PSA: Your chain is probably too tight, and I learned it from a 70 year old guy at a bike co-op in Portland

Nathan Burns · 2026-10-14T17:00:06.276257+00:00

I always thought a tight chain meant a well cared for bike, so I kept mine guitar string tight for about 3 years. Last Saturday I stopped by a bike co-op in Portland to use their stand pump, and an older volunteer glanced at my ride and said a chain should have about half an inch of up and down play at the middle. He showed me that mine had almost none, which wears out the bearings in your rear hub and your chainrings way faster than a loose one ever would. He also said most people over tighten after fixing a dropped chain, which is exactly what I had been doing since 2022. I backed mine off half a turn and my drivetrain got noticeably quieter on the ride home. Anyone else been riding around with a chain way too tight without knowing it?

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PSA: Your chain is probably too tight, and I learned it from a 70 year old guy at a bike co-op in Portland | Bike Commuter Tips - Guest Forum