The trick I've always used to tension my chain is to take something like a bathroom towel and fold it twice "hotdog style" and roll it up from there. Loosen the bolts. Then take the rolled towel and put it in right below your saddle in front of the seat stays in between your rear tire and your seat tube, and then rotate your tire so the towel rolls downward (or upward if you're doing this with the bike flipped over) towards the chain stays until it's far enough in between the tire and the seat tube to give the desired tension. Then just do a slight centering of your rear wheel and tighten the bolts. Super easy, no fancy tools, works for all types of dropouts, and it'll always get your chain tight

This video made me realize my chain is crazy tight! Thanks!

I find it much easer/faster to tension by keeping the wrench in one hand and placing the non-wrench hand between the wheel and seat tube. Then use the non-wrench hand to both align and tension by pushing 'out', while the wrench hand tightens. Probably not the 'correct' way, but if u prefer more tension it seems like the easiest way.

I am super grateful for this video. Both the knowledge and the giggles. Thank you!

Use a piece of cloth between the tire and the frame, like that you can adjust the tension as wanted and it will stay still while you tight the bolts. That is all.

I really like your videos, and I enjoy constantly learning about fixed gear bikes. I have been riding only fixed gear bikes since the early 2000's, and can't ever go back to geared bikes. The only single speed I have is a 29er fat bike for riding in deep snow or in the sand on the beach.

Hey. That helped me a lot. I didn't know why my bikes chain wouldtn tighten and I didn't even know what chain tension was until I found this video. I thought my chain was done for. Thanks😀

Your chain was too loose. Your lucky and have nice parts so you don't need to worry about high and low spots. I would add more tension to the chain. Check for the high and low spots. As you spin your cranks your chain will loosen and tighten. The nicer the part and who built the crank set will determin how extream this is. When your chain is at its tightest it should only have around 4 to 5 mm of movement. But if you have an extreme low spot where your chain goes loose ( above 1.4cm )you need to take a link out of your chain. If its very extreme, your rear cog, chainring or chain is worn. It could also be your rear wheel is not alighned with your chain stayes. Unless your chain has been changed recently, the chain is the best way to judge the drive chains condition. If you use a chain cheaker and its over 1% I recommend changing the chain and rear cog and testing the chainring for drive chain slipping. I apologise for any bad spelling I'm dyslexic.

watched your vids in 2020, thank you very much and now i decided to buy mataro for my first fixed gear bike because of you and very satisfied with it ^^ thank you

Thanks for the video. I love the overcomplicated lifehack of using a Brazil nut to see if your wrench is the right size though. I mean, just check on the nut itself on the bike. 😄

one of the more useful videos i've every encountered salute

Simple hack to tensioning Fixie chain. Shove a tennis ball (or tightly rolled shirt for roadside repair) btw. rear tire and seat tube (ensuring tire is centered) and tighten axle nuts and check chain tension to make sure its JUST TO THE POINT OF NOT TO TIGHT (no binding while pedaling). Works like a charm!!!

I know this is rather old but this video and a bunch others have helped me plenty. Because of you I have been able to: Replace my riser bar to drop bars Replace my stem Replace my chain with decent tension Replace my rear cog since I didn’t have enough skid patches. Buy bicycle lights. And a bunch others. You’re great man !

2:28 T I G H T N U T S

What a freaking DELIGHT this video was! I was just kinda lost and hoping to learn if I can fix whatever is wrong with my bike. I DONT really know anything yet because this is relatively new to me. Well imagine my glee when not only am I getting great information in a way I can understand what I'm needing to do.... I ALSO keep cracking up at all your jokes. I keep not expecting the joke and then there is it. I haven't giggled this much in a while. Thanks for the information and the laughs

Thanks! I had absolutely no idea what I was doing switching my bike from single speed to fixed gear 😅

Yes I did need $50 MKS chain tensioners. They are a drastic improvement from nearly all other options. I’m a huge advocate of spending top dollar on nuts, bolts, lockrings, axles. You know the parts that connect everything together

I felt totally stupid then I saw your clip and now I can cycle again. Thank you so much

Excellent chain tightening instructions!

I just use a broom handle to tension my chains. Flip your bike over and put the broom handle between the frames bottom cross member and pull tight on the top of the broom handle. Gives you great leverage. All you have to do is rotate your wrist if the wheel is crooked. Works good.

Great video! Wow, I'm glad you could put your nuts to good use. How creative of you to use your nuts to measure the correct size of a wrench. Also, I didn't know you could adjust your nuts to tighten a single speed chain.

Congratulations! you made a easy things a hard way!

Thanks for the info, great video!

brilliant video helped me a lot

This is a great video! It wasn't especially useful to me as the walk-it-out method is also my preferred method, but damn did you crack me up a few times.... "That's a falling lamp that's a falling bike" had me in stitches!

It worked great!!! I fixed my sons bike! Thanks

Great video, very usefull. Thanks.

Great effort bro,great info,,subbed

i'm happy to give it a try on my bike

Thanks this was really helpful!

Great video.

Just pull on the wheel with one hand with slight pressure and look at the centering from above. When it looks centered slightly tighten the drive side them the other side and lock it in place. Then tighten the drive side fully and the other side and you're good

Thx bro now I don’t have a loose chain and the chain don’t fkn fall off now so thx bro

fantastic!

I aways used a wooden wedge between te tire and the frame to pull the weel. But your method is very usefull, especially when you are riding and need to change or mend the rear tire. I just thought your chain too loose.

It's pretty much like scooting it til it's just right 😌

I'm confused Zack, I thought you're supposed to use one of those hipster wrenches that also open bear bottles.

this video really help me to tension my chain thanks! Zach Gallardo

Thanks you so much

“That’s a falling lamp that’s a falling bike, things are going okay”

Thank you

I learned this when I was 9 years old, driving and fixing old BMX bikes.

I shove a broom stick between the tire and frame and then tighten the axle nuts. My older brother showed me that trick when I was a kid because he got tired of me making him come out to hold the wheel while I tightened the bolts.

Love it!!

I’m saving this video😂

Helpful asf

Mr gallardo i woul lke you make a video for adult who areent so strong again and want to ride bike with a standard crank & pinion could chose for small hills & drive aroud neighbohrhood, thanks for your great videos. Good job mr zack.

Thanks! Doesn't look like operating on a rocket indeed

Hmmm, will try this... (fingers crossed) :)

thats a hilarious but informative video

funny.. thanks brother

Chainstays are sometimes different shapes (or lengths) and do not work for centering. Best to use a combination of chainstay AND seat tube/BB Shell. Definitely always use a brazil nut though. Get those nuts loose.

Genius

Is there a difference if you closer the wheel to the frame or moving it further?

Chain Tensioners are there for a reason.....adjust either side a bit at a time,once the wheel is centred and then when the chain has a fraction of play, then tighten the tensioner nuts,but not too much.I then use two spanners (wrenches) for the wheel nuts.And then I tweak the tensioner nuts tight one last time.Has never failed me.....Look at a Motorcycle,its similar....

“That’s a falling lamp” 😂😂😂

hey zach can you help me know what is the best clipless pedals roadbikes or mtb

Do u put back the chain tensioner on after all that ?

Thanks! 🍓receive a strawberry.

scott joplin, nice taste in music

I have a question. Does ghost ring gives me more fixie points?

I've been having this issue that my chain look like yours did at the beginning of this video for a long time and when riding every so often the chain would slide it off or pop off and I would just have to set it back on again roll it on and I tried asking my friend's father that I live with who has fixed bikes simply in the past and just something about his explanation or problem of why he couldn't do it just seemed a bit off and now that I see this I feel like it was so simple and I know the answer and once I get home right now I'm going to find out so if you did help me I want to thank you in advance LOL

What gear ratio are you running?

Here's a simple way. With the bike either upside down or on a work stand, tighten both track nuts to finger tight. Get this right and you will then be able to adjust the position of the wheel by pulling on the track nuts with the crooks of your index fingers, with the pads of your thumbs braced against the rear end of the dropouts. Once the wheel is in the right place, tighten the nuts, a half turn each, double check the position and chain tension, then tighten them all the way. Important: position the spanner on the track nut so that when you tun, the "handle" of the spanner is moving towards the rear of the bike. This means that on one side, the spanner will be pointing upwards, and on the other side, downwards. This last step reduces the risk of the spanner itself pushing the axle forwards and slackening the chain. Simples. How much slack? As little as you can get away with as long as the pedals and back wheel turn freely and continue to do so when you stop turning them by hand. Usually the chainring and sprocket are imperfect, so the tension on the chain will vary slightly with rotation.

1. Pull your wheel and tighten your chain first time with your HUGE MUSCLES 2. Tighten the opposite-drivetrain nut, align wheel, tighten the other nut 3. Pedal fast with your HUGE MUSCLES

lmao you had my dying with the brazil nut strat.

Would having a slacker chain make it easier to skid on a fixie???

So it’s not necessary to have that plastic barrier in front of the big chain loop? Mine broke during this process lol.

It's very easier with those chain tensioners !

do you even ride that bike? it looks so clean.

That's a pretty darn long process of tightening and loosening

Zach a few months ago I noticed my chained sort of jumped slightly but ignored it, thinking it was no problem, now it jumps higher than ever. even with tightening it properly, I gets tight if you turn the crank to a certain point Loose in an another, could this be because of an old chain or my crank is misaligned.thank you

"You don't need to yank it or anything... gently, it's your bike, not a lonely friday night." Goddamn legend.

That was lo-key creepy because I thought the "hey zach" was a ad targeted at me

what ratio do you ride with? :)

can you make a video about loose chains on a bike where u cant just pull you wheel back

Can you do a video on removing scratches or bull horns vs risers vs drops

Yo I love you bro you cool

I like your video once I got past the intro. Now I hope youll last through mine: This instructional video of yours appears to me as directed at someone with no mechanical adjustment experience with these kinds of bikes,so that is how my critique will be focused. I mean no offence with any of my comments ,it is intended to be helpful. So Im not a "hater"......picky? mabe. Do I meet up to my apparent standards...not even close. Ok,that out of the way,I think. First,I have no experience adjusting bikes. Even though Ive ridden them over the years ,on occasion,Ive never had to do any work or adjustments excepting seat and handlebar adjustments.Unfortunately for me, Im the type that learns this stuff, on anything, when it breaks down and I need it now. I do not recommend that,but it not all that bad either. Starting a the 5 min + mark.Im glad you showed how to tighten the chain/rear wheel by alternating tightening of the chain /wheel & adjusting bolts. That could be a real time saver /on my learning curve if and when I ever have the issue while away from my home and tools. Iknow through experience and now comon sense,"lways have the basics few tools for the easy and frequent breakdowns that are common to the vehicle" which I do....usually To my point now that my intro is over: At near 6:48 you mention tightening the nuts without a torque meter guage by saying use common sense. Mechanical common sense thats required for proper torque has to be learned. Most people that this video is directed to usually havent developed a level of "common sense" you ask them to use . You may have it ,but the bulk of viewers that need this video likely dont have the experience that gives them that common sense "feel"when tightening/torquing the bolts. Keep up the good work though,

Can we do this faster coz this is a very long process and I faced this issue in middle of a ride.

Looking to change my fixed gear chain, any brand recommendations Zach? P.S. looking to add some color.

@zach hey man I'm have some drivetrain slippage I thought it might be a lose cog but that's not it.... please help... my fixie is my daily Rider..I want to keep riding but not if it's not safe....cause you know cars and stuff

Hey Zach I'm a larger guy 300lbs that wants to bike to work sometimes. I only live 3 miles away from work. Do you or anyone else have suggestions on bikes. I've been looking at fat tire bikes not sure if that would be a good idea. Any tips would be great.

Easy Way to Tension Your Chain... over 7 minutes yeesh. Love your vids though, keep it up!

What do you do if the back wheel is not aligned?

Thanks lol

You are a funny human. (Also, those aren't dropouts, they are track ends)

what if you have a thru axle hub and frame?

Drink up when Zach says 'nuts' ;)

берешь кароче подсидельный штырь или насос. закатываешь его меж колесом и трубой, до такой степени, пока цепь не будет достаточно натянута и всё. ровняешь колесо и ноу проблемос

Not exactly related to chain tension, Zack, but how does a half link chain compare to the normal full link bike chain in terms of: 1. weight 2. durability 3. "chain stretch" 4. connector link types (pin, clip, cotter?) 4. overall efficiency I'm looking to replace a chain now, and wondered which option to choose.

Why is it good to keep the chain tension so loose rather than tight ?

Is it normal that my chain has a tight spot or can I fix it?

Seems impossible task to maintain position of rear axle on my Langster without chain-tugs. After installing tugs, the bike went from a rattling mess into a much less noisy urban shredder, slamming over anything without fear of chain jumping off.

Ay we have the same color of the frame

hi my i think my tension is wrong my gear ratio is 47/16 but my skid patches is only one pls help

Does this not effect ur rear brake? Your pulling the wheel back so surely less of the brake disk is in contact with the pad ?

Zach, I've watched a lot of your videos and I think your quite knowledgeable and have good insight on bikes but this video is just crazy. When you have one side tightened and are pulling the axle to tighten the chain you are flexing/bending the frame on the other side. You want everything lined up and straight before you start tightening nuts down or you are tightening flexed or bent parts down. Use the tensioners, they are there to help do the job properly, just because you can "kinda" do a job without the right tools doesn't mean the job is done properly.

Put an empty water bottle between frame (seat tube) and the tyre. voilà. Worked every time for me and gets the chain pretty much right every time. If too tight let some air out of the bottle by squeezing and replace the cap.

Sir, I can conclude that your first name is fantastically beautiful.