Big Chain Ring with Big Sprocket?

Omar is trying to do something he shouldn’t be and that is using the extreme of gears, the large chain ring at the front and the large sprocket at the back. He thinks his chain is too short, this is possible, but it is more likely that he just shouldn’t be trying to use these gears

Question:
I have a problem with my bike, I can not shift in to my rear big sprocket while using the big chain crank in front because it my chain tightens and gets so tight that I can’t turn the pedals. This doesn’t have when I use the small chain in front. Can you help?

Hi Omar,

Your problem is that the chain is too short and that you should not be using the big chain ring and the big sprocket, this bends the chain too much as does using the small chain ring and the small sprocket.

So, first you should not be using the combination of chain ring and sprocket, secondly you need to check if your chain is the correct length, as the chain is already fitted then the best thing to do is to put the chain on the small chain ring and the small sprocket, does the rear derailleur take up the slack of the chain? If it does then you could add a couple of links, but this then may make the chain too long and then the derailleur will not be able to take up all the chain.

But it’s better if you don’t use the big chain ring and the big sprocket as it is just not good for any of your gear equipment and you have better gear combinations to achieve the same gear ratio.