Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => Freewheeling => Velo Fixe => Topic started by: Doo on 25 May, 2020, 04:24:43 pm
-
Hi folks,
Been riding fixed for about a month now and am loving it. Am thinking of getting a fixed chain tensioner (like Surly snuggnut) or chain tugs. Any thoughts, suggestions etc
Cheers, Doo
🤪
-
Just wonder why. Have you had a problem? Several decades of fixed riding here and I've never used such devices, nor do I know anybody who has.
-
^ Just interested in folks thoughts etc really - if I do a long ride or a powerful time trial like sprint - my chain appears slacker (sometimes) at the end of a ride compared to the beginning. My old Genesis Day One had them pre-fitted. I'm still 'new' to the fixed world and like knowing others experiences etc
Cheers, Doo
-
Some combinations of wheel nut, axle washers and track end surfaces can make it hard to completely avoid wheel movement no matter how tight you have the nuts done up or how well you have cleaned the surfaces, hence the variety of chain tugs available. Some people never need them, some people need them on one bike but not others.
Choice of chain tug is a bit a trial and error affair depending on the shape and thickness of the track ends. The Snuggnut is for 12mm through axles and is designed to work well with a particular Surly dropout. It might be fine with other set-ups of course. Or you could look at something like the SKS ones which come in different thicknesses according to track end thickness.
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/chains/5-mm-mks-canjs-chain-tug/
I don’t have one on the bike at the moment but I have tried the SKS one in the past with good effect. They make wheel changes a bit more hassle.
-
I have the surly tugnut on 3 bikes. 2 of these are Dolan FXEs.
-
I have the Surly nut. It does add a little time when mending a puncture, but it makes getting correct chain tension a doddle, so worth it in my view.
-
I've recently started using the Surly Tuggnut, and have found it helps me to get a better chain tension. A single Tuggnut on the drive side seems to be working just fine.
-
Thanks for all the comments. My bike is a Dolan FXE so a tug nut seems like a good idea.
Cheers, Doo :smug:
-
A bit of slack in the chain is no big deal (in fact too tight can be a problem). Tensioners just seem to get in the way for me.
-
I don't use tensioners. My first fixie had a severe issue with maintaining chain tension, but this as due to bad chainline and the random combination of components thrown together. My Pompino holds its tension for longer than it should (I should take the chain off and clean it before it goes slack).
-
Is "Tugnut" a reference to tagnut? I didn't think British toilet slang had made it to America.
-
I've been disappointed with the PlanetX/On-One design (https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/FSOOCT/on-one-chaintug):
(https://www.planetx.co.uk/imgs/products/px/950x600_constWH/FSOOCT_P1.jpg?v=qa)
They don't really seem to hold tension. I've got some Surly Tuggnuts to fit when I get around to it. (Yes, I know you only really need one.)
I prefer tensioners on track ends. Always seems a faff to get tension right. Not so bothered on standard drop-outs. But you can over-tension if you're not careful.
-
I have a pair of the PX ones which I don't use (and haven't for ... 8? years)
-
For those Planet X tugs, I found the bolts just seize up, then snap when you try turning it.
Still maybe useful as a bit of sacrificial metal, to avoid chewing up the dropouts.
Think I have a Surly Tugnut on the drive side, and Planet X on the other.
-
I used to use those PlanetX jobbies but also found that the bolts seized. I now don't bother with tugs and haven't had any problems. I don't have Chris Hoy thighs thobut.
-
I never did get tugs in the end and all has been fine without
-
I use a single tug on the drive side.
-
never felt the need for one over tens of thousands km
track cyclists capable of 2kw+ bursts don't use them either
-
Depends on frame material. Ti frame=essential, as the metal is too hard for track nuts to get enough bite. Equally, soft aluminum dropouts can also be a pain.
Chaintugs do not exist for no reason.
-
Depends on frame material. Ti frame=essential, as the metal is too hard for track nuts to get enough bite. Equally, soft aluminum dropouts can also be a pain.
Chaintugs do not exist for no reason.
My ti bike is fine without tugs.
-
track cyclists capable of 2kw+ bursts don't use them either
Track cyclists aren't bouncing over potholes.
-
Depends on frame material. Ti frame=essential, as the metal is too hard for track nuts to get enough bite. Equally, soft aluminum dropouts can also be a pain.
Chaintugs do not exist for no reason.
My ti bike is fine without tugs.
You are fortunate. Mine is hopeless without them. End up having to retension every 200 miles or so
-
I’ve always had a bit of trouble with the Bob Jackson, even with a bolted Paul hub. I’d love a fixed frame with something like these:
https://www.pearson1860.com/collections/single-speed-bikes/products/now-you-see-me-steel-single-speed-bike?variant=32084788084835
(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0278/9874/0835/products/NYSMREARDROPOUT_2048x.jpg?v=1604097427)
-
I’ve always had a bit of trouble with the Bob Jackson, even with a bolted Paul hub. I’d love a fixed frame with something like these:
https://www.pearson1860.com/collections/single-speed-bikes/products/now-you-see-me-steel-single-speed-bike?variant=32084788084835
(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0278/9874/0835/products/NYSMREARDROPOUT_2048x.jpg?v=1604097427)
I had those on an old genesis/ridgeback. It made tensioning pretty straightforward but they're pretty exposed to weather so you do need to keep them pretty clean and greased.
-
I’m sorry, but I just don’t see it. I rode a track tandem in sprint National races, and no one ever needed chain tugs. We never pulled a wheel over, nor did I ever see a team do so. We did use decent kit of course, Campag or Airlight hubs that gripped well.
I suspect a few people use a too tight chain. I was shown to have a chain that was just tight enough not to come off when you spun the pedals with the bike held horizontally, and shaken a bit.
-
Frame/dropout material, the hubs used, the axle type etc. all make a difference. Some bikes need a tensioner.
Another thing to consider (with track bikes), those are bolted hubs that are snugged up with a big fecking spanner. They're not going anywhere. Not the case with a lot of road going bikes.