Paul Raley wrote:
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> I have a question about the use of Reynold chains. I tried an 1/8" Reynold Elite chain on my Hetchins which is equipped with a Benelux mark 7 rear deraileur, a 4 speed Cyclo block, and a single Chater Lea 48 - 1/8" chainring. Although the chain shifted fine (after playing with chain length and cage angle) it was quite noisy in the smallest and largest cogs. It even derailed off the front chainring on occaision. Thinking that the chain was too stiff laterally I substituted a cheap BMX chain and it is much much queiter with no more chain drops. However, the shifts are not near crisp as they were with the Reynold chain.
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> Is anyone using a 4 speed Benelux setup with a 1/8" chain and could offer any recommendations? I am considering using a 3 speed block to avoid the extreme angles and giving the Reynold chain another try.
1/8" chain (track chain) was typically used with three speed freewheels (or less) and a four speed freewheel would have used a 3/32" derailleur chain.
I've heard that riders in the 1930s would have to ride a new 1/8" chain a while before it would loosen up enough to be able to shift across a three speed freewheel.
Chuck Schmidt South Pasadena, Southern California
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