Chain Often Came of Your Bicycle?

Sometimes customers come to the shop asking us to help install their chain which had fallen off their bicycle. That can be fixed by adding a master link or rivet.



If the components on your drivetrain are worn out, it would be best to change them if you are installing a new chain, especially, if it is an expensive one. This is because each time you ride and change gears, any worn out parts on the drivetrain, such as, the freewheel/cassette or chainrings or derailleur wheels will pull and rub against the new chain. Your new chain will be damaged and you will have to change it sooner than it should.

If the mechanic informed you that the cassette needs to be changed too, it is possible that the teeth on the cogs of your cassette are damaged. If you do not change it, the chain will keep skipping over the top of the cog and fall off. Ask the mechanic to show you where the damage is. If you cannot see any wear, or burrs or bents on the teeth, you can always send your bicycle to another shop for a second opinion.

The following are some questions a good mechanic should ask you before re-installing your chain:

1) Is it a new chain? New chains for bicycles are always longer than needed. A chain that is too long will slack and fall off the bicycle. We can use the old chain, if it is still on the bicycle, to determine its required length. However, if there is a slack in the old chain, it is possible that it has worn out, in which case, we will have to determine the correct length required for the new chain.

1b) If it is a new chain, did you get the right chain for your bicycle? There are differences in chains for single speed and geared bicycles. Bicycles running on higher speed need the narrower chain which is more expensive. The cheaper single speed chain installed on a geared bicycle can cause it to fall off the chainring due to its width and thickness.

2) Did you fell off your bicycle while cycling? If you did, we will have to check if any components on your drivetrain have been damaged or need adjustment. Your new chain will be damaged if there are bents in the chainring teeth or on teeth of cogs on your cassette.

3) Did the chain come off only when you change your gear? That will mean either the chain is worn out and need to be changed or that the gears need to be set. Chain wear or dirt on it will affect the efficiency of your gears. If that is the case, just putting the worn out chain back on will not help as the chain will fall off again when you shift your gears.

Before the mechanic put your chain back on, he will have to check it for bents or stiff links. The chain will have to be cleaned first if it is clogged with dirt. Once installed, the chain should be lubricated together with the components on your drivetrain.

Would you separate an attached padded liner from your biking shorts?

You are likely to damage or leave holes on the lycra/spandex material of your cyclist pants if you try to remove the pads sewn securely to it.

If you do not like to walk around with a pad in your pants, you can also consider getting padded boxer for cyclist which you can wear like an underwear with your regular pants. Your pants must be loose or stretchable enough for you to cycle comfortably.

There are cycling cargo shorts that are supplied with detachable padding.


This is suitable for cyclists who would like to remove the padding when they have reached their destination to run errands.

These detachable padded pants can be used with your regular pants if you can sew elastic loops on them. Just take a look at how these loops are sewn on the cyclist cargo shorts and you will get the idea how it should be done.

What combinations on a 7x3 would be cross chaining?

You will receive a “Bike Owner's Manual” if you buy bicycles of reputable brands. If you do not have one, just google “Bike Owner's Manual” to find one.

If you take a look at page 6 of “Bike Owner's Manual” supplied by Apollo, you will see a diagram on “Recommended Chainwheel/Rear Sprocket Gear Combinations”


Chain crossing will wear out your chain and damage your drivetrain sooner than it should. So, avoid setting your gears so that your chain sits on the chainring and sprocket as marked “X” on the diagram.

Customers who buy bicycles with gears from Jom Johan will be given a chart to advise how gears should be used for efficient cycling and to prevent drivetrain from being damaged any sooner than it should.

What can we do with old tyre and punctured tubes?

I have lots of worn out tyres from my bike shop.  I can’t leave them outside for too long because mosquito could breed in them should water accumulate inside its hollow space because of the rain.

I was inspired by a photo I saw on Pinterest and manged to tie some up to create a chair.  This is how it turned out.

Raffia strings don’t hold them together too well and after some time, they fell apart.  What will you consider using to tie them up together so that they can last longer?

If the stains on your chair cannot be cleaned, you can cover it up with punctured tyre tubes this way. It can also cover small cracks on chairs so that you fanny will not get pinched.

I also like to consider using punctured tubes as material to explore my creativity.  Here are some of my creations.

This is made with gear cable and tube.

Would the guys wear this?

Here are some tips if you need inspiration to create with waste material you have collected from your bicycles.