Chain Tensioners

[Xiorell]

Does having one on a SS not detract from the simplicity of it being a SS?

I'm looking at a SS bike offered but it used a Tensioner and I thought it might be prohibiting or something?

 

[MacB]

aesthetics matter to some and the quality of the tensioner matters to most, I doubt if the use of a tensioner adds enough loss to the system ever to be detected by the rider.

 

[wheres_my_beard]

There's some good looking and well made tensioners out there.

I love my SS tensioner.

Do whatever gets your chain tight.... to coin a phrase.

 

[Xiorell]

Ah ok cool, so it's not likely to interfer with the drive train as a whole IE, the simplicity of a SS? Not gonna add extra noise or owt?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

obvs one does increase the complexity of a pure SS, after all it is a component you don't strictly need. but some of us like the flexibility of gear choice using a tensioner can offer with some frames.

mine's silent btw, a velosolo surly clone.

 

[wheres_my_beard]

Depending on the type you go for you could end up with a low burrrrring noise as the chain moves over/through the device. It should make no more noise than you would expect from a well maintained deraileur (not much, if any).

It does of course add another thing to consider when setting up a nice chain line, so, lateral adjustment is essential. This will help avoid noise.