What is a chain stay?

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 a chain stay protector?

A chainstay protector is a sleeve, stick on tab or tape that covers the chainstay and makes a barrier between the stay and chain. This barrier keeps the chain from chipping off pieces of your bikes finish. Not only does it protect the finish, but it also helps to dampen the noise caused by a slapping chain.

What is chain stay length?

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.

Do I need a chainstay?

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.

How do you make a chain stay protector?

An old tube, cut to size, wrap it around the chain stay and apply some zip ties to hold it on. Or some handle bar tape and wrap that around the chain stay and a zip tie at either end to make sure it stays there.

What is 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.

Why is chainstay length important?

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”.

Do road bikes need a chainstay protector?

Obviously on a road bike, the chainstay getting slapped by the chain pretty much never happens. That's why road bikes don't need them. It doesn't matter if mud gets on the chainstay, just clean it afterwards.

What is the chain stay on a BMX bike?

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.

How does a chain catcher work?

If you're not familiar with the concept, a chain catcher is a length of aluminium that attaches to your front mech bolt, extending downwards to stop your chain from overshifting inwards. Its job is to get in the way. That's all.

Does chainstay length affect speed?

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.

Do I need a chain protector?

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. There are a number of reasons why you may want a chain guard.

What is considered a short chainstay?

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.

How does chainstay length affect handling?

A bike's chainstay length affects ride quality in various ways. A bike with shorter chainstays is lighter in weight. Also, it has quicker handling and better traction. On the other hand, bikes with longer chainstays have better stability and bigger tires allowance.

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.

Where are chainstays on a bike?

The chainstay sits between the bottom bracket shell and the rear dropout. It is the part of the frame which runs parallel to the top of the chain. The chainstay on the opposite side of the bike to the chain is also called a chainstay, despite the fact that the chain is not on that side of the bike.

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 front derailleur?

The front derailleur is the mechanism that shifts the chain on bike with more than one front chainring. There are many different makes and models, but they all share the same basic design and functionality. Front derailleurs are attached to the bike with either a clamp or bracket. Clamp mounted derailleur.

What is helicopter tape?

Formerly referred to as helicopter blade/leading edge wing tape, ISC Helicopter-OG Surface Guard Tape is an extremely durable and conformable polyurethane tape. It has an 8-mil thick polyurethane backing which is highly effective at protecting paint from abrasion, erosion, tearing and punctures.

How do you make a chain quieter?

For one, consider the chain material. Metal on metal interaction makes the most noise, as opposed to plastic on plastic or even metal on plastic. So the use of plastic can significantly reduce chain noise. In fact, some recommendations include using plastic rollers in the chain length as a way to dampen noise.