Need A Chain Watcher?

Do you often find yourself watching the race pass you by because of mechanical problems?

Maybe you need a chain catcher.

A chain catcher's job is pretty self explanatory - it catches your chain if you force a shift and drop it. If you've ever slammed your chain from the big ring into the small to attack at the bottom of a climb, at the pivotal moment of a race, and heard that sickening crunch of your chain digging itself between your chainrings and BB, you know how important this can be.

There is a dizzying array of options for you to choose from - some attach to the downtube, others to the front derailleur. but all of them will save you from potential disaster.

1. Deda Dogfang
Probably the best-known of all chain watchers, it's also cheap and easy to install. You see them on pro bikes all the time. Basically, a hunk of plastic attaches to your downtube and pushes the chain back into place. It's easy, it only costs 12 bucks, and it looks nice. What's not to love?

Well, it doesn't fit on not-circular downtubes. Which includes ovalized or aero-shaped tubes, which describes most carbon bikes out there. As a general rule - if you have a braze-on front derailleur, you probably can't use this.

2. K-Edge Chain Catcher
So what do the aero-tube-shape loving cyclists of the world do? They turn to Kristin Armstrong's elegant solution. Armstrong's dropped chain in the 2006 World Time Trial championships almost cost her a gold medal, and she vowed to never let that happen again. So she and her mechanics developed a machined aluminum arm to catch the chain before it makes a break for freedom - and the best part is, it attaches to your front derailleur. If you have a front shifter, you can use this.

Armstrong and Co. haven't decided on a price yet, but it will most likely be less than 20 bucks. It will be available May 1st at your LBS.


3. Do it Yourself
In this economy, not everyone has the cash to spend on fancy bike parts, especially ones that are not strictly necessary. You can always make one yourself out of whatever you've got around the house. Like this guy did.



AP Photo/Roberto Bettini, VeloNews/Zach Vestal