Chains

[orphic]

I'm confused about choice of chains.

I need a 10 speed for my roadie and a 9 speed for my mountain bike.

I was going to go Wippermann for both but since Chain Reaction don't have any 10 speed in stock I was thinking of going the SRAM 1090, but there is also the 1090R and I don't know what the difference is.

For the mountain bike am I better off going stainless steel since this is more likely to get wet? Is there a performance offset when going with this option?

Any suggestions or comments appreciated. I need to make a decision of some sort today.

[weiyun]

SS chains are more expensive but more durable. But I am not sure how that increased durability affects the wear on the cassette.

This forum thread answers the 1090R question.
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=349481

[christian]

I'm running a SRAM PC1070 on my road bike, they are a bit cheaper then the 1090.

[T-Bone]

I'm a fan of KMC chains for my road bike.

Don't think stainless steel is necessary if you clean and lube the chain well enough, and clean after each ride, which really should be done in any case. Though i don't have a Mountain bike, so others may have different opinions.

[NOOG]

The SRAM 1090R has holes in the link plates and the 1090 doesn't. I think you save about 10g, so you're paying around $3/g.

For mountain biking, I think as long as your chain is nickel plated, you should be alright. The chain's usually only getting wet in puddles and river crossings anyway, so it's not too wet by the end of a ride.
Stainless steel is brilliant, no performance offset. In fact it probably makes you faster because your wallet will be so light.

[geoffs]

I am using DA chains with a connex joining link for the road bike (10sp)and lots of connex 9sx chains for the tandem.
Roughly 2 chains per casette