I’m in the process of getting new SM wheels. I have an oxford hardcore XL chain, unfortunately the fabric covering got all tacky and started coming apart (had it for years).
So i’ve been using it without the fabric cover and when locking up it scratches my rims (metal on metal).
So I wanted to know is it possible to get it re-covered or do I have to buy an new one? Also how do you guys lock your bike up with spoked wheels? I don’t really want to be bending the spokes when pulling the chain through blah blah blah…
Im not fussed at the mo as current wheels on bike are tacky!
All good ideas above. You could also buy a metre of canvas type material from your local market and run a seam up then turn inside out to thread your chain through which would provide a slightly waterproof shield. (Obviously need a sewing machine!). As regards to threading a chain through normally I don’t have a problem with an almax thickness going through spokes. For some reason there seems to be bigger gaps in some places which is what you want to find. (Not familiar with the SM wheels though so might be different).
If you mean metres, my 1.5 Oxford is okay for home as my back wheel fitted in a cove next to the anchor and I can loop the chain and lock it thru a spoke. I do find it a tight fit sometime for street parking where the fixture may not be as close and that just looping the chain round the wheel.
on my sm i put the chain throw the top of my wheel above the hub so it hangs slightly down but does not touch the rim. mainly its cos i cant bend down in the space with my leg to get it slower hahahah
Amax through the spokes is fine on the back for me, but not the front. I’d give it a go before you fork out, almax are expensive. swing round to me once you have your spoked wheels on and you can try the Almax for size, and yes 1.5m is fine in most circumstances.
Fact is the 16 mm Squire Excaliber is on par with the Almax III and the 19 mm Squire Excaliber on par with the Almax IV or, if you want a carry chain the 14 mm Squire Excaliber is a little lighter in weight and as good as any. As per PJB and Squire none of these chains can be sawn or cropped.
But note if they want it nothing will stop them, the image Almax didn’t want you to see
Angle Grinker or Croppers? Cannot see. Yes, you can get through the almax with an angle grinder, but it is noisy… still, if they are fast enough, most people don’t GAS anyhow nowadays.
Art, not sure why you’re so anti Almax, seems to be a theme with you. Yes the PJB option is probably equivalent for the same size, and yes they both could be defeated with an angle grinder. They both use the same squire series padlocks. They both give discounts for insurance (in my experience Almax tends to be listed while PJB you have to choose other chain). They come to the same price for the same length and width (Almax offer free delivery for LBers). And yet every time someone mentions Almax, you jump in to say PJB security is better. Is there a specific reason they are better? Have you had an Almaxxed bike stolen? Is it their marketting that you don’t like? What?
Don’t mean to start a confrontation. One good point mentioned above is weight and transport. Anyone have issues carrying a 16mm almax? Is there another good chain that doesn’t weigh as much? And offer similar characteristics
I carry a 16mm Almax, Squire SS65 Padlock and Mini Pinch-Pin wrapped around the rails on the back of my bike - but I’m not going to say it’s particularly convenient or lightweight. I often ride to work in various locations in and around London, and I want to come back and find my bike still there. Note that I don’t have a particularly high-risk bike, it’s a simple sports tourer not a supermoto or a supersport, but it would be terribly inconvenient to have to organise alternative transport home, so I take the big chain and lock it up.
All 16mm chains (whatever brand) are going to be quite heavy to carry - but they will give you stronger protection against the casual or opportunist thief. Three bikes standing next to each other, two with small chains and one with a 16mm, which is the thief likely to take? If however the thief is out to get your bike, if they are targeting you specifically, they will get it no matter what chain you put on…
I’m not anti Almax and don’t rate the Squire chains better than Almax or visa versa, just that PJB offer better value for money for an equivalent product. Last time I did a like for like price comparison a Squire padlock and chain from PJB was 20% less than what Almax wanted for an equivalent product, and that was the delivered price including LB discounts and VAT.
I wouldn’t say I dislike their marketing videos, I do find them misleading in that they appear to compare their 16 mm and 19 mm chains with <10 mm chains.
