cheap chains?

Owen Pope said:

I was somewhat astonished yesterday, when a local shop tried to
sell me a SRAM 9-speed chain for $39.99.

Quoted message said:

Is there a less-expensive, but still functional 9-speed chain
out there? I'm not looking for light or pretty, just something
that will shift ok and not break too easily.

I've been using the Shimano HG-53 (9-speed). I bought about five of
them when Nashbar had them on sale for $9.95. Currently, you can get
them from AirBomb for $13.83.

http://store.airbomb.com/ItemDesc.asp?Link=Froogle&IC=CH4032

Art Harris

Art Harris said:

Owen Pope said:

I was somewhat astonished yesterday, when a local shop tried to
sell me a SRAM 9-speed chain for $39.99.

Quoted message said:

Is there a less-expensive, but still functional 9-speed chain
out there? I'm not looking for light or pretty, just something
that will shift ok and not break too easily.

I've been using the Shimano HG-53 (9-speed). I bought about five of
them when Nashbar had them on sale for $9.95. Currently, you can get
them from AirBomb for $13.83.

http://store.airbomb.com/ItemDesc.asp?Link=Froogle&IC=CH4032

Another *cheap* option is to buy a Nashbar/KMC recumbent chain for
about $20. Its long enough that you can split it into 2 chains. It
comes with a quick link, so get yourself another Srams/Wipperman
master/connex link that sell for about $4 to 5 and enjoy!

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=76&subcategory=1099&brand=&sku=12654&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

Owen Pope said:

I was somewhat astonished yesterday, when a local shop tried to
sell me a SRAM 9-speed chain for $39.99. And only a little less
astonished when the shop across the street had the same chain
(pc-951, I think) for a mere $26.99. And that was the cheapest
chain that they had!

It's been a couple years since I bought a chain (I've not been
riding much), but I seem to remember the pc-59 going for under
$20. Is this a fantasy?

I've just paid GBP8.95 (about $16) for a SRAM PC971, although some
shops were asking for nearly twice as much. You need to shop around,
and buying online you'll most likely get the much cheaper OEM chain
(same chain in a bag instead of a box) as against the retail pack your
LBS has on the shelf.

Kinky Cowboy*

*Batteries not included
May contain traces of nuts
Your milage may vary

bfd said:

Art Harris wrote:

-snip-

Quoted message said:

Another *cheap* option is to buy a Nashbar/KMC recumbent chain for
about $20. Its long enough that you can split it into 2 chains. It
comes with a quick link, so get yourself another Srams/Wipperman
master/connex link that sell for about $4 to 5 and enjoy!

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=76&subcategory=1099&brand=&sku=12654&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

A slightly different variation on this theme is to buy tandem, brake &
derailleur cables, w/ lead on both ends.

John

john said:

bfd said:

Art Harris wrote:

-snip-

Quoted message said:

Another *cheap* option is to buy a Nashbar/KMC recumbent chain for
about $20. Its long enough that you can split it into 2 chains. It
comes with a quick link, so get yourself another Srams/Wipperman
master/connex link that sell for about $4 to 5 and enjoy!

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=76&subcategory=1099&brand=&sku=12654&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

A slightly different variation on this theme is to buy tandem, brake &
derailleur cables, w/ lead on both ends.

The "tandem" shift cables are single-ended.

Owen Pope said:

I was somewhat astonished yesterday, when a local shop tried to
sell me a SRAM 9-speed chain for $39.99. And only a little less
astonished when the shop across the street had the same chain
(pc-951, I think) for a mere $26.99. And that was the cheapest
chain that they had!

It's been a couple years since I bought a chain (I've not been
riding much), but I seem to remember the pc-59 going for under
$20. Is this a fantasy?

Is there a less-expensive, but still functional 9-speed chain
out there? I'm not looking for light or pretty, just something
that will shift ok and not break too easily.

Thanks in advance.

shimano 105 9s chain and the PC-950/1 we sell for $22 but the era of $6
chains is pretty much over.

air bomb noted and saved
$13 for a mid level hg 8!
i'll bet ther's no grease pack-comes dry?

bfd said:

Art Harris said:

Owen Pope said:

I was somewhat astonished yesterday, when a local shop tried to
sell me a SRAM 9-speed chain for $39.99.

Quoted message said:

Is there a less-expensive, but still functional 9-speed chain
out there? I'm not looking for light or pretty, just something
that will shift ok and not break too easily.

I've been using the Shimano HG-53 (9-speed). I bought about five of
them when Nashbar had them on sale for $9.95. Currently, you can get
them from AirBomb for $13.83.

http://store.airbomb.com/ItemDesc.asp?Link=Froogle&IC=CH4032

Another *cheap* option is to buy a Nashbar/KMC recumbent chain for
about $20. Its long enough that you can split it into 2 chains. It
comes with a quick link, so get yourself another Srams/Wipperman
master/connex link that sell for about $4 to 5 and enjoy!

I concur. Get a nashbar kmc recumbent chain. It is the same as the
regular kmc chain except that it is twice as long. You can use the same
masterlink for both pieces. Lubricate both. Put one on, ride it for
1000 miles, or whatever length you want and then take it off and put
the other on. Once they are both pretty dirty, lube them both and keep
running them. they will last quite a long time, together with your
cassette. someone gave me this idea some time ago. I wax both chains in
melted paraffin. It works great.

andres

Quoted message said:

air bomb noted and saved
$13 for a mid level hg 8!
i'll bet ther's no grease pack-comes dry?

A dry chain from Shimano? Never! It's got more goop than you'll ever
need. Spray a rag with WD-40 and wipe off the excess.

Art Harris

Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

Owen Pope said:

I was somewhat astonished yesterday, when a local shop tried to
sell me a SRAM 9-speed chain for $39.99. And only a little less
astonished when the shop across the street had the same chain
(pc-951, I think) for a mere $26.99. And that was the cheapest
chain that they had!

It's been a couple years since I bought a chain (I've not been
riding much), but I seem to remember the pc-59 going for under
$20. Is this a fantasy?

Is there a less-expensive, but still functional 9-speed chain
out there? I'm not looking for light or pretty, just something
that will shift ok and not break too easily.

Thanks in advance.

shimano 105 9s chain and the PC-950/1 we sell for $22 but the era of $6

What happened to the sedis $6 chain? It became the sram $8 chain, then
the $12, then the $24.

Andres

Quoted message said:

chains is pretty much over.

Quoted message said:

What happened to the sedis $6 chain? It became the sram $8 chain, then
the $12, then the $24.

Wasn't it the Sachs $8 chain, then the SRAM $12 chain?

Bear in mind that you're now talking narrower chain than the old
Sedis; the 8 speed chain is still only GBP4.95 bought singly, and you
can probably get 20% off if you shop round for a 10-pack. That's only
$7.50 each in today's dollars.

When Sedis first became the de facto chain of choice, I used to pay
about GBP6 for a single narrow 6/7-speed chain. A GBP6 chain in 1985
would be a GBP12 chain in 2005 based on RPI inflation, so chains have
gotten cheaper.

Remember;
1985 6/7sp Sedis you had to rivet join = GBP12 in today's money
2006 9sp SRAM chain with quick link = GBP9 bought last week

Kinky Cowboy*

*Batteries not included
May contain traces of nuts
Your milage may vary

Quoted message said:

john said:

bfd said:

Art Harris wrote:

-snip-

Quoted message said:

Another *cheap* option is to buy a Nashbar/KMC recumbent chain for
about $20. Its long enough that you can split it into 2 chains. It
comes with a quick link, so get yourself another Srams/Wipperman
master/connex link that sell for about $4 to 5 and enjoy!

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=76&subcategory=1099&brand=&sku=12654&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

A slightly different variation on this theme is to buy tandem, brake &
derailleur cables, w/ lead on both ends.

The "tandem" shift cables are single-ended.

Dear O

Some aren't:

http://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cgi?id=876868118&d=single&c=Repair%20Parts&sc=Cable%20and%20Housing&tc=Cables-Tandem&item_id=JW-SCUSS/T
Cables: Derailleur - Jagwire, Slick SS., Index, Double-Ended: Campy
Size and Shimano Size, 1.2 Diameter., 3000mm Tandem Length

http://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cgi?id=876868118&d=single&c=Repair%20Parts&sc=Cable%20and%20Housing&tc=Cables-Tandem&item_id=JW-SCUTE/T
Cables: Derailleur - Jagwire (Slick), Teflon-Coated, Index,
Double-Ended: Campy Size and Shimano Size, 3000mm long, Tandem Length,
1.2mm Diameter, Each

Regards, John