One of the things we love about bicycles is the way everything about them is functional, and just about every element is there, on display, for the whole world to see. Even the oily working bits are fully exposed, and none more so than the 114 links of chain that transform the bicycle into that go-anywhere machine.
The addition of the chain allowed multiple gear ratios to be used and, thanks to Tullio Campagnolo’s invention of the derailleur in 1949, we no longer have to stop riding to select them. Early pioneers of the safety bicycle would still recognise the humble multi-bearing design of the chain, albeit thanks to modern computer design and manufacturing technology, the size and detailing would probably blow their minds.
Chain widths continue to get narrower as more gears are added and it’s the amount the chain can bend or ‘turn’ between the chainrings at the front and the cassette at the rear that has dictated this decreasing width – narrower chains mean more sprockets can be fitted in the same space at the rear without over-bending the chain. And while the basic design has remained the same, the detailing of both the chain links and the corresponding contact points has been modified, fettled and fine-tuned to allow those narrower chains to also function better with less shifting force, more reliability, less friction and more speed, yet still stand the test of time.
As with most things in life – and certainly with bikes – the more you pay, the more refinement and better performance you’ll get. And so it is with those vital links between feet and wheels – though you’ll need to be a connoisseur to really notice the difference the extra cost buys you. Here, then, is our guide to what you should be looking for when buying your next chain…
KMC X11SL DLC
With the X11, KMC is getting seriously technical. Hollow inner and outer plates along with hollow pins sheds vital grams and the whole thing has been given a hard surface coating (DLC) to increase wear-resistance to make it last longer.
£84.99, chickencyclekit.co.uk
SRAM PC1051 10spd
Part of SRAM’s awe-inspiringly big range, the PC1051 is highly rated due to its proven durability. It’s on the second rung
of the 10-speed offerings, thanks to its solid rivet pin and plate construction. While designed for SRAM groupsets, it’s compatible with Shimano, too.
£21, sram.com
Clarks CSL-H11CR 11spd
British-based Clarks offers some excellent-value servicing-based products with some top-quality components included in the range. Its only 11-speed offering uses a hollow plate along with a self-lubricating technology to keep weight down
and performance up.
£49.99, clarkscycles.com
Wipperman Connex 10S0
Another long-standing name in chains, Wipperman has a tremendous reputation. 10S0 is the cheapest in the German brand’s range of 10-speed offerings but nevertheless promises fast and precise shifting while also being long-lasting thanks to the hardened pins.
£27.99, extrauk.co.uk
Shimano 5800 105 11spd
Leaning heavily on its forerunners, CN-HG600-11 is the cheapest of the Japanese manufacturer’s offerings for 11-speed groupsets. Like its big brothers, it gets asymmetric plates and a low-friction surface treatment to aid shift speed and reduce wear, in the form of its proprietary Sil-Tec coating.
£21.99, madison.co.uk
Campagnolo Potenza 11spd
Campagnolo has taken a new approach with its latest cost-conscience groupset. Rather than have multiple offerings of chain, it has decided to make just one 11-speed version and use it across the lower three groupsets, which brings some level of cost benefit as well as ensuring reliable performance.
£37.99, campagnolo.com