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review
K-Edge Road Chain Catcher£29.99
VERDICT:
A simple product that safeguards your frame and gives you peace of mind, the K-Edge chain catcher is just the ticket.
Weight:
10g
Contact:
www.madison.co.uk
At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.
What the road.cc scores meanGood scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.
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The K-Edge chain catcher keeps your chain in place of your chainsrings, preventing the expensive, composite-mangling disaster of a dislodged chain on a carbon frame.
Road chain catchers have been used in the Pro Tour for many years. Events such as Paris-Roubaix would be an obvious race to use a product that keeps your chain in place given the parcours that riders race.
The idea is when your chain is bouncing around there is less chance for it to come off altogether and do some serious damage to your frame. It provides peace of mind. This particular example from K-Edge is well made and above all, easy to fit. The braze-on model has been designed to look good, work well but with minimal installation.
It will fit all braze on and clamp style mounts but adds minimal weight to your bike as it hits the scales at 10 grams. It is available in five colours, black, gunmetal, red, blue and gold.
It has been modified to work with all well known groupsets with the exclusion of the electronic Campagnolo EPS.
Once fitted it soon blends in and so far have had no need of it. On the plus side if anything were to go wrong with the workings of my chain I now have the perfect ride partner to prevent any serious damage. It's not often you want to wish for some mechanical but in trying to re-create that scenario it has worked.
Verdict
A simple product that safeguards your frame and gives you peace of mind, the K-Edge chain catcher is just the ticket.
road.cc test report
Make and model: K-Edge Road Chain Catcher
Size tested: N/A
Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
The K-Edge chain catcher is used by the pros according to the supplier website and for races such as Paris-Roubaix you can see why. For rides on unforgiving surfaces or your standard British road, a product that stops your chain shipping off has to be a good thing. I haven't had an issue in use but have replicated a chain coming off and was impressed with the simplicity but effectiveness of the K-Edge.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Does what it is designed for, simply and without fuss.
Rate the product for quality of construction:
9/10
The product is very simple in design and construction.
Rate the product for performance:
9/10
This may only happen on the odd occasion but if your chain did ship on a ride you would be well advised to use the K-Edge. It could prevent serious damage to your frame and enable you to get home.
Rate the product for durability:
9/10
The CNC'd chain catcher is solid but only adds 10g to the overall weight of your bike.
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
9/10
At 10g this isn't a weight penalty.
Rate the product for value:
9/10
If you have concerns or suffer from your chain coming off then this is a cheap price to pay for some peace of mind.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
To prevent your chain shipping off and potentially causing some serious damage to your frame.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Easy to fit and a simple design.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Is there a colour to suit all frames?
Did you enjoy using the product? I haven't had cause to call upon the chain catcher for real but in simulating the effects of my chain coming off it did what it was supposed to.
Would you consider buying the product? Possibly but then I haven't suffered from my chain coming off.
Would you recommend the product to a friend? If they were in the market for this type of product then yes.
Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?
Simple to fit and an ideal addition if you have any concerns about your chain coming off.
About the tester
Age: 44 Height: 178cm Weight: 80kg
I usually ride: Currently riding a Pinnacle Evaporite Three My best bike is: As above
I've been riding for: 5-10 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Experienced
I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, commuting, sportives, mtb, Not yet but looking to dip my toe in the world of TT
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15 comments
Well, the K Edge chain catcher is available at shops such as wiggle (other online vendors are just as good), at the price mentioned above. Admittedly, it's not the "Pro" version in the picture for the review - which is £29.99 - but the standard one does the same job and weighs 5g less.
I've got a Token one on my CAAD10 and had it work for the first time last week, odd and slightly magical. Wasn't paying attention and managed to drop chain through mistimed gear change, chain dropped, pedalled slightly, chain magically popped back onto little ring. brilliant, buy one
I never understand the scores on these reviews, how does a 10g CNC machined item get 9/10 ? what more do you want ! on these reviews please ask the reviewer... if you gave less than 10 please explain why !
I would certainly mark it down for the price, but everything else must get a 10.
If your frame's seat tube is circular near the bottom bracket then you can probably fit a deda dog fang which will do the same job for about a fiver.
Perhaps a quick google for the price before complaining about it would show a RRP of £19.99 at one large online retailer, and that's before their 20% discount knocks it down to £15.99
When you start riding a bit harder in the future bikeboy, and your chain drops while the group heads up the hill without you, you may regret snooting your nose over this one
Relax chum, it's just a bit of playful banter - I put a winky eye emoticon at the end and everything.
[Reference to what you said,] [Last word.]Ha! That told you.
Link to that??:)
A tenner would be expensive, 30 quid's a rip-off for about 50p's worth of materials.
A solution to problem I never knew exist.
I have a Token one, which is half the price. However, £30 as a percentage of the cost of a new frame? Should be an automatic purchase.
Had one on my bike for a few months now and is worth every penny.
hang on, this fits clamps? and comes in gold!? shut up and take my money!!
I've got these, done the job so far. Been years since I dropped a chain, then had two fall in one day while double shifting on Campag Ergo shifters, taking a not insubstantial amount of my beloved paint away with it. Breaks my heart looking at the chainstay now, so it's standard issue on any of my builds since then.
"Is there a colour to suit all frames?"
Just get the one that matches your groupset