Ten-speed drivetrains still make up a huge share of the road bikes rolling around out there, and if you're maintaining a Rival, Force, or Red group from that generation, the chain is the one wear part you'll swap several times before the cassette or rings need attention. SRAM's PC-1091R is the hollow-pin, weight-optimized version of the standard PC-1091, using machined pins and outer plates to shed grams without giving up the shift quality that made SRAM's 10-speed chains a fixture on race bikes.

The "R" designation is the tell. The PC-1091R is SRAM's lightest 10-speed chain by about 30 grams when compared to the standard PC-1091, and this is achieved by using hollow pins and outer links. That weight comes off rotating mass, which is where grams count the most on a drivetrain. Nickel plating on both the inner and outer plates, plus chrome-hardened hollow pins, contributes to this strong yet lightweight design. The nickel plating also handles corrosion resistance on the surfaces most exposed to weather and chain lube breakdown.

Shift feel benefits from the outer plate geometry. Reshaped outer plates make for a quiet ride , and the heavily chamfered edges help the chain climb onto the big ring cleanly when you're loading the pedals through a front shift. It's the same chain SRAM has run under its sponsored teams, so the durability side of the equation has been tested under race conditions.... Read More