Why use a chainstay

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Fastest Lube. Bike Fit. Performance Coaching. What is the chainstay? What is chainstay length? Drivetrain stiffness : We normally equate stiffness to performance and acceleration, often balanced against the bike's overall weight.

Weight saving : For some riders, grams are important. A shorter stay is lighter, but Seven also offers lots of other ways to save weight, without limiting performance or durability. Price, investment, and value : Some Seven stay designs require an upcharge due to their complex geometry and material cost.

Bike aesthetics : Seven's many chainstay options can have an impact on the aesthetics of the bike. While this is entirely subjective, it is important to many riders. Front wheel instability : This is caused by the rider's center of gravity being too far back over the rear wheel.

Sometimes the front wheel lifts off the ground while climbing. It becomes irritating and sometimes quite difficult to keep your center of gravity balanced between the wheels when the front wheel is continually trying to lift. Component compatibility: Tire clearance limitations. Seven can optimize chainstay design for any specific tire type. We use all of our experience, plus some help from 3D modeling software, to arrive at these very customized designs. An issue can arise that after one year of use, the rider may want to try a different tire, or may find enjoyment in a new type of riding that benefits from using a different tire, or may find one of the endless stream of new tires looks appealing.

Chainring size limitations. Just like tire choices we think about future proofing gearing choices, too. Seven can make chainstays shorter than most of these minimums, but we don't recommend it because this decreases shifting performance, increases wear, and can cause significant problems with some parts kits. Disc brake rotor clearance : In some situations the rotor can become the limiting factor for shortening the chainstays. Seven has some clever ways of mitigating this, but it can be a challenge.

Heel clearance : This is an uncommon issue, but it is important to some. A shorter stay exacerbates heel clearance issues. Because every Seven is custom, there are ways we can mitigate this even with short stays, but modern disc brake systems limit heel clearance possibilities more than ever.

Accessory considerations : It is important to consider any accessories the rider might uses when optimizing chainstay length.

Think of it this way, the bike will not protect itself from the damages you will cause if it is not covered. One good bump while riding could cause your bike a dozen or so scratches from the chain.

This could be easily preventable by simply using a protector specifically for these types of incidents. Unfortunately, many are not aware of the damages that could be caused to your chain by not using a chain-stay protector.

The chain on a bike will get dirty, and cleaning it too often could be less beneficial than one may think. Chains are bound to catch dirt, especially after hitting a minor bump on the road that may seem meaningless at the moment.

However, when a small rock gets in the small cracks and holes between each row, with a bit of your paint chipped in it, it could cause long term damage. Most chain-stay protectors, to the preference of the bicyclist, come in different sizes, shapes, and materials. You could potentially purchase protectors from virtually anywhere. Online as well; there are many websites that offer high-quality protectors:. These are just to name a few. All of these websites provide in-depth details about the materials used and how they are used.

Although a chain-stay protector is an incredible item to have for a bike, it is not the only thing that you can have to protect a bike from future damages. You are not only limited to that. All in all, protecting your bike should be an essential part of owning one.