The popular perception is that chainstay length is one of the most important factors in bike design because stay length affects bike handling, acceleration, climbing ability, and descending stability.
How does chainstay length affect ride?
More Stability
Lengthy chainstays provide a longer wheelbase which results in greater stability when riding at high speeds. Also, a longer bicycle is less susceptible to redirections caused by road irregularities and strong winds because the rear end isn't as “jumpy”.
What is a good length for a chainstay?
Normal chainstays are: Road bikes: 40.5 to 41.5cm… less than 16 ½ inches. Touring bikes: 42 to 43.5cm…
What is considered a short chainstay length?
For 26" and 27.5" full suspension bikes, something between 420mm and 430mm would be considered short, while for a 29er, something in the mid 430's would be considered short. And then for hardtails, stays can be as short at 400mm for smaller wheels.
What does a chainstay do?
The chainstay is a pair of metal tubes on the bike frame that connects the bottom bracket to the rear axle holders. The chainstay connects the bottom bracket to the center of the back wheel.
41 related questions foundIs chainstay necessary?
There is a need for a Chainstay protector to protect the bike from scratch, dents, and other such things. If you want to keep your pride and joy looking pristine without any scratches and dents, then you must apply a Chainstay and frame protectors.
What is chainstay length on a bike?
What is chainstay length? The distance from the center of the bottom bracket to the center of the rear wheel axle. This measurement is taken from the side view of the bike, ignoring the z-axis such that the width of the axle or bottom bracket does not come into play.
What is a BMX chain stay?
What is the Chain Stay? The chain stay is the part of the bike that holds your back wheel. It runs from the back wheel all the way to the bottom bracket and seat tube. The length of the chain stay determines how close or how far your rear wheel is from you.
What is a dropped chainstay?
Dropped Chainstay
This is a driveside only modification, so the pair of stays is asymmetric. The “dropped” stay in this pair curves downward as it approached the bottom bracket shell and back up again to join the frame.
How do you measure chain stays?
Chainstay length is measured from the rear axle to the center of the bottom bracket. Trials bikes typically have shorter chainstays than most other bikes.
What is bottom bracket height?
Bottom Bracket Height is a measurement taken vertically from the ground up to the center of the bottom bracket. This measurement will vary depending on the tire used on the bike.
How is top tube length measured?
Top Tube Length
- Actual (Center-Center): Measured along the length of the top tube from the center of the seat tube to the center of the head tube. ...
- Effective (HT Top): The length of an “imaginary” level tube extending from the center of the seat tube axis to the top of the head tube.
What is the chainstay on a mountain bike?
The chainstay or “stays” = The pair of frame tubes that joins the bottom bracket shell to the rear axle holders (the slots the back wheel goes in). This means that the chain stays connect the bottom bracket (BB) to the center of the back wheel.
What is head angle on a bike?
The head angle is the angle from horizontal, to the angle that your fork sits at. Generally on a mountain bike, it will be anywhere from 62 degrees (slack) to 73 degrees (steep). Cross country bikes have steeper head angles, whilst downhill bikes have slacker head angles.
What is a seat stay?
Seat Stays
The seat stay connects the seat tube to the rear dropout. Most bike frames use two parallel tubes that connect above the rear wheel. This is also the spot on the frame where the rear brake caliper is attached.
Why is chainstay length important?
Our most popular designs include our Inline stays and Chopped stays. The popular perception is that chainstay length is one of the most important factors in bike design because stay length affects bike handling, acceleration, climbing ability, and descending stability.
What is chain slap?
Chain slap has a few cheap and easy solutions. When it comes to noise, one you cannot miss is chain slap, down every rough downhill section or off every drop your chain makes a right racket slapping up and down against your swingarm.
What is standover height BMX?
What is Standover Height? The approximate distance from the ground to the top of the top tube, typically around the point where one would stand over the bike when mounting or dismounting.
What is stack height bike?
Stack is the vertical height between the bottom bracket centre and the top of the centre of the head tube.
What is a bike dropout?
A fork end, fork-end, or forkend is a slot in a bicycle frame or bicycle fork where the axle of a bicycle wheel is attached. A dropout is a type of fork end that allows the rear wheel to be removed without first derailing the chain.
How do you measure the circumference of a chainstay?
Answer: Get a tape measure and wrap it around the chainstay - measuring the circumference of the chainstay at its widest point in millimeters. That number will tell you what size you need for your bike.
Why do I need a chainstay protector?
Chains hit the chainstay all the time. Every hole, bump, jump or bounce on your bike will result in a chain slap on the chainstay. Whether it's the annoying rattle the chain makes when it hits the stay, or the paint that's chipping away on your frame, it's always good to have a chainstay protector.
Do I need chainstay protector on road bike?
Unless you ride over pavé roads 24/7 or this is a cyclocross setup, you should not really need a chainstay protector on a road bike. On a mountain bike, however, they're a necessity. And, in theory (and often in practice, but not always), a properly set up system won't need a chain catcher either.
Do road bikes need chain guards?
It is not necessary to install a chain guard on your bike. In saying that if you are commuting to work it could be useful to have a chain guard in to protect your trousers and shoelaces from getting caught on the chain or the gears.
Why are MTB getting longer?
One of the ways frame designers have been able to grow reach without changing effective top tube lengths too much is through the use of steeper seat tube angles, which we'll cover below. After declining for a number of years, trail bike chainstay lengths also got longer between 2018 and 2021.
