Chainguards and Chaincases

Having an exposed chain leads to dirty trousers and higher maintenance costs due to the chain being exposed to the weather. That leads to more time spent off the bike while it's being fixed.

Chainguards can either be of a type which protects your clothing from being soiled by the chain but which does not fully enclose the chain or of a type which not only protects your clothing but also protects the chain from becoming dirty. The latter type, also known as chaincases, can greatly prolong chain life and make your bicycle far more reliable for everyday use.

Full chaincases can only be used on bicycles which have either single-speed or hub gearing, while partial chainguards can be used with many derailleur gearing systems.

Our full chaincases are in two categories for the two sizes of chaincase which are in common use:

1. For traditional single-speed or three speed hub gearing which accommodate larger chainrings of up to 44 teeth. e.g. the Hesling Original or a Lakdoek chaincase. These have a small opening in the centre through which the cranks pass. Click through for photos of two different types of traditional cranks compatible with these chaincases.
2. For Shimano Nexus or other manufacturer's hub gearing with more than three speeds which accommodate smaller chainrings of 33 or 38 teeth. e.g. Hesling's Excelle, Saber or Mirada. These have a larger opening in the center through which a 9.5 cm diameter rotating disk attached to the Shimano Nexus style cranks can pass. If unsure about which type of crank you have, click through to pictures of Shimano Nexus cranks and compatibles.

For partial chainguards please count the number of teeth on your crankset and refer to the links below for each chainguard.

See also mudguards/fenders, coat protectors, chainrings, cranks and chainsets.