No, not that, but this...
A chain tug is a device that pulls the rear wheel (via the axle) rearwards, in order to maintain decent chain tension on a singlespeed bike..
What - you've a big dangly thing that your chain runs through hanging below the rear axle, that you can move when your legs cry out that "life's not fair, it's too hard.."? Don't worry - you've got GEARS, and non of this applies to you.
Go sit down on the naughty step and think about what you've done *.
However, if you've set up your tent in 'Camp ore-sum' because you ride a single speed, and have horizontal dropouts, and you have girder bending thighs of steel (of course you do) then you'll need a chain tug...
I've chosen to write a little report on the various chain tugs I've bought and used for my XC/race singlespeed bike (on-one scandal) because I've been through a few..however, if you're short on time, to save you my "buy cheap, buy thrice" approach, the answer is buy a Surly tuggnut!
What - you've a big dangly thing that your chain runs through hanging below the rear axle, that you can move when your legs cry out that "life's not fair, it's too hard.."? Don't worry - you've got GEARS, and non of this applies to you.
Go sit down on the naughty step and think about what you've done *.
However, if you've set up your tent in 'Camp ore-sum' because you ride a single speed, and have horizontal dropouts, and you have girder bending thighs of steel (of course you do) then you'll need a chain tug...
I've chosen to write a little report on the various chain tugs I've bought and used for my XC/race singlespeed bike (on-one scandal) because I've been through a few..however, if you're short on time, to save you my "buy cheap, buy thrice" approach, the answer is buy a Surly tuggnut!
On-one tug
 | It's £9.99..at one point it was BOGOF. It can bog off. The whole point of singlespeed is it's simplicity. This has two bolts on it, with 2 lock nuts. That means to adjust it you need to carry a tiny spanner, and get your hex keys out. Bike shops should charge as much to adjust this thing as they do to change a group set (Ok, slight hyperbole, but it's enough to e frustrating). Plus, it doesn't actually pull your wheel enough to be useful. Plus the bolts are too short so you immediately need to swap them for longer ones. Avoid. |
DMR/Charlie/AN other tug
 |  |
These are better than the on-one ones, and they cost between a fiver and fifteen quid. I'd suggest spending a fiver, unless you're Brewster. Or daft.
Actually, I'd suggest you get the Surly tug.
These aren't too bad - they are simple, light, and adjust via a single 10mm spanner. When I had these on the bike I used to keep in the saddle pack a cheapy crappy spanner that came with an IKEA unit. It was nasty punched steel, but was small and flat and did the job.
However, these tugs had to be dremmelled to fit in my frame, they are meant for bolt through axles so needed to be spaced out with tiny washers for 9mm qr axles, and (like above) they don't actually 'tug' all the way back.
I've got these on my fixie because that has bolt through, as it is currently it doesn't need to be tugged all the way back, and the chain on that must be off an 1840s paddle steamer as it hasn't budged or stretched in 8 years of use. Seriously! So they can stay on that, but not the MTB SS..
Actually, I'd suggest you get the Surly tug.
These aren't too bad - they are simple, light, and adjust via a single 10mm spanner. When I had these on the bike I used to keep in the saddle pack a cheapy crappy spanner that came with an IKEA unit. It was nasty punched steel, but was small and flat and did the job.
However, these tugs had to be dremmelled to fit in my frame, they are meant for bolt through axles so needed to be spaced out with tiny washers for 9mm qr axles, and (like above) they don't actually 'tug' all the way back.
I've got these on my fixie because that has bolt through, as it is currently it doesn't need to be tugged all the way back, and the chain on that must be off an 1840s paddle steamer as it hasn't budged or stretched in 8 years of use. Seriously! So they can stay on that, but not the MTB SS..
Surly tugnut
 |  |
Twenty five quid for a chain tensioner??!!?!?F!
Twenty. Plus five?!
Well, if you do the maths, we're at that already with both the above poor choices...
I resisted buying this over the other two, mainly because of the cost. Mostly, because I'm an idiot.
This does everything you should ever want from a chain tug.
Yup, it weighs a few grams more than the others, but you can give the tensioner a little twist with your own fingers, rather than a tool, and that has to be worth something.
This IS the best of the lot. Hands down.
I try not to have regrets in life, but I'd be lying if I didn't say that the first two tugs are surely to haunt me on my death bed....
(* FWIW, I have many bikes with gears ;-0 )
Twenty. Plus five?!
Well, if you do the maths, we're at that already with both the above poor choices...
I resisted buying this over the other two, mainly because of the cost. Mostly, because I'm an idiot.
This does everything you should ever want from a chain tug.
- It is tool less adjustment - don't overestimate how much you want that.
- It has a proper little spacer thing for 9mm QR skewers.
- It tugs ALL THE WAY back in the dropouts - you really want that when you need it.
- It opens bottles (slightly superfluous as I now have TWO bottle opening methods on my race bike.I should take racing more seriously)
Yup, it weighs a few grams more than the others, but you can give the tensioner a little twist with your own fingers, rather than a tool, and that has to be worth something.
This IS the best of the lot. Hands down.
I try not to have regrets in life, but I'd be lying if I didn't say that the first two tugs are surely to haunt me on my death bed....
(* FWIW, I have many bikes with gears ;-0 )
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