Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Cycling app of the week: Chain Length Calculator

Haven't guessed what this handy app does yet? Let us explain more just in case...

What is it?
Chain length calculator does nothing more and nothing less than working out what the length of your chain should be, expressed in number of links. You can use cm or inches to input your chainstay length (you should always be able to find this out on your bike manufacturer's website inventory or in the manual it came with), and then add your outer chainring size and number of teeth on your biggest cassette ring and hey presto, it's done. 

What makes it unique?
The simplicity more than anything - although there are plenty of similar calculators you can find on websites with a quick Google, but this saves you a bit of typing once you've got the app and it doesn't really take up any space on your phone.  

Screen Shot 2017-12-13 at 17.05.45.png

How can it help me?
It works out how long your chain needs to be of course! While you can just go by the "big big and add two links" method, this takes out any estimations whatsoever and makes life that little bit easier if you're not confident of getting it spot on.  

Where can I get it?
Unfortunately for iPhone owners this app, which can be downloaded here, is Android-only... but we've found one very similar on the iOS store here. 

Arriving at road.cc in 2017 via 220 Triathlon Magazine, Jack dipped his toe in most jobs on the site and over at eBikeTips before being named the new editor of road.cc in 2020, much to his surprise. His cycling life began during his students days, when he cobbled together a few hundred quid off the back of a hard winter selling hats (long story) and bought his first road bike - a Trek 1.1 that was quickly relegated to winter steed, before it was sadly pinched a few years later. Creatively replacing it with a Trek 1.2, Jack mostly rides this bike around local cycle paths nowadays, but when he wants to get the racer out and be competitive his preferred events are time trials, sportives, triathlons and pogo sticking - the latter being another long story.  

Latest Comments

  • brooksby 1 sec ago

    Have road.cc approached the council for a statement on this matter?  I mean, their own videography unit has demonstrated that the new cycle path...

  • OnYerBike 2 min 40 sec ago

    Yeah, Waverley (not actually my closest station but normally if I'm getting a train I want one of the mainlines and so I just head straight there)....

  • KDee 10 min 28 sec ago

    I recall seeing Mark Beaumont being stopped by the Dutch police for riding on the road for his round the world ride in the documentary. I've...

  • Adam Sutton 35 min 46 sec ago

    Getting rid of the tribalistic mentality that prevails would help. It doesn't have to be one or the other, cyclist or driver, especially outside of...

  • daviddowling 44 min 27 sec ago

    He googled his way home which led him this way and no steps are listed. There are also no warning signs notifying people of the steps ahead ...

  • ChrisB200SX 44 min 37 sec ago

    Even IF it isn't well lit, motorvehicles have 55W headlights for a very good reason.

  • Rendel Harris 57 min 46 sec ago

    Chris the estate agent doesn't seem to have cottoned onto the best short-term solution which not only will stop the vandalism but also stop the...

  • Rendel Harris 1 hour 40 min ago

    Such as joining in with other (now banned) trolls in a nice little bullygroup to perpetuate a tiresome fantasy that another poster with whom you...

  • qwerty360 1 hour 48 min ago

    Even if we struggle to hard limit capabilities, we could have similar classifications to motorbikes defined by combination of weight, acceleration,...

  • NOtotheEU 1 hour 55 min ago

    I only went out for a less than 5 minute ride to the PO to collect a parcel today. Got close passed by an Audi convertable that forced me into the...