Is there a way to lengthen a bicycle chain?

Answer 1

Yes. There is a device called a chain tool that drives the rivets out of a bicycle chain in such a way as to let them be driven back in later. You would add a link after first buying one (chain tool $8-$15, and an extra link) from the bicycle shop. If you wanted to lengthen the chain by quite a bit, you would break an existing chain into two pieces, one of which was the length you desired to add. The chain tool would then drive the rivets back in on the two links you popped out, and your chain would then be longer. There is no reason to lengthen a chain unless you've put on a huge back gear, and your current derailleur is incapable of switching the chain over to it. Even so, you'd probably be better off changing your derailleur instead. A chain that is too long for your derailleur to handle will fall off due to the slack in the chain wobbling from side to side. Thank you for asking a question in bicycles that doesn't have ANYTHING to do with the Tour de France!