My chain is too long, can I shorten it??

[jayel]

Hi Wolfie,
a stock 17T/34T takes 104 links so if you run 18T/34T sprockets it takes (my guess, ) 106 links.

No a 18/34 combo is only 5/8ths larger than the 17/34 the 104 length will work fine, 18 x .625 = 11.25 17 x .625 = 10.65 for a difference in circumference of .6 inch, half of which is on the back of the sprocket, the wheel will only need to be forward a total of .3 inch

 

[fredintoon]

Exactly, the 18T is just plain stupid. But hey, it's your bike, your money, your wasteful ways. After all, people sawzall these bikes all to shit, an 18T sprocket is pretty much nothing compared to that. I guess I shouldn't be complaining here, lol.

Hi 5twins,
you are perhaps too harsh in your judgement?
Especially as I reckon I ain't plain stupid even if I did run an 18T for a while.
Effit, man; I built the Concorde! (OK, it was me and 10,000 other guys)
After all, an 18T can always be replaced by a 17T once the owner notices shifter shaft's little gnawmarks.
In theory an 18T is better than a 17T and it's a pity there's not quite room for it.