are an add-on to keep your gears tight and if you run your bike hard, they&#8217;re a great investment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%; text-align: center;\">\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"No_Need_for_Chain_Tensioner\"><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 24pt;\"><b>No Need for Chain Tensioner?<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Complexity is keeping some <a href=\"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/single-speed-chain-tensioner\/\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>people from buying chain tensioners<\/strong><\/span><\/a>. However, you could c<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">onvert the existing derailleur by <\/span><b>reducing<\/b> <b>it down <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">into a simple tensioner.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_To_Reduce_Your_Derailleur\"><\/span>How To Reduce Your Derailleur<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Limit Screws only. There Are Two Methods To Do This.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Limit Screws and Cables.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%;\">\n<h4><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Limit Screws Only<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Step no 1. Remove the shifting cable behind the rear derailleur.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Step no 2. Adjust the pulleys to the rear cog with the help of limit screws on rear derailleur.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Step no 3. Install the chain and bring both sides together until the t-pulley is positioned forward.<\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%;\">\n<h4><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Limit Screws And Cables<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cut the cable linked to the rear derailleur into a short piece instead of removing it. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Through the barrel adjuster at the back of the derailleur we can micro-adjust the position of the pulley.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keeping in mind that you can use any derailleur you want as long as you can attach it to your bike. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moreover, if you want more clearance and reduce the chances of catching an external object go for a short cage.<\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%; text-align: center;\">\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Optimal_Chain_Length\"><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 24pt;\"><b>Optimal Chain Length<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Freshly, a bicycle chain includes 116 linkages forming one of the biggest chainrings. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shortening the new chain can assist in achieving the ideal chain length.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the case of touring frames, for example, with lengthy chainstays, more links need to be added for a perfect length.<\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%;\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Is_It_Important_To_Discover_The_Exact_Chain_Length_For_Single_Speed\"><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Why Is It Important To Discover The Exact Chain Length For Single Speed?<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Elongated chains have more probability of dropping, while short ones can be destructive for the drivetrain.<\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%;\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Discovering_The_Ideal_Chain_Range\"><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Discovering The Ideal Chain Range<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The chain length should be flexible for bicycles without derailleurs and chain tensioners to some extent.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This allows such bikes to have a fixed speed or gear but rear hubs on some bicycles have different speeds and gear ratios. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But still, the chain measurement method is the same for both.<\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%;\">\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_Horizontal_Dropouts_Require_A_Chain_Tensioner\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-size: 24pt;\"><b>Do Horizontal Dropouts Require A Chain Tensioner?<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is no such need for a pulley chain tensioner in horizontal dropouts. The rider creates chain tension by sliding the wheel backward.<\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%;\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Types_Of_Horizontal_Dropouts\"><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Types Of Horizontal Dropouts<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Two Types Of Horizontal Dropouts.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Front-facing dropouts<\/li>\n<li>Track Ends<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>The frames with track ends are better in terms of safety and comfort. During a typical mountain ride, your bike will absorb a heavy amount of shock and pressure.<\/p>\n<p>The bike equipped with these frames does not rely on spring-loaded chain tensioners but some people install chain tugs. This tool sometimes acts as an alternate to the chain tensioner and blocks the rear wheel from moving forward into the dropout.<\/p>\n<p>The second type of horizontal dropouts is also known as &#8220;semi-horizontal&#8221; .<\/p>\n<p>They were mostly used in the mid and late of 19th century. These Frames were professionally positioned for bicycles with rear derailleurs and allowed people more manipulation regarding chain tension because they were long.<\/p>\n<p>This ultimately means that,the longer the dropouts,the better they perform. Due to old age and inaccessibility, these frames are pricey hence single-speed conversions have gained more fame nowadays.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_A_Chain_Speed_Tensioner_Necessary\"><\/span>Is A Chain Speed Tensioner Necessary?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Our take is that if you like tinkering with your setup or have tension issues then yes!\u00a0 \u00a0You should head over to read our reviews.\u00a0 \u00a0 If you prefer the simplicity of something like <a href=\"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/single-speed-cog\/\">single-speed setups<\/a> then you likely can pass on this one.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you&#8217;ve been biking some time then chances are you&#8217;ve met a few gear heads talking about tensioners.\u00a0 \u00a0 These &#8230; <\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more-container\"><a title=\"Why Is A Chain Speed Tensioner Necessary? [Purpose And Length]\" class=\"read-more button\" href=\"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/chain-speed-tensioner-necessary\/#more-1195\" aria-label=\"More on Why Is A Chain Speed Tensioner Necessary? [Purpose And Length]\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1198,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1195"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1195"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1195\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1198"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1195"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1195"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestrecreations.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1195"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}