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Bicycle chainline

This post explains what bicycle chainline is. Why is it important? How is it measured? How to set a “correct” chainline?

If you have any questions (or additions and corrections), please use the BikeGremlin forum:
www.bikegremlin.net

Table Of Contents (T.O.C.):

TL/DR

  1. What is a bicycle chainline?
  2. Why is bicycle chainline important?
  3. How to measure bicycle chainline
    3.1. Measuring front chainline
    3.2. Measuring rear chainline
    …..3.2.1. Offset frame rear chainline
  4. How to set a correct chainline?
    4.1. Front chainline adjustment
    …..4.1.1 Chainline for 1x drivetrains
    4.2. Rear chainline adjustment
  5. Deliberate imperfections
  6. Apendix – axle lengths for BBs with axles
    6.1. Square taper axle length video
  7. VIDEO about the chainline (shown and explained)


TL/DR

For your bike to run well (with good shifting, less chain noise, and longer lasting drivetrain), it is important for your front chainring(s) to be in line with your rear chainring(s).

This article explains how to measure if they are in line, and how to fix any imperfections (and improvise if needed).

– T.O.C. –


1. What is a bicycle chainline?

Definition is: distance between the middle of chainring(s set/s) and the longitudal axis of the bicycle. It is explained in plain English in this post.  🙂

Middle of the front chainring and middle of the rear sprocket should be at the same distance from the axis that goes along the middle of the bicycle frame from the front to the back. That means the chain will run completely straight from the front to the rear. For bicycles with more speeds, definition is the same, only measurement is taken as middle of the sets of chainrings and sprockets. Picture explains it better:

Single speed bicycle chainline. Front and rear sprocket are at the same distance from the longitudinal axis of the bicycle. The chain runs perfectly straight, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bicycle.
Single speed bicycle chainline.
Front and rear sprocket are at the same distance from the longitudinal axis of the bicycle. The chain runs perfectly straight, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bicycle.
Picture 1
Double (up) and triple (down) chainring multi speed bicycle chainline. When measuring, the middle of the sprocket set is taken as a reference.
Double (up) and triple (down) chainring multi speed bicycle chainline.
When measuring, the middle of the rear sprocket set is taken as a reference, aligned with the middle of the front chainring set.
Picture 2


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– T.O.C. –


2. Why is bicycle chainline important?

For single speed bicycles (one chainring at the front and at the back) the answer is more obvious: the straighter the chain, the longer it will take for it to wear out, the less mechanical losses it creates when pedaling and the harder it will drop off the chainrings.

For multi speed bicycles (more sprockets), the answer is a bit more complicated. If the middle of front chainrings is not aligned with the middle of the rear sprocket set, then in some gear combinations, the chain will be too crossed. Picture below explains it better:

Good (up) and bad (down) bicycle chainline
Good (up) and bad (down) bicycle chainline
Picture 3

Upper half of the picture number 3: middle of the sprocket set is aligned with the middle of the front chainring. That way, in either gear combination, the chain is not at a great angle (green lines).

Lower half: front chainring is too far out compared to the middle of the sprocket set. That means that in top gear (blue line), the chain is almost straight. However, in lowest gear (red line), the chain runs at a sharp angle – bringing more wear and tear to both the chain and the sprockets, more noise and less mechanical efficiency of the whole system.

For double chainring set – the middle between the two front chainrings should be aligned with the middle of the sprocket set. For triples – middle chainring is aligned with the middle of the sprocket set. This is shown in the picture 2.

– T.O.C. –


3. How to measure bicycle chainline

3.1. Measuring front chainline

It can be measured simply with a ruler:

Measuring front chainline with a ruler
Measuring front chainline with a ruler
Picture 4

Technically more precise measurement is taken this way:

  • measure the diameter of the seat post and the width of the front chainring (set) with vernier calipers. “Set” means the total width of the two, or three chainrings if the crankset is a double, or a triple one.
  • measuring distance from the seatpost to the end of the largest chainring.
  • add half of the seatpost width to the measured distance, and then deduct half of the chainring (set) width. That’s the front chainline.
Measuring front chainline. 44/2 + 29 -(9,8/2)
Measuring front chainline.
44 / 2
+ 29
– (9.8 / 2)
Picture 5

For the example in picture 5, the chainline would be:
44 / 2 + 29 – (9.8 /2) =
= 22 + 29 – 4.9 = 46.1 mm

– T.O.C. –


3.2. Measuring rear chainline

Measure the width of the rear hub. OLD (over locknut distance).

Measuring rear hub width from one locknut to the other
Measuring rear hub width from one locknut to the other
Picture 6

The whole axle is not measured, just the inner locknuts that hold the hub bearings in place. For solid axles – outer nuts that hold the wheel in place are disregarded. Only the part of the hub that sits against the inner part of the rear dropouts is measured.

Most modern rear MTB hubs are 135 mm wide (OLD), most road ones 130 mm, while older road hubs are 126 mm. Ancient road and newer single speed hubs are usually 110 to 120 mm wide.

With help of a picture, the procedure is more easily explained:

Measuring rear chainline
Measuring rear chainline
Picture 7
  • First measure a), like explained in the text above
  • Then measure b) – from the hub locknut, to the begining of the smallest sprocket. Measure to the face of the sprocket itself, not to the locknut holding the sprockets in place.
  • Finally measure c) – from the beginning of the smallest, to the end of the largest sprocket

Rear chainline = (a / 2 ) – ( (c / 2) + b)

For example: if a = 135 mm. b=4 mm. c = 35.4
Chainline = (135 / 2) – ( (35.4 / 2) + 4)
= 67.5 – ( 17.7 + 4)
= 67.5 – 21.7
= 45.8 mm

– T.O.C. –


3.2.1. Measuring offset frame rear chainline

For an offset frame, simply add the frame’s offset to the rear chainline you measured and calculated using the procedure explained in the previous section (section 3.2).

Offset frame manufacturers usually provide information about how much the frame is offset (usually expressed in millimetres). It is very difficult to manually measure a frame’s offset accurately.

– T.O.C. –


4. How to set a correct chainline?

By setting a correct chainline it is meant to set front and rear sprockets so that their middles are in line, like shown in pictures 1 and 2. Literally: front chainline (measurement explained in paragraph 3.1.) and rear chainline (3.2.) should be the same.

When doing that, rear sprockets are usually taken as a fixed position, with front chainring position set to match them. That case is first explained under 4.1.


4.1. Front chainline adjustment

  • For single chainring crankset, where chainring is bolted to the spider holding it, the chainring can be moved outwards with adding spacers between the chainring and the spider, then bolting it. To move the chainring inwards, it can be mounted on the inner side of the spider, with fine adjustment made using spacers, as shown in picture 8:
Mounting chainring on the inside of the spider, using spacers to move it further inward
Mounting chainring on the inside of the spider, using spacers to move it further inward
Picture 8
  • With triple cranksets, smallest, or largest chainring can be removed, or front derailleur set so it never moves onto one of them, effectively altering the chainline according to needs.
  • A spacer can be added between the right bottom bracket cup and the frame, in order to move chainrings outward.
  • Longer, or shorter axle (spindle) can be used with square taper and Octalink bottom brackets to move the chainrings outward, or inward. When using shorter axle, make sure that crank arms aren’t too close to the frame so they don’t hit the rear chainstay when turning.
  • Replacing crankset for one with more outward, or inward placed chainrings.

It is important to bear in mind the type of chainrings (crankset) used. This goes especially for square taper cranks. On an axle of the same width, some will stick further outwards, while others may be positioned more inwards, towards the frame. This plays an important role when choosing a correct BB axle length. Some crankset manufacturers publish required axle lengths for desired chainlines, while with others it’s more trial and error.

– T.O.C. –


4.1.1. Chainline for 1x drivetrains

With 1x drivetrains, it is optimal to have the front chainline be about 2 mm larger (more outwards) compared to the rear chainline.

This helps avoid chain scratching against the adjacent larger sprocket when it’s past the middle of the cassette – on the smaller sprockets (1x cranks are often paired with cassettes that have huge sprockets and large differences in adjacent sprocket size).

– T.O.C. –


4.2. Rear chainline adjustment

Adjusting the rear chainline is done by rearranging the rear axle spacers.

  • Spacers from the left side are placed on the right, to make the sprockets move inward.
  • Spacers from the right are moved to the left side to make the sprockets move outward.

It is important to note that this affects:

  • Room left for rear sprockets – they might start rubbing the frame if too many spacers are removed from the right side.
  • Disc brake alignment – make sure disc brake calipers can be moved laterally enough to match the sprocket rearrangement. If a spacer is added to the left side, disc brake calipers must be moved inwards. If a spacer is removed from the left side, calipers must be moved outwards.
  • Rim alignment – rim will no longer sit in the middle of the frame, and must be re-dished. If a spacer is added to the left side, left hand side spokes must be tensioned to move the rim back into the middle. If a spacer is added to the right side, right hand side spokes must be tensioned to center the rim.
Axle with cones, locknuts and spacer. There must be one cone and one locknut at each side, while spacers can be moved.
Axle with cones, locknuts and spacer.
There must be one cone and one locknut at each side, while spacers can be moved.
Picture 9

It can be also combined by discarding a wide spacer and replacing it with a narrower one from some old axle, then placing a third, narrower spacer on the opposite side to keep the total used spacer width the same.

Setting correct chainline using the rear hub is a complicated task that is not recommended, unless it’s not possible to get a satisfactory chainline by adjusting the front chainrings. It’s often better to leave a less than perfect chainline, than to mess with the rear hub spacers.

– T.O.C. –


5. Deliberate imperfections

I do most of my riding from the largest front chainring. That’s why I like to have my chainrings more to the inward, than it is perfect. That way, the chain is a bit more crossed when using smallest chainring, but where I do most of my riding, on the big chainring, the chain is straighter than it would be if I had set the correct chainline.

The rule of thumb and a safe bet is to set the chainline correct, but if one is certain what they are doing, they can play with imperfect chainlines. Of course, diverting from perfect chainline has its drawbacks and consequences, like shown in picture 10:

If front chainline is smaller than the rear chainline, chain on smaller chainring will rub the big chainring, even when not crossed too much.
If the front chainline is smaller than the rear chainline, when the chain is on the smaller chainring, it might rub the big chainring, even when not crossed too much.
Picture 10

Important note: when experimenting with imperfect front chainlines, for bicycles with front derailleurs (FDs), it is important to make sure the FD can reach all the chainrings. If they are moved too much outwards, FD might not reach far out enough to shift to the largest chainring, and vice-versa – if moving chainrings too much inward, FD might not be able to move in enough to shift to the smallest chainring.

Also, make sure that right and left-hand side crank distance from the frame is not greatly different, since that could affect ride comfort (having one foot moved substantially more towards the outside, compared to the other foot).

– T.O.C. –


6. Apendix – axle lengths for BBs with axles

Axle measurements for BBs with axle (square taper and Octalink are the most widely used ones) are noted in picture 11:

a) Axle length d) Drive side (chainrings side) length s) Width inside the frame's BB shell n) Non drive (left) side length
a) Axle length
d) Drive side (chainrings side) length
s) Width inside the frame’s BB shell
n) Non-drive (left) side length
Picture 11

Measurement d) is always taken from the inside of the flange that aligns with the outer side of the frame’s BB shell. The drive side is always screwed all the way in, until the flange stops at the BB shell wall.

Table 1 shows measurements of some existing cartridge BB models:

Some typical measurements. As a guide to what to measure and look for.

Some typical measurements.
As a guide to what to measure and look for.

a) Axle length
d) Drive side (chainrings side) length
s) Width inside the frame’s BB shell
n) Non-drive (left) side length
Table 1

For Shimano square taper cartridge bottom brackets combined with Shimano cranks, optimal axle lengths are usually (not always, it’s best to mount and measure):

  • 110 mm for single chainring cranks (single-speed and 1x).
    For example, a 110 axle will result in a 46 mm front chainline; 113 will give you 48 mm; and 117 will give a 50 mm front chainline.
  • 110 to 113 mm for double chainring cranks.
  • 122.5 (122 ~ 123) mm for MTB triple cranks.
    Sometimes, depending on the rear chainline, a 117 mm axle length can fit better.

Shimano often notes on a paper inside the package of their (square taper and Octalink) cranks which BB model (and axle length) gives which chainline with that particular crank. Without this, it’s often a trial and error, with various axle lengths.

– T.O.C. –


6.1. Square taper axle length video

My video explaining how to find an optimal square taper BB axle length:

What length square taper axle do I need?
What length square taper axle do I need?

– T.O.C. –


7. VIDEO about the chainline (shown and explained)

A video where I’ve explained the chainline and shown how to measure the front and the rear chainline:

What is a bicycle chainline and how to measure it?
Chainline video – with a demonstration of how to measure it


Related post – Approach to bicycle servicing:

First steps (approach) when servicing a bicycle
First steps (approach) when servicing a bicycle

If you have any questions (or additions and corrections), please use the BikeGremlin forum:
www.bikegremlin.net

The existing comments posted under this article (questions and answers) have been moved to this BikeGremlin forum thread:
https://www.bikegremlin.net/threads/bicycle-chainline-article-comments.125/

– T.O.C. –



32 thoughts on “Bicycle chainline”

  1. Hi Relja –– just following up to say I finally had the opportunity to set things up in scenario “B” as you suggested. I popped on a new chain and just finished adjusting the derailleurs. Seems to be working great! Thanks again for your thoughtful advice. It gave me the confidence to keep plugging away at this project!

    • Hi Bryce,

      Thank you for taking the time to write feedback.

      The more stuff you do on your own, the more knowledge, experience, and confidence you will gain to tackle the more complex stuff. It is very rewarding. 🙂

      Relja

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