TIL I was putting my chain on backward for like 2 years

I always just slapped my chain on without looking at the directional arrows. Then a buddy at the group ride last month pointed out my shifting was trash and showed me the little markings I'd been ignoring. Anybody else miss obvious stuff like that for way too long?

2 comments

2 Comments

harperwright21d ago

Haven't you guys ever heard that chain direction doesn't REALLY matter for most casual riders on modern drivetrains? I've run chains both ways and never noticed a single difference in shifting performance.

paul_thompson6721d ago

Used to be in the "chain direction matters a ton" camp myself, but you make a solid point @harperwright. Tried flipping a chain on my gravel bike last season and the shifting was just as crisp as before. Hard to argue with real world results like that.