Abstract: An inner link plate is provided for a chain. The inner link plate has a longitudinal centerline, an inside surface arranged to face another inner link plate when the chain is assembled, an outside surface opposite to the inside surface, and an outer peripheral edge disposed between the inside and outside surfaces. The bicycle inner link plate basically has a first end portion, a second end portion and a connecting portion. The first and second end portions are each provided with a connecting opening. The connecting portion includes a recess disposed on the inside surface of the connecting portion. The recess has a maximum longitudinal width on the outer peripheral edge, and a minimum longitudinal width in a region adjacent the longitudinal centerline. The recess at least extends from the outer peripheral edge to the longitudinal centerline.

Abstract: A bicycle sprocket assembly is provided with at least a first sprocket, a second sprocket and a first axial spacer. The first sprocket includes an outermost peripheral portion defining a plurality of first teeth, and an innermost peripheral portion defining an opening that is free of any freewheel engaging splines. The first sprocket is larger than any other sprocket of the bicycle sprocket assembly. The second sprocket includes an outermost peripheral portion defining a plurality of second teeth, and an innermost peripheral portion defining an opening having a plurality of freewheel engaging splines. The first axial spacer is fixed to the first and second sprockets such that the first axial spacer is disposed between the first and second sprockets without any intervening sprockets disposed between the first and second sprockets. The first axial spacer includes an innermost peripheral portion defining an opening having a plurality of freewheel engaging splines.

Abstract: A sprocket comprises a sprocket body and a plurality of sprocket teeth extending radially outwardly from a root portion of the sprocket body. The sprocket body has a first side surface and a second side surface, wherein a root portion side surface of the root portion defines a root portion plane at the first side surface of the sprocket body. A shift assist recess is formed in the root portion below a first sprocket tooth at the first side surface of the sprocket body, and a second sprocket tooth has a projecting portion that extends laterally outwardly from the root portion plane at the first side surface of the sprocket body.

Abstract: An outer chain plate is configured to aid in downshifting such that a chain moves more smoothly from an outer chain ring (sprocket) to an inner chain ring (sprocket) with either no downshifting recess being provided on the outer chain ring or at least a shallower than normal downshifting recess being provided on the outer chain ring. At least a bottom part of the outer chain plate that faces a center axis of a sprocket when in use has a portion removed to minimize contact with outer chain ring when downshifting. Preferably, the bottom part of the outer chain plate has a chamfered outer edge portion along a cutout portion that defines a reduced area portion.

Abstract: A bicycle sprocket is provided with a sprocket body and a plurality of sprocket teeth. The sprocket teeth extend radially outward from a root circle of the sprocket body with the sprocket teeth being circumferentially spaced around the outer periphery of the sprocket body. The sprocket teeth include at least one shift assist tooth that assists in a shifting operation from the bicycle sprocket to a smaller sprocket. The shift assist tooth has a maximum radial height as measured from the root circle of the sprocket body. The maximum radial height of the shift assist tooth is larger than a maximum radial height of a majority of remaining ones of the sprocket teeth as measured from the root circle of the sprocket body. The shift assist tooth has a radially inclined surface sloping toward the smaller sprocket as the radially inclined surface approaches radially toward the center rotational axis A.

Abstract: A bicycle chain connecting link basically has a first link plate, a second link plate, a first link pin and a second link pin. The first link plate has a longitudinal slot. The second link plate has a pair of pin attachment openings. The first and second link pins each have a first pin end retained to the first link plate and a second pin end releasably coupled in the pin attachment openings of the second link plate to be separated from the second link plate and reattached to the second link plate. At least one of the first pin ends of the first and second link pins is slidable within the longitudinal slot of the first link plate in a longitudinal direction of the longitudinal slot of the first link plate.

Abstract: A bicycle chain connecting pin comprises a pin body dimensioned to fit within an opening in a link plate of a bicycle chain, wherein the pin body has an intermediate part and first and second ends. At least one of the first and second ends has a corresponding first or second recess defining a floor that faces in a longitudinal direction of the pin away from the pin. The floor has a floor diameter of from approximately 60% to approximately 90% of an outer diameter of the intermediate part.

Abstract: An outer chain plate is configured to aid in downshifting such that a chain moves more smoothly from an outer chain ring (sprocket) to an inner chain ring (sprocket) with either no downshifting recess being provided on the outer chain ring or at least a shallower than normal downshifting recess being provided on the outer chain ring. At least a bottom part of the outer chain plate that faces a center axis of a sprocket when in use has a portion removed to minimize contact with outer chain ring when downshifting. Preferably, the bottom part of the outer chain plate has a chamfered outer edge portion along a cutout portion that defines a reduced area portion.

Abstract: A bicycle rear derailleur equipped with a base component, a link mechanism, a movable component, outer plate, inner plate, guide pulley, and tension pulley. The base component is mounted on the frame and one end of the link mechanism is mounted on the base component. The movable component is mounted on the other end of the link mechanism, and can be relatively displaced from the base component. The outer plate is mounted on the movable component so as to undulate like a see-saw. The guide pulley is mounted between the plates, so as to freely rotate and move in the axial direction. The tension pulley can be engaged with the chain, the engagement center of which is set at a position closer to the outer plate than to the engagement center of the guide pulley, and is mounted between the plates, so as to freely rotate.

Abstract: A bicycle chain connecting link basically has a first link plate, a second link plate, a first link pin and a second link pin. The first link plate has a longitudinal slot. The second link plate has a pair of pin attachment openings. The first and second link pins each have a first pin end retained to the first link plate and a second pin end releasably coupled in the pin attachment openings of the second link plate to be separated from the second link plate and reattached to the second link plate. At least one of the first pin ends of the first and second link pins is slidable within the longitudinal slot of the first link plate in a longitudinal direction of the longitudinal slot of the first link plate.

Abstract: A bicycle chain has an outer link with two outer link plates, an inner link formed with two inner link plates and a link pin connecting adjacent ones of the together. The link plates are configured to aid in smoothly shifting a chain moves between sprockets. The outer link plates have the outer link peripheral edges that are shaped differently. One of the outer link plates has an exteriorly facing surface with a first chamfered outer edge portion extending along a section of its outer link peripheral edge at a first end portion and a first reduced area part having a reduced radial dimension with respect to a radial dimension of the first end portion lying along a longitudinal axis. The inner link plates have center connecting portions with different minimum widths.

Abstract: A chain connecting pin extracting apparatus comprises a main body; a pin extractor support supported by the main body; and a pin extractor supported by the pin extractor support for movement in a direction of a pin extractor axis defined by the pin extractor. The pin extractor comprises a force receiving component adapted to receive a connecting pin extracting force; a tip adapted to apply the connecting pin extracting force to the connecting pin, wherein the tip is dimensioned to extend into a link pin opening in a first direction along the pin extractor axis; and a residue moving surface disposed between the force receiving component and the tip and facing at least in part in a second direction opposite the first direction.

Abstract: A sprocket comprises a sprocket body and a plurality of sprocket teeth extending radially outwardly from a root portion of the sprocket body. The sprocket body has a first side surface and a second side surface, wherein a root portion side surface of the root portion defines a root portion plane at the first side surface of the sprocket body. A shift assist recess is formed in the root portion below a first sprocket tooth at the first side surface of the sprocket body, and a second sprocket tooth has a projecting portion that extends laterally outwardly from the root portion plane at the first side surface of the sprocket body.

Abstract: A bicycle chain connecting pin comprises a pin body dimensioned to fit within an opening in a link plate of a bicycle chain, wherein the pin body has an intermediate part and first and second ends. At least one of the first and second ends has a corresponding first or second recess defining a floor that faces in a longitudinal direction of the pin away from the pin. The floor has a floor diameter of from approximately 60% to approximately 90% of an outer diameter of the intermediate part.

Abstract: A bicycle rear derailleur apparatus for smoothly guiding a bicycle chain to the rear sprocket of a bicycle is provided. The rear derailleur is equipped with a base component, a link mechanism, a movable component, Outer Plate 20, Inner Plate 21, Guide Pulley 22, and Tension Pulley 23. The base component is a component which is mounted on the frame. The link mechanism is a mechanism of which one end is mounted on the base component. The movable component is a component which is mounted on the other end of the link mechanism, and which can be relatively displaced from the base component. The outer plate is a component which is mounted on the movable component so as to undulate like a see-saw. The inner plate is a component which is installed so as to face the outer plate. The guide pulley is a component which is mounted onto a portion on one edge of the plates, between the plates, so as to freely rotate and move in the axial direction, and which can be engaged with the chain.

Abstract: A chain connecting pin extracting apparatus comprises a main body; a pin extractor support supported by the main body; and a pin extractor supported by the pin extractor support for movement in a direction of a pin extractor axis defined by the pin extractor. The pin extractor comprises a force receiving component adapted to receive a connecting pin extracting force; a tip adapted to apply the connecting pin extracting force to the connecting pin, wherein the tip is dimensioned to extend into a link pin opening in a first direction along the pin extractor axis; and a residue moving surface disposed between the force receiving component and the tip and facing at least in part in a second direction opposite the first direction.