Tech Tip

Since I work a bike shop I always get asked what parts are best to put on your bike, so for the next week I'm going to break down the most crucial parts on your bike and give you an idea of how to think when it comes to making a purchase. Today I'm starting with a place that a lot of riders neglect to pay attention to, your sprocket is probably one of the most vital parts on your bike. Your sprocket can be the difference between a smooth drive train or a chain that sounds terrible and won't shut up. There are a few other factors that weigh in to having a smooth drive train such as: sprocket alignment, chain stretch, and of course bottom bracket. Now with that being said the first thing to look at when buying a new sprocket should be your chain. If your chain is old, dry, and stretched you should buy a new chain before you ever put on a new sprocket. When looking at sprockets we all look for the obvious such as size and color. Size of sprocket is another argument in itself, but to sum things up for you the smaller the sprocket the faster it will wear out its science. To help aide the wear on a sprocket making it a little thicker will help as well as using a wider tooth profile. If you run a 1/8" chain buy a sprocket with the same tooth thickness 3/32" will not only wear out faster but your chain will wear out faster as well. Tooth profile is also how the teeth are shaped a pointed triangular shape is the standard on most sprockets, but companies like Tree and Odyssey have taken a more industrial approach to shaping the the teeth of a sprocket providing the rider with an increase of strength to the sprocket as well as a smoother drive train. Overall the most important thing is the material the sprocket is made of. 7000 series aluminum is harder and stronger then 6000 series however it is also more expensive so if you want to save some money buy a thicker 6061 sprocket. Forged or stamped sprockets are not an option they will warp and bend after just a few weeks of riding. Next time we'll take a look at forks... Send me some questions at QTBMX23@Gmail.com



Quentin