The mountain bike is designed to endure strenuous environments and take on some of the toughest trails you can come across. The bike chain guard is considered an accessory and something that many people often neglect. Its purpose is to make life easier for you and to ensure that dirt does not build up on your chain.
The fact is that you might not need a bike chain guard. However, having one can make a big difference and allow you to excel. These guards will keep most of the dirt from your chain, which enables you to continue without fearing any potential damage. It will ensure that the bike does not run into complications when riding.
If you have come to the understanding that the bike chain guard is what you need, you might want to consider this article. We will dive deeper into these guards and give you some of the main reasons to help you see if they appeal to you. It should come as no surprise that like many experts, we believe it is something that could help you.
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Is It Necessary To Have A Bike Chain Guard On Your Bike?
It is often still debated whether you should invest in the chain guard. In many competitive situations, weight is what people try to limit and ensure that they don’t waste too much weight on some of these guards. However, there are some benefits that you could find when choosing a guard for your bike chain:
- Prevents Dirt From Entering: One of the first things you will notice is that less dirt tends to get onto the chain. This could prevent rust and ensure that you don’t need to deal with any damages when riding the bike.
- Prevents Snagging: Nothing can be more frustrating than having your trousers or shoelaces caught up in the chain. The bike chain guard will prevent this from happening.
- Balance: Another feature is that should something get damaged like the chainring, the guard will keep it in place and balanced until you have the opportunity to fix it.
- Adds Something New: If you want your bike to stand out when compared to the competition, it should stand out when you use the chain guard.
If you are a professional rider, these issues might not occur, which means you might not need a chain guard. However, having one can make a huge difference to ensure that you have protection and some peace of mind.
Bike Chain Guard On Different Bikes
Each bike tends to behave differently when it comes to using a chain guard. To give you a better understanding of how each bike will behave, we should consider looking at how they will affect each bike type. Here is a breakdown of the different bikes and how a chain guard will affect the bike if you choose to add one:
Mountain Bikes
The MTB chain guard is probably one of the most common. Mountain bikes have to endure strenuous conditions, which means that they might often get dirty and you might want to control even reduce the dirt. The chain guard is one of the best options to make it possible.
Another issue with riding in the mountains is that you could lose your chain. However, products like the BEYST Bike Chain Guard will not only protect the chain but should it snap and fall off, it should not get lost. It is a great alternative to bike chain guards on the mountain bike.
Road Bike
While you might think that adding a chain guard to your road bike is a good idea, it is often isn’t. If you are a casual rider, you might want to try using the chain guard. However, for competitions, the aim is to keep the weight on the bike as low as possible.
Cyclocross Bike
If you are into cyclocross, you might want to consider having a chain guard. Cyclocross bikes often have to endure the same terrains as mountain bikes. To ensure that dirt does not build upon the chain, you might need to consider a chain guard.
BMX Bikes
Contrary to popular belief, having a chain guard on a BMX can be beneficial. You can avoid any potential snags, but the chains on these bikes are often small. You might need to put in some work to ensure you add the right option.
Different Types Of Chain Guards
Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all. If you are looking to get the best value for your money, you might need to consider the different chain guards. Each of them will have a different effect and you will find that they behave differently on your bike. It is important to consider finding the right one for your needs.
Full Chaincase
The full chaincase will run along the complete chain and it will ensure that you have all the comfort you need. It offers full protection over the chain and takes more effort to install. One of the downsides is that you will need to be more careful when installing one.
Open Chain Guard
The open chain guard only emphasizes protecting the chain and not the chainrings. It is easy to install and should not cause you any hassles. The main purpose of this guard is to prevent dirt from getting on the chain and your trousers from snagging.
Herbie Chain Glider
The Herbie Chain glider is similar to the open-chain guard. It slides onto the bike to give you optimal protection and to ensure that you have protection for the chain. It features a sleek design, which makes it look more natural when you install it on your bike.
FreeDrive Chain Cover
The BioLogic Freedrive Chain Cover will connect directly over the chain and should make it much easier for you to move about on your bike. It is lightweight and often slides with the chain. The purpose Is not to protect the chainrings. However, it does a great job of keeping the chain protected from any dirt or grime build-up.
Overall, these chain guards will make life so much easier for you. They are similar in design and they have the same purpose of keeping the chain fully protected. The purpose of using these guards is to ensure that your bike chain does not get damaged. Nothing is more frustrating than having to deal with a chain that snaps unexpectedly.
How To Install A Bike Chain Guard
Now that you have seen what these guards are and how they could affect your different types of bikes, you might also be wondering how they should be installed. We have designed this section to show you the simplest way to install a bike chain guard. This will make it possible for you to have optimal protection for your bike chain:
1. Setting Up
To get you started, you should consider buying a bike stand for your bike. The bike stand will offer you some stability and ensure that the bike remains in position while you are working. Alternatively, you might want to consider flipping the bike on the handlebars. This will also give you stability and ensure that the bike does not move.
If you are looking for a good setup that will give the bike stability for you to work on it, the Bikehand Bike Repair Stand is the ultimate option
2. Removing The Old Bike Chain
If you have bought a top bike, you might already have a chain guard installed. You will need to look for the brackets that allow you to loosen the guard. Additionally, you will need the right tools required to take apart the bike chain and make it functional again. The TEKTON Hex Key Wrench Set will have all the accessories you need to open up the bike.
3. Setting Up The Chain Guard
Once you have the old guard removed, you might need to consider adding the new one. To start, we would recommend that you wash the chain thoroughly to remove as much of the dirt as possible. This is also the optimal time for you to check the chain and see if any potential damages or issues could haunt you.
To install the new bike chain guard, you will need to see how it mounts. Generally, three different connections need to be made. You will need to make sure that you first connect the guard around the chainrings. Secondly, you will be moving to the chain, which means that you will be spending time connecting it to the chain of your bike.
Once all of this is completed, you will need to make adjustments to the guard to ensure that it operates smoothly. It could take you some time, but eventually, you will be ready to add the finishing touches.
4. Finishing Up
Once you are done, you will need to add some lubricant to the chain and ensure that the chain is on the pegs. Once the chain is ready, you can spin the rear wheel to make sure that nothing is impeding the chain and how it moves. You can add some lubricant and the bike should be ready for your next trip.
Wrap-Up
The bike chain guard is one of the fundamental additions to bikes that have to endure tough conditions and the outdoors. Using these guards might not improve your performance, but it could reduce the breakdowns you are dealing with. We would love to read some of your comments below to see if you like the bike chain guard.
