Melvin Chain Tensioner – Paul Component Engineering Skip to content

Covid-19 Update:

We’re still receiving and shipping orders, and really appreciate your support! Please be patient, as it may take a few weeks for orders to be shipped under the current manufacturing circumstances. Rest assured, we will get your parts to you as fast as we are able to, while still observing Covid-19 safety protocols - even if you don't hear from us.

International Customers: We have been seeing parcels sit in customs all over the world for up to 2 weeks with no update to the tracking information. These orders are eventually delivered, you will just have to be extra patient.

To learn more about what it's like to be a machine shop during a pandemic, watch this cool video we made!

Thank you,

The PAUL Crew

  • Shop
  • Story
  • Videos
  • Contact
  • Newsletter
Account Cart: 0
Menu
  • Shop
  • Story
  • Videos
  • Contact
  • Newsletter
Account Cart (0)
Shop | Components | Drivetrain | Chain Tensioner | Melvin Chain Tensioner

Product Videos

Related Products

Related products

  • Disk WORD

    $192.50 – $201.50
    Select options
  • Chain Keeper

    $88.50
    Select options
  • Word

    $156.00 – $168.50
    Select options

Melvin Chain Tensioner

Want to build a single speed without having to buy a dedicated frame? Try the Melvin. The Melvin bolts to the frame where the rear derailleur would normally go and allows the use of a single speed rear wheel on bikes with vertical dropouts.

$131.00

Clear

Technical Information

  • Material
    6061 Aluminum
  • Weight
    108g
  • Finish
    Anodized
  • Anodized Color
    Black, Purple or Silver
  • Chainline Range for 135/142 Rear Spacing
    44-52mm
  • Largest Rear Cog
    20 teeth
  • Chain Wrap
    20 Teeth ↓

    20 teeth of chain wrap means that chain rings with a maximum difference of twenty teeth can be used up front.

    Exceeding this limit can over-extend and damage the Melvin.

  • Additional Information
    Download

Product Story

Vertical dropouts hold the rear axle at a fixed distance from the cranks and nine times out of ten this doesn’t put the rear wheel at the right spot for a single speed drivetrain. The result is a chain that is too loose or too tight. The Melvin takes care of the chain tension and lets you run a single speed wheel on almost any frame with a derailleur hanger.

The Melvin uses two pulleys, just like a rear derailleur, which gives it 20 teeth of chain wrap. This means that the Melvin will work with multiple front chain rings while maintaining proper chain tension. Of course this is no longer a true single speed, but can come in handy when two or three gears are all you need. Twenty teeth of chain wrap means that chain rings with a maximum difference of twenty teeth can be used up front.

The mounting pivot has spacers that can be arranged to adjust the chainline. The Melvin works best, of course, with our hubs, but the chainline spacers allow it to work with most other hubs too. In addition to the pivot spacers, the pulleys have side to side float to quiet slight variances in chainline.

The pulleys are made of extruded and machined aluminum and have sealed bearings for durability. They are 2.25mm thick at the tooth which fits inside most narrow 6 through 9 speed chains, and the pulley cage is wide enough to allow 1/8″ single speed chains as well. Chain tension is optimized when the chain length is cut so that the pulleys are aligned vertically. For 1/8″ cogs we recommend the silver SRAM PC-1 chain. For 3/32″ cogs we recommend any 8 speed chain. If you are having problems with skipping and are using a Surly cog, try another cog before contacting us. We aren’t sure why but 9 out of 10 times, that’s the issue.

We make spare parts available to extend the life of your Melvin. Older models with plastic pulleys can be upgraded with the new sealed bearing pulleys.

Stay in Touch

Our monthly email is an ongoing bike conversation for creative people who spend a lot of time in their garage.
We’re super lucky to have a network of great bik We’re super lucky to have a network of great bike paths in Chico, one of which follows an old railroad route and leads right to the back gate of our shop! Bike commuting is awesome, and we figured it was time for us to pitch in, so we adopted a little stretch of path, and we go and pick up all the trash every couple months. 🚮 Ding your bell if you see us out there! 🛎
We got a package in the mail from @alternativebike We got a package in the mail from @alternativebikeco the other day with these blasts from our past in the box. Back when Moon Units were smaller and had a more finicky pinch bolt, back when people bought brake lever extensions so you could use your brakes from your bar-ends, and back when instructions were rudimentary drawings and said things like: “Hey- Be cool to the ground.” Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
Mike P won the #SierraOddity, what a lucky devil! Mike P won the #SierraOddity, what a lucky devil! Thank you so much to everyone who contributed parts and labor to this project, and an even bigger thanks to everyone like Mike who were willing to chip in and support @camtborg and all the work THEY put into trail advocacy. Good feelings all around! Now then…what kind of bike should we build @sierranevada next year?…🤔
Mark and Calvin of @paragonmachine stopped by the Mark and Calvin of @paragonmachine stopped by the shop on their way up to Butte Meadows. It’s a long ride all uphill from here, but they brought plenty of bleach to drink, so they’ll be fine. Have fun dudes, great to see ya!
Our friends over at @dynaplug are donating their S Our friends over at @dynaplug are donating their Sea Otter bike to raise money for our other friends at @sierratrails, so if you want a @statebicycleco cruiser dipped in @paulcomponent @whiteind @velocityusa @philwoodandco @btchn.bikes @ron_kingcage and @dingobags, head up to the link in our bio and throw your fiver in the hat!
Holy heck, our buddy Tyler over at @btchn.bikes ha Holy heck, our buddy Tyler over at @btchn.bikes has brewed up something wild yet again! Head directly over to #TheRadavist.com and put your peepers on the full gallery. 🤯 📷: @jadeelhardt
Paul Component Engineering
  • info@paulcomp.com
  • 530–345–4371
  • 11204 Midway
  • Chico, CA 95928
Support
  • Policies
  • Dealer Application
  • Support
  • Story
  • Say Hello
  • Gift Certificates
Follow Along
© 2022 — Have a nice ride.