Fitting a K-Edge chain catcher.

Everyone's dropped a chain at some point in their cycling life. On a steel frame it doesn't cause much damage, except perhaps to the paint finish. On a carbon frame, the dropped chain can make a real mess of the relatively fragile carbon fibre.

The K-Edge chain catcher (CNC machined from 6061-T6 alloy in Boise, Idaho) is a very simple device. It is basically a narrow metal plate that bolts to your front derailleur and acts by physically stopping the chain falling off the small chainring. Fitting it is just a case of shifting onto the largest sprocket at the back and the smallest one at the front and removing the front derailleur. You then add the small adaptor, the catcher itself and one of the longer bolts in the kit and refit the derailleur. As you tighten it all back together, make sure the end of the catcher is about 0.5 mm from the chain. Job done!