What is the chainstay?
The chainstay or “stays” = The pair of frame tubes that joins the bottom bracket shell to the rear axle holders (the slots the back wheel goes in). This means that the chain stays connect the bottom bracket (BB) to the center of the back wheel.
The two chainstay tubes are NOT made equally:
- The chainstay on the drive-side (chain side) is made heavier
- The opposite chainstay tube is lightened, which helps to increase power-train efficiency
The chain stays connect the bottom bracket shell to the center of the back wheel
What is chainstay length?
“Longer stays are more stable but slower turning and less ‘sporty’ feeling ”
The chainstay length of a bicycle is the distance from the center of the rear wheel axle to the center of the bottom bracket shell.
The chainstay length heavily influences your wheelbase, which affects your bike’s stability. All things being equal, a bike with a longer wheelbase will be more stable, while a bike with a shorter wheelbase will be more agile and nimble.
“Longer chain stays will provide more ride comfort by increasing the distance between the wheels, but the longer, heavier chain they require will be less mechanically efficient. ”
chainstay length & full suspension bikes
On most full suspension bikes, the chainstay length changes as your bike moves through its suspension travel or compresses.
The chainstay length is variable since a full suspension frame is connected through several links. These links improve the performance of your suspension by manipulating the shock rate and wheel travel path, which results in your chainstay lengthening during riding
This variable change in your chainstay doesn’t show up in any bicycle geometry specification or table, as it’s impossible to measure in real-world riding conditions.
“Our advice on stays: Get the bike with the shortest stays that still meets your requirements for tire size and rear travel.”
Jesse (Director of Pedal Chile) lives in the Chilean Patagonia. Jesse has a Master of Science in Health and Human Performance and a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. Hobbies: Mountain biking, reading, researching, snowboarding, and trying craft beers.
Sources
Glaskin, Max. Cycling Science. The University of Chicago Press, 2018.
Lopes, Brian, et al. Mastering Mountain Bike Skills. Champaign (Il); Windsor (On); Leeds (Ls), Human Kinetics, 2017.