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My mate has got a Genesis with an Alfine hub . He's just put a new KMC X1 chain on and it's already at the end of the adjustment . I looked at half links but they just look like a complete link with a pin sticking out ? Can someone explain is this what he needs ?
Also another friend has a road bike , she's finding the stock tyres sketchy on wet roads , I know nothing about road bikes/tyres so what's good ? I think she needs something with a bit of tread and some puncture protection .
Tread on (eg car) tyres is simply to evacuate water to prevent aquaplaning, with a skinny road tyre you dont need it as the tyre cuts though like a blade - it's more rubber compound and pressure that you need to dial in, but you'd have to ask a roadie opinion on whats a good starting point, but I presume like mountain bikes, many come with substandard tyres as standard.
With the chain, did he sorten it too much prior to fitting it?
Tread on (eg car) tyres is simply to evacuate wate to prevent aquaplaning, with a skinny road tyre you dont need it as the tyre cuts though like a blade - it's more rubber compound and pressure that you need to dial in, but you'd have to ask a roadie opinion on whats a good starting point
Roadie here, the above is correct. if she's after pure grip then a race tyre like a Veloflex Master or a Vittoria Open Pave is the way to go, they're not cheap and don't offer much puncture protection though. A more well rounded option is a Vredestein Senso Xtreme, I have these on my winter road bike and like them a lot. Just don't point her towards Gatorskins, they're horrible tyres, plain nasty in the wet.
Presume you're looking to shorten the chain? If the hub is at the end of the drop-out then simply removing a link and rejoining the chain should still give enough room without the need for a half-link. Half-links only really needed where there's limited drop-out adjustment of where trying to use a 'magic gear'.
As for winter road tyre recommendations, puncture protection also adds weight and lack of feel - whilst a Schwalbe Marathon Plus will rarely puncture, it feels dead and heavy on the road. Something like a Durano Plus in 25 or 28mm could be a better compromise or Bontranger Hard Cases.