How to measure bike chain (Cyclamatic Power Plus)

[bike newbie]

I have an old Cyclamatic Power Plus and the chain has come off a few times, from Googling I’ve deduced that I don’t need a special e-bike chain but need a 7 speed chain with enough links.

I counted the links and there were 63, the common size of chain was 114 links so I assumed that each link, with a knobbly bit at either end, counted as 2 link so my chain is 126.

Then I came across this pic and it shows the double piece as one, in that this chain has 117 double pieces?!

Can’t work out if my chain is 63 or 126?!

 

[soundwave]

it is a quick link and you use it to connect the chain together.

 

[bike newbie]

it is a quick link and you use it to connect the chain together.

Not sure I follow? The pic on the packaging makes it look like 1 link consists of a piece with two ends - which would make my chain 63 links but that seems very short. If my chain has 63 of the circled part in my photo does that make it 63 or 126?

 

[soundwave]

no its 117 links and 1 quick link connector

 

[bike newbie]

no its 117 links and 1 quick link connector

I understand that, the point of attaching that photo is that it shows *one* link is a piece with 2 knobbly bits. Which would make my chain particularly short at 63 links. Before seeing the pic of the packaging I assumed that my chain was a 126 link chain and that each piece (circled in my pic) was classed as 2 links

 

[soundwave]

only 1 link is the quick link and there only meant to be used once and replaced if you take the chain off

my chain uses this one but mine is 12spd

SRAM Powerlock Silver Chain Connector - 11 Speed

Buy SRAM Powerlock Silver Chain Connector - 11 Speed at Tweeks Cycles. Shop the biggest brands with confidence and enjoy rapid worldwide delivery & 365 day returns.

www.tweekscycles.com

so if you made a hole chain out of those it will be 400 quid

 

[bike newbie]

Forget the quick link… that’s muddying the waters I think! If my chain has 63 of the things I circled in the photo of my actual chain is that classed as 63 links or 126?!

 

[soundwave]

SRAM PC-830 7-8 Speed Chain

Buy SRAM PC-830 7-8 Speed Chain at Tweeks Cycles. Shop the biggest brands with confidence and enjoy rapid worldwide delivery & 365 day returns.

www.tweekscycles.com

so thats 114 links and one quick link you just need to find a 7spd chain that is long enough

 

[bike newbie]

SRAM PC-830 7-8 Speed Chain

Buy SRAM PC-830 7-8 Speed Chain at Tweeks Cycles. Shop the biggest brands with confidence and enjoy rapid worldwide delivery & 365 day returns.

www.tweekscycles.com

so thats 114 links and one quick link you just need to find a 7spd chain that is long enough

That’s the whole point of my Q! I’m not sure if my chain is a 63 link or 126 link?

 

[soundwave]

63 links would be a bmx size so doubt it

 

[soundwave]

Accessories and spare for bikes, ebike, motorcycles, scooter, vespa,

accessories and spare parts for cycle, ebike, motorcycle, scooter, vespa, sport

www.ridewill.it

that will work and the longest one i can find.

 

[StuartsProjects]

Look at the chain between the edges of the red lines you added in the picture.

Your picture shows one full link in the middle of the red box.

And half of a link on the left and half of a link on the right.

 

[bike newbie]

Look at the chain between the edges of the red lines you added in the picture.

Your picture shows one full link in the middle of the red box.

And half of a link on the left and half of a link on the right.

I have 63 of the full links within the red box so seems my chain is unusually short?

 

[soundwave]

no you count every link the inner and outer ones makes a hole chain.

 

[StuartsProjects]

I have 63 of the full links within the red box so seems my chain is unusually short?

No, I said;

"Your picture shows one full link in the middle of the red box.
And half of a link on the left and half of a link on the right."

So within the red box, in chain length terms, you have one full link and two half links = 2 links

 

[bike newbie]

Thanks both, so it’s a 126 link length

 

[Plas man]

why not just count the rollers?

 

[Raboa]

Put a piece of masking tape around a link as a starting point and count the links, each faceplate is one link.

 

[bike newbie]

why not just count the rollers?

Because I didn’t know what bit counted as a ‘link’, I thought the two piece counted as a link.

 

[bike newbie]

Put a piece of masking tape around a link as a starting point and count the links, each faceplate is one link.

Thank you, that’s exactly what I was trying to find out when I posted